Sea Bass Closure

[oceansuey]

yes it is complete bs that they r shutting down sea bass fishing. i am friends with several party boat owners and commercial boat owners. i think the govt should reevaluate their FLAWED science and rethink it. it only hurts both sides. yes many charter and party boats will suffer because of this and that sucks. many people on here ore against commercial fishing for any species. they pay money for permits, gear etc etc. they spend money just like everyone else. both commercial boat operaters and party boat operaters have a lot of money invested in their respected operations of business. look at the whole picture of the industry. comm guys sell 2 fish wholesellers who in turn sell 2 restaurants and small fish markets. party boats and charter boats help people catch fish for there own consumption. the state and federal govts require permits for the sale of species to fish wholesellers and yes the govt does require landing permits for both types of businesses. so i find it hard 2 put the blame on the commercial side when x boat goes out for sea bass in dec with 70 persons and all 70 persons cath their allowable limit. 25 fish at say 4lbs =100lbs correct 70 persons at 100 lbs each =7000lbs for that trip. not sure what the commercial limit is per trip for sea bass but im sure it isnt 7000lbs. thats alot of fish isnt it just my opinion and look at the big picture. im sure some of the people on here will agree with me and most wont. educate urself on whats going on and then u can say wise things and not make stupid comments

[captmark]

Guys, I just remembered that this meetinfg is coming up in Toms River and I was planning on going to to hear what was being said about the Weakfish
it may be worth while to hear what is also said and even they still plan on holding it

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
October 6, 2009; 7:00 PM
Toms River Township Clerk's Office
L. Manuel Hirshblond Room
33 Washington Street
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact: Tom McCloy at (609) 292-7794
* Public comment will also be gathered on Weakfish Draft Addendum IV (8:00 PM)

[oceansuey]

do the math 1 boat goes offshore sea bass 3 times a week in the winter with 30 persons = x amount of sea bass per trid multyply by 3times = x number of lbs of sea bass caught and then add in the boats that fish inshore waters. simple math right im sure the commercial sector does not catch as many sea bass in lbs as recreactional fisherman. im sure tony bogan will post some great input on this. i respect what he says cause he knows what hes talking about. hes fought about fishing issues for a long time. change can only happen if u support groups who fight for fishing issues thats the only way things will change. so support the rfa the ssstf and others and hopefully things will change

[snapperbluefish101]

Looks like the party boats are now going to fish in the shark and manisquan rivers for seabass now. These is ridiculous.I didn't even got to catch my first keeper seabass yet.

[shresearchdude]

1) Oceansuey- you're not going to get any positive responses to your post. Someone has to be the enemy, either it's the commercial guys or the Govt (many think it's both).
2) If one follows the theory of: all fish over approx 12.5" are male fish, most fish caught offshore are over 12.5", therefore(?) are all those male fish getting removed from the population and not getting the chance to reproduce ever again? Most(?) trips offshore target big male fish(it makes sense to do so) If the offshore trips are eliminated for one season-as a precaution to harvest estimates-then the population in the spring will only get better.
3) In the big picture doesn't everyone want more fish in the ocean?
4) Yes I like to eat big black seabass, they are my favorite fish to eat.

[ReelErIn]

All I can say

[oceansuey]

shresearch i know most on here will reply negatively. im just pointing out that the if u look at the hard numbers its pretty much self explanatary on how much fish are caught by the recreational side. say 10 party boats from sandy hook to cape may fish for sea bass in fed waters 3 times a week with say 30 paying customers catch an avg 20 fish per man at an avg size of 4lbs per fish. do the math and u can have an idea on whats caaught by the 10 boats 3 times a week. simple math gives u the numbers. just stating my opinion about why they have just cause for closing federal waters to sea bass fishing. ask any party boat capt that targets offshore sea bass and im sure they probally will in most part agree with my said numbers i wrote about. thats alot of fish if u ask me. and if we keep catching those fish the stock doesnt have toime 2 rebuild. right i think some that actually have a clue will agree with me. all i can say is get involved and get informed

[Ling Slinger]

Come November 15 they are going to say that we overfished tog even before the limit jumps from 1 to 6 on Nov. 16 with all of the pressure that's going to be put on them now and close the season for the year.

And what if you are fishing a wreck that lies east to west on or across the 3 mile line with the western half positioned 2.999999999999 miles off the beach and the eastern half positioned 3.00000000000001 miles off. Are you only allowed to keep fish from the western side of it?

This is completely absurd. My friends were on a party boat today for seabass and said they couldn't keep their baits on the bottom for more than 3 seconds without getting a bite.
I think people's opinions on breaking these laws will be changed with this new regulation.

[tautog]

For at least the next three weeks, boats north of Manasquan will have some sea bass fishing inside of 3 miles, while porgy fishing. As for the state of the fishery, if 20% of the males survive and the female population is untouched, there is virtually no effect on breeding. Sea bass are not monogamous by nature and a male can breed with several females.

The statistics are absolute nonsense as few boats were fishing in rainy June this year, let alone were they slamming the 12 1/2" plus sea bass. I bottom fish with the best boats in NJ every week, sometimes twice and have not yet seen an inshore limit of sea bass. I had 23 one day and have not had over 18 since. I have seen a few guys with 20 to 21. Most guys have 6 to 8 keepers. In June and July ling dominated and since late Aug, porgies have made up most of the catch.

[Reel Class]

Just got home, just saw this crap... Saw Capt Mark's email about an hour ago - MARK THANKS FOR THAT

This is an absolute joke, another prime example of people that are "decision makers" REACTING not thinking something through.. What are they reacting on??? FLAWED SCIENCE which simply cannot, and should not, be upheld by a court of law or any level headed decision maker...

This is RIDICULOUS