Immediate Action Needed By 7/30 For Seabass

[Gerry Zagorski]

Immediate Action Needed For Seabass

First of all, I apologize in advance for this long winded message and the short time to react but this is really important! If we do nothing right now, we might be facing stricter regs for Seabass in 2026 and 2027 in spite of the stocks being rebuilt to 2X of the target set by fisheries management. See the chart attached below which is the Fisheries Management’s own assessment.

Here's an article Jim Hutchinson from the Fisherman Magazine just published on the same subject and how we recreational anglers have been getting screwed on Seabass measures https://www.thefisherman.com/article...alse-promises/

We suffered through the restrictive measures in the past to rebuild the stocks and that’s worked for the fish and now it’s time they work for the fishermen… Time for us to take this fishery back and if you want to take a stand and fight, you need to take the time to read this and take the suggested actions right now or before 5:00 PM Wednesday July 30th.

Please read on for details and action items to get involved

Me and some key influential people (list below) who have been involved in similar fights before, met a few weeks ago to talk about what needs to be done to give us the best opportunity to get some movement going to push for more favorable Seabass regulations.

The next Mid Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission joint meeting on Seabass will be held August 13th and this is where they start to talk about what our measures will be for both 2026 and 2027.

And get this… In spite of the overabundance of Seabass, a new science study is predicting a decline in the biomass due to possible unfavorable spawning conditions in the future and advocating for a reduction instead of more favorable measures.

What our team decided to do is take a bottoms up and tops down approach to see if we could influence the coming decisions. Bottoms up meaning getting the public to submit comments prior to the meetings in favor of increasing our catch limits. Tops down by arranging some key meetings with some recent high level NOAA appointees that seem to be more fishermen and common sense friendly. Those meetings will take place next week.

So here’s what we need from all of you before 5PM on Wednesday, July 30th which is when public comments close for this next meeting..

1)Copy and paste the text below. Feel free to personalize it with your thoughts and go to this link to submit them https://mafmc.knack.com/public-comme...94a0dea761dd1/

Subject: Request for Consideration of Liberalized Measures for Black Sea Bass in 2026/2027

Dear Members of the Black Seabass Fisheries Management Council,
I am writing as a concerned and engaged member of the recreational fishing community to respectfully request your consideration of more liberal measures for Black Sea Bass management in the 2026/2027 fishing season. As recent stock assessments have shown, Black Sea Bass populations have exceeded their biomass targets by over 100%, a clear indication of a healthy and sustainable stock.

Given this exceptional stock status, I urge the Council to consider expanding access to this abundant resource by revisiting current harvest restrictions. These measures, while originally necessary for stock rebuilding, now appear overly conservative in light of the most recent scientific data. Increased access—whether through a longer season, higher possession limits, or more inclusive quotas—would benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including charter operators, recreational anglers, and coastal communities whose economies depend on a vibrant, accessible fishery.

Science-based management is the foundation of successful conservation, and the recent data confirm that Black Sea Bass are thriving under the current framework. It is only fair and logical to allow regulations to evolve in response to this success. These regulations have worked for the fish, so now it’s time for them to work for the fishermen too. Maintaining overly restrictive measures in the face of abundant stock undermines public trust and risks alienating the very communities who have supported conservation efforts in good faith.

I appreciate the Council’s continued dedication to sustainable fisheries management and trust that you will weigh this request seriously as you begin planning for the 2026/2027 season.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Affiliation or Group, if applicable]

2) Please copy this link https://www.njfishing.com/forums/sho...923#post589923 and share it via email, social media and other fishing groups you are involved in to spread the word and ask them to share it as well so we get as many comments on record as possible. This is not just a NJ issue so feel free to share with people in our neighboring states that will be affected as well like NY, CT, RI, PA, VA. ME, NH, DE and MD.

3) Stay tuned here for updates and if you can, set aside Wednesday August 13th from 1 - 2:30 PM to get into the meeting webinar and be prepared to give your verbal comments as well.
Please click here to join the meeting here if prompted, enter access code: 2347 766 8181 and password: nhHDUdTp233)

To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2347 766 8181

Here’s our team which I’d like to acknowledge and thank for getting together on such short notice. These people continue to volunteer their personal time, energy, experience and influence to come up with this plan and have been involved with protecting our recreational fishing rights for many years.

