9/16 NJ Striped Bass Public Hearing 6-8PM

[Gerry Zagorski]

Here’s another summary

This is my take on the Striped Bass meeting last night in Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Hall. It was all about the reduction of harvest in our recreational community.

I arrived right at 6 pm last night, representing American Angler and our 275-member organization. I also manage and own a small local tackle shop in Ocean County, and noticed that there were just over 100 other participants in attendance for the meeting, which lasted just over two hours. The goal of this meeting was to get suggestions from the recreational angler on how to increase Striped Bass Biomass by reducing the Striped Bass recreational harvest by 12 percent. This could mean closed dates, no harvesting, or even worse, no targeting. It's a very complex issue with the Atlantic States Fishery Commission (Board). Details regarding these estimates, guesses, and assumptions are provided, but the following points stood out to me personally.

1) One Charter Captain asked the question, "Has the board taken into consideration the financial/economic impact of this reduction if these new rules are implemented"? He further said, "It would affect him personally by 36 percent, again if implemented". The answer to this question by the coordinator was "Yes, the board has always had this in mind when making decisions and suggestions on the Striped Bass. However, she admitted the last study on this was in 2015, and no new data has been provided. My 2 cents on this is, do not implement these rules until you have ALL of the data! Out-of-date data and no real-time information should be present when making any decisions related. Especially when the decisions impact anglers, retailers, and manufacturers heavily.

2) The chart shows a recent decrease in the biomass of the Striped Bass. Along with that, the board indicates there is still a 9 percent fatality rate on "Catch and Release". Even though back in 2020, the Circle Hook rule was added, and the end of the Snag and Drop rule. Either they have not considered this impact or done any studies on these new rules, which should change the 9 percent fatality rate substantially. And if not, why have it? Personally, I love the Circle Hook rule as I believe it works. I have seen many anglers give special care to make sure the Striped Bass return alive.

3) Multiple times it came up that they get their information on the current Striped Bass Biomass from data, studies, VTR's and phone calls. It was pointed out by NOAA that the results of the 2024 study of the Biomass population of Striped Bass can be off as much as "30 to 40 percent." That being said, in my 40 years of fishing for Striped Bass, I have only been asked once "what I caught" by an official of the state, and that was because it was from a friend whom I recognized when leaving the beach. So, where is this phone book of "registration" that we had to implement back over a decade ago? Natta!

4) The board reconizes that closures in New Jersey will not have the same effect in other states along our coast. However, because of the migration of the Striped Bass in the spring and fall, New Jersey may have one of the worst impacts of these closures. I do not think they are seriously taking all of this into consideration.There seems to be no way it would be fair along our coast if closures are accepted.

5) Most, if not all, of the commentators last night felt that New Jersey should keep the Status Quo for the regulations in 2026. That is from 28 inches to 30.99 inches. It seemed to be united on this suggestion.

So in my opinion, the data is flawed, and there is little to no real science to prove that the Biomass of Striped Bass needs to be increased by having more restrictions on the recreational angler. We at American Angler feel the Status Quo should be implemented in 2026, and let's also take into consideration that there are so many anglers out there that cannot or will not (a whole different subject) abide by the new and possibly difficult-to-understand and remember the new regulations. Again, Status Quo!

P.S. I have thought long and hard on how to improve the accuracy of the data of the Striped Bass population. I believe there is a possible solution that has proven in the past to help improve the accuracy of the Striped Bass. However, it would cost time, money, and more work for the recreational angler. And in my inner circles of related fishing friends, I brought this idea up and have been crucified by it, and therefore tabled the idea for now. But, in the meantime, we are facing a moratorium on the Striped Bass due to bad science. Which one of these is the lesser of two evils?