HERRING have arrived in Mays Landing.

[Guatemala Dave]

I had first hand reports of the river at 11 th ave. full of HERRING for the dip netters and second hand reports of jigging of the bridge by the dam and saw lots of trucks at the RR tressel.

The full moon is a week away so we may have a good run.

Remember to keep track of limits and how you are catching them. the CO's are keeping everyone honest.

Have fun catch plenty of bait and if you need nets to catch them or tanks or areation to keep them alive give me a try.

If you don't want to bother to catch your own I have plenty, LIVE or fresh.

[fshlot]

thanx for that report dave!!

[barnaby]

What are the herring limits for hook and line?

[Guatemala Dave]

Fresh water hook and line or netting, 35 per person per day, marine tide water 35 per day netting, no limit hook and line. figure that one out.

[Guatemala Dave]

I just got word from my brother that he picked up about a dozen in Batsto in the cast net so this run looks promissing. Ought to be some fishies following the candy.

[Dr. Bass]

Dave, any idea on the lag time between their arrival and the cows?? I would be surprised if they got any thicker. When you float a live herring around for two hours with no hits, there are no stripers around. Cast netting is OK, right Thanks

[Guatemala Dave]

The big HERRING push usually comes with the full moon which is next weekend. the best striper fishing in the rivers seem to be when the HERRING have retreated somewhat and the pickings aren't quite as easy. We'll need a little warmer water to put on the feeding urge.

[Dr. Bass]

Thanks Dave. What are your preferences for a mobile baitwell that I can run for a longtime. in other words, do any aerators run on baterries with long half-lives?? Currently the ones I am using just seem to zonk out too quick, thanks in advance again

[MASTER BATER]

Hey dave,

Did your brother catch those herring near the dam or further down stream. Just curious because I haven't seen anyone fishing there yet?

[Guatemala Dave]

He was probably in the pool below the dam. He told my nephew that it was two early, but try and tell that to an 11 year old so off they went and they found a few. He was going to swim them in front of the Sweewater Casino, but I haven't heard of any luck yet.

BTW he has been doing great up the river from the casino to the forks the last couple years by row boat or kayack, so if you want t good kayak spot there is a good one to try.

[Dr. Bass]

One last time on this one: Is it legal to cast net herring as far north as the lake lenope dam?? If so, is there a net size limit. Does anyone know of a site that has that in writing?? Thanks in advance DB

[Backwater]

Dr Bass,

Page 5 and 6 should answer your question:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2004/digfsh2-7.pdf

You need adobe to view it.

[Guatemala Dave]

A cast net 4' radius, 8' diameter is legal for catching bait in fresh water here's a link to the fresh water digest,

Fresh Water Digest (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2004/digfsh04.pdf)

[Dr. Bass]

Good, b/c some gentleman, was a touch ticked off with me using one yesterday. All I had to go by was the good advice I recieved from my fellow barners. Thanks again Dave, appreciate your time, and thank-you Backwater

[Partnership]

Here's a herring question- is there any chance of catching herring from the bulkhead at Mays Landing???

[MASTER BATER]

Hey Tom,

I don't see why not. Guys have been doing it for years up at High St. in Burlington with a lot of success! From what I noticed up at High St. the herring had a tendency to swim very close to the bulkhead. Get a sabaki rig and give it a try. Nothing to lose!

[Jake965]

Does anyone know a spot on the PA side to catch Herring? I'd have to pick up a non-resident NJ fishing license to fish for them in Mays Landing.

[BobEver]

Jake:

I believe you can dip net them in Mays Landing WithOUT a NJ license. You can catch them in the Delaware river with either a PA OR NJ license. Good place is up in Trenton. You used to be able to land fish on the NJ side near the Thunder baseball park, but I think that area is closed due to structural problems with the wall there.

[Dr. Bass]

Partnership

You will get them there, but there are better spots close by. Shoot me an e-mail if you wish.

[Jake965]

Can anyone else confirm if a NJ fishing license is required to fish in Mays Landing?

[Insanity]

As far as I know you do need a license. The line I think is the "power lines" about 1 mile down river from the bulkhead. Downstream of that I don't think you the license.

[capthersch]

Jake965
Yes, a freshwater license is needed to fish Mays Landing.

[eelball]

Insanity is right. it's the powerlines. And you DO need a license to dip net in Mayslanding.

[BobEver]

I seem to recall seeing Dave post somewhere that you DONT need a license to dip net herring in Mays Landing.

Also if you look at page 6 of the Fresh Water Digest (link above), it states anyone age 16 or above must have a valid license to fish the fresh waters of New Jersey with a hand line, rod and line, or bow and arrow. It makes no mention of using a dip net. On Page 7, it states Dip nets Not more than 24” in diameter may be used only for alewife or blueback herring. This seems to imply you dont need a license to dip net.

Perhaps Dave can clarify this.

[HookinUp]

If you are in Fresh Water you need a license to take blue backs or alewives no matter what you use. It's under baitfish in the freshwater regs. You can use the dip net but you have to have a license in fresh water.

Bobever,
On page six under General Fishing Regulations, It says: It's Unlawful To:
Take or attempt to take any fish in fresh waters by any manner except in the manner commonly known as angling with hand line or with rod and line, or as otherwise allowed by law.

Page seven describes the nets allowed by law for use on baitfish.

Then on page 7 it lists the allowable nets.
When it says that the dip net is only to be used for herring, it is saying that you can't use that net for any other baitfish listed. Herring only

[candyman]

I think that run is done. saw few yesterday

[In Depth]

Take this for whatever it's worth.
I was at mays landing ,i was checked out by the man very diligently. No lic was even asked for.
And i'm from Pa and he knew it.
Once again take this for what it's worth.

[ 04-01-2004, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: In Depth ]

[Guatemala Dave]

This is how it was explained to me and careful reading seems to bear this out:

Go back to the digest

Freshwater Digest (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2004/digfsh2-7.pdf)

Page 5 summary lisences:

Anyone 16 years of age or above must have a valid lisence to fish the fresh waters of New Jersey with handline, rod and line or bow and arrow.

You will notice that there is no type of net described in the lisence requirements.

Under Page 6:

Notes: Any person with a valid fishing license or those entitled to fish without a license may take baitfish in freshwaters.
Possession limit is one day?s limit, regardless of the intent to use these fish.

The key here is that if you are not using a handline, rod and line or bow and arrow you ARE entitled to fish without a lisence.

I understand that this was pretty much of an oversite when writing the laws, but in legaleze and I'm sure our resident attorneