Striped Bass Closures in Nov and Dec

[Gerry Zagorski]

Let’s say for a minute you believe the numbers and science, although we and they know it’s full of assumptions not facts. It’s the best available science we have so if it’s indicating fishery is or has a strong possibility of being in trouble, we all need to suck it up and share in the pain of a 14% reduction.

My issues is with closing the fishery down in Nov and Dec here in NJ is way over the top and does not equally distribute the pain since these have historically been the best months to fish. You close down say Massachusetts for the same 2 months and they don’t feel the same pain we do because the fish are not there in those months. In my opinion making blanket decisions like this is the easy and lazy way for them to get the 14%.

How about letting the each of the states decide how they want get to their share of the 14% by choosing the closure dates. Maybe some of them would choose to close down their commercial fishery like NJ did to get to part of it. Not sure what this would mean for NJ regs but whatever it is, it makes more sense for these decisions be made closer to the people they effect.

I could go on here forever but suffices to say, closing us down in Nov and Dec is ridiculous and can’t even believe it was suggested as an option. The basis of my comments to the ASFMC is all states should feel the same pain and have a say in how they choose to get to their 14%.

Please send your comments via email to comments@asmfc.org by 12/10.

[Capt Derek Fisher Price 3]

You are 100% correct. After talking to several people, none of their "science" has come from the for-hire var's that have to be filled out daily. They are basing everything on recreational surveys. Its a complete joke. As you said, this closure will not so much effect any boats north of Montauk or say south of Ocean County, as the bio mass of fish is historically off long island/ north and central jersey.

[captbogan]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Let’s say for a minute you believe the numbers and science, although we and they know it’s full of assumptions not facts. It’s the best available science we have so if it’s indicating fishery is or has a strong possibility of being in trouble, we all need to suck it up and share in the pain of a 14% reduction.

My issues is with closing the fishery down in Nov and Dec here in NJ is way over the top and does not equally distribute the pain since these have historically been the best months to fish. You close down say Massachusetts for the same 2 months and they don’t feel the same pain we do because the fish are not there in those months. In my opinion making blanket decisions like this is the easy and lazy way for them to get the 14%.

How about letting the each of state decide how they want get to their share of the 14% by choosing the closure dates. Maybe some of them would choose to close down their commercial fishery like NJ did to get to part of it. Not sure what this would mean for NJ regs but whatever it is makes these decisions closer to the people they effect..

I could go on here forever but suffices to say, closing us down in Nov and Dec is ridiculous and can’t even believe it was suggested as an option. The basis of my comments to the ASFMC is all states should feel the same pain and have a say in how they choose to get to their 14%.

They just keep putting us in a smaller box Gerry. Less fish to target all the time, so boats all boats put pressure on one or two species all at once.

[Broad Bill]

Originally Posted by Capt Derek Fisher Price 3

You are 100% correct. After talking to several people, none of their "science" has come from the for-hire var's that have to be filled out daily. They are basing everything on recreational surveys. Its a complete joke. As you said, this closure will not so much effect any boats north of Montauk or say south of Ocean County, as the bio mass of fish is historically off long island/ north and central jersey.

I think you give the powers to be way too much credit. Decisions aren't based on for hire or recreational surveys or public meetings and certainly to Gerry's point not made based on Fair and Equitable distribution to states or sectors. Politics and economic agendas drive decisions, data is driven by desired results which is completely ass backwards.

The decision about stripers is already in, everything else is standard protocol to make the public believe they're actually being asked for their input. That's only a box to check under the provisions of the Magnuson Stevens Act and virtually never will these regulatory agencies factor in what the everyday recreational angler thinks should be done. Fisheries management is a dictatorship, not a democracy.

[Lido-Gambler]

How may others have commented? My comments are succinct and to the point.

1)These proposals are another measure intended to hurt the recreational anglers and the"for hire" sector which is perceived to wantonly just kill stripers. Further restrictions would greatly harm shore economies. Example- Striped Bass Fishing makes up 25-35 percent of our business and drives tourism post summer.

2)Be proactive not reactive-look to fix the spawning issue in the Chesapeake and not base decisions on harvest estimates like MRIP or sporadic state trawl surveys.

3) It was reported by ASMFC that seasonal closures are not supported by NOAA or State Agencies as they are too hard to enforce, why even propose them?

4) Bass are migrating further offshore due to Ocean Temperatures and Geography. The New York Bight and New Jersey Coast sees larger numbers bait and hence larger numbers of striped bass. Others states are driven to push this overly restrictive agenda as a result of poor fishing in thier region.

Capt. Chris Lido
FV Gambler
Point Pleasant Beach NJ

[dales529]

Originally Posted by Lido-Gambler

How may others have commented? My comments are succinct and to the point.

1)These proposals are another measure intended to hurt the recreational anglers and the"for hire" sector which is perceived to wantonly just kill stripers. Further restrictions would greatly harm shore economies. Example- Striped Bass Fishing makes up 25-35 percent of our business and drives tourism post summer.

2)Be procative not reactive-look to fix the spawning issue in the Chesapeake and not base decisions on harvest estimates like MRIP or sporadic state trawl surveys.

3) It was reported by ASMFC that seasonal closures are not supported by NOAA or State Agencies as they are too hard to enforce, why even propose them?

4) Bass are migrating further offshore due to Ocean Temperatures and Geography. The New York Bight and New Jersey Coast sees larger numbers bait and hence larger numbers of striped bass. Others states are driven to push this overly restrictive agenda as a result of poor fishing in thier region.

Capt. Chris Lido
FV Gambler
Point Pleasant Beach NJ

Well Said!

[jasm1n8]

This is what I emailed them:


I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed closure of striped bass in November and December for 2025. Based on my personal observations over the past few years, particularly in 2024, striped bass populations have been robust and increasing. I believe that closing the striped bass fishery in November and December, when populations are at their peak, is an excessive measure. While I understand the need for sustainable fishing practices, I urge the committee to consider alternative, less restrictive regulations, such as different month or alternate days during each month.

[SNAPS]

Yes we need to stress that closure is not an option, and will kill businesses but at the same time, we need to make them see, that maybe the science is flawed, and if they think the numbers are down, that it may be due to natures way. As some one else said here,they aint getting it done, for various reasons. Water temps current etc. How the eff do they know the biomass is down?? Did they take a head count??? What about natural predators???

[WhaleFart]

this fishery needs to be closed for harvest for at least 5 years. The fish you are seeing the last 3 or 4 seasons are the same fish. The breeding rates for bass is totally crashing. The fact is there are NO fish behind this class of fish that even hold a candle to the current biomass which still even isn’t that great considering .

It’s time to start treating bass like tarpon IMO.

[JSBlue26]

If the “Striper population is down” then why not CLOSE the Commercial fishery for stripers instead of closing the recreational fishery ??
The recreational fishery takes a fraction of what the commercial fishery gets annually. Closing the fishery for recreational anglers in Nov./ Dec. 2025 only benefits the commercial entities and will only ensure that charter and party boats up/down the coast would be devastating for them !!! Does this get taken into account when monitoring the biomass ?? Full closure would be the final straw and unfortunately guarantee putting numerous vessels out of business and both owners/employees losing their livelihood……… does that mean anything to these guru’s monitoring the fish stock “whale fart” …….??? Just mind boggling when the Fall 2024 run has been a great run that’s still going past mid-December !!!!
You can’t fix STUPID …….