N.J. bans catch and sale of river herring

[AndyS]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...e_of_rive.html

[HerringKing]

I guess I have to change my name then

[surfrod]

Originally Posted by HerringKing

I guess I have to change my name then

nah, there's still hickory's

[surfrod]

Originally Posted by AndyS

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...e_of_rive.html

funny, if you go to that link (at least right now)

the caption under the photo reads:

"Fisherman cast their lines at Sandy Hook. N.J. has banned the catch and sale of red herring."

wishful thinking on someone's part

[Lard Almighty]

What does the state mean by "river herring?" Is that considered its own species, or does the term apply to any herring that is caught in a river? For example, there's a place by me that gets a run of blueback herring every year. Can I catch and use those for bait?

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

What does the state mean by "river herring?" Is that considered its own species, or does the term apply to any herring that is caught in a river? For example, there's a place by me that gets a run of blueback herring every year. Can I catch and use those for bait?

Lard,

Blueback and Alewifes are the river herring. Can't keep them for bait or at all. This is the Salt water regulations but what about Freshwater??? I think you can still keep a certain amount but not quite sure as the rules are confusing... Have to research it further...anyone know for sure in NJ???

Effective immediately, no person shall take, possess, land, purchase, sell or offer for sale any river herring (alewife and blueback) in the marine waters of the State. Only commercial vessels fishing exclusively in Federal waters while operating a valid Federal permit for Atlantic mackerel and/or Atlantic herring may possess river herring, up to a maximum of five percent by weight of all species possessed.

These regulations were put in place due to concerns about the significant coastwide decline of river herring stocks. The exact cause for these coastwide declines remains uncertain, but numerous factors such as loss of spawning habitat, impediments to fish passage (i.e. dams), water quality degradation and fishing all likely played a role. Amendment 2 of the ASMFC fishery management plan for river herring prohibits both the recreational and commercial harvest of river herring in the waters of states that do not have an ASMFC- approved river herring sustainable management plan. New Jersey does not have an approved plan since the available information on river herring stocks is not sufficient to definitively prove the State's river herring stocks are sustainable. Other states along the East Coast - Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island - have closed their river herring fisheries as well.



Leif

[torchee]

ok

are these the same variety of herring being caught at shark river and manesquan inlets??

[ReelErIn]

OK in fresh water non tidal haven't seen regs yet. I was told one permitt was issued at Lk/ Hopatcong as of two weeks ago?

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by ReelErIn

OK in fresh water non tidal haven't seen regs yet. I was told one permitt was issued at Lk/ Hopatcong as of two weeks ago?

This is what I was worried about. Without Herring from Laurie's, I'm. 100% sure I would never catch any Hybrid Stripers...again...ever....out of Hopatcong. I'm pretty sure there is more than a sustainable population of Alewives in our lakes (Monksville at nighttime comes to mind).

[catfishonthelake]

Don't worry Skunk, landlocked alewife herring are not subject to these regulations. The herring they're putting a moratorium on are the anadromous alewives and blueback herring. These are migratory fish and are the same ones found in other rivers in NJ and off the coast. They're off limits due to their declining numbers. There is no shortage of herring in Lake Hopatcong and they will not be subject to these laws.