- Jim Hutchinson Managing Editor Fisherman Magazine
- Greg Hueth NJ Marine and Mid Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council
- Dr Pat Donnelly NJ Marine Fisheries Council
- Adam Nowalsy Former NJ Marine Fisheries Council and current Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee

PLEASE STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND TAKE A STAND WITH US. SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS NOW AND SHARE IT WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND LET’S GET THIS DONE! IF YOU DO NOTHING, NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE… DO IT NOW!

[Detour66]

Done!

[Broad Bill]

Gerry will copy, paste and submit tomorrow. Thanks for your effort as well as Jim's, Greg's and Pat's.

The recreational angler hasn't been given a bone in a very long time. Stock declines, our quotas and possession limits decline. Stocks which very rarely are successfully rebuild, possession limits decline. It's been a lose lose proposition for a very very long time. The only way this changes is a state backed law suit against NMFS or voting out our representatives who don't support proper fisheries management and the recreational fishing community. This is the same shit that happened with Greenwood Lake. We spend a crap load of money to stimulate the economy, that might be our biggest negotiating tool. Small businesses would be crushed if not for our spend and it falls on deaf ears in Washington and at the state and local levels. These small businesses are the fabric of shore communities and we / they get shit on every year.

[captbogan]

Thank you Gerry

Done and done.

You couldn't make it easier for anyone who posts on this site to make a comment to fisheries.

Thank you for paying attention to fisheries. I do not know how I am not getting pertinent emails from NMFS, since I am subscribed, but I guess I know why.

I changed my comment a little:

Dear Members of the Black Seabass Fisheries Management Council,

I am concerned with the prospects of further cutbacks to our recreational sea bass limits. I am the owner of a recreational for-hire business. Our fishing community cannot sustain further restrictions on a black sea bass biomass that is more than 100% rebuilt. We need this fishery. The catch limits for recreation should be increasing --not decreasing.

Besides the obvious detriment to our already troubled fishing community --it needs to be noted that sea bass eat young lobster and other crustaceans at a high rate. This needs to be considered as a factor in the low lobster population estimates, rather than blaming lobster fishermen.

Science-based management is the foundation of successful conservation, and the recent data confirm that Black Sea Bass are thriving under the current framework. It is only fair and logical to allow regulations to evolve in response to this success. These regulations have worked for the fish, so now it’s time for them to work for the fishermen too. Maintaining overly restrictive measures in the face of abundant stock undermines public trust and risks alienating the very communities who have supported conservation efforts in good faith.

I appreciate the Council’s continued dedication to sustainable fisheries management and trust that you will weigh this request seriously as you begin planning for the 2026/2027 season.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Robert Bogan
For-hire vessel Gambler
Point Pleasant Bch NJ

[dales529]

Done / Thanks for the legwork!

[AndyS]

Would love to see a 25 per person limit in January and February again.

[NJSquatch]

Done and Done

[pectoralfin]

Done

[Smach7]

Gerry:

Thank you for alerting us to this upcoming meeting and providing easy access to submit comments. I submitted my comments using the "form" provided with some other additional information such as ASMFC's own admission that Black Sea Bass stocks are at 219% of the Target for this species. Time to get ASMFC and MAFMC to take the proper common sense action and change their thinking and fisheries management philosophy.

Stephen Machalaba

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Smach7

Gerry:

Thank you for alerting us to this upcoming meeting and providing easy access to submit comments. I submitted my comments using the "form" provided with some other additional information such as ASMFC's own admission that Black Sea Bass stocks are at 219% of the Target for this species. Time to get ASMFC and MAFMC to take the proper common sense action and change their thinking and fisheries management philosophy.

Stephen Machalaba

Thanks and lots more work to be done here. The good news is
after this last election cycle we have some new people in high places at NOAA that seem to be willing to work with us and take a more common sense approach. These are the same people who overturned the recent regulation changes they tried to put in place on Bluefin Tuna.

There maybe some hope for us after all and thanks for your support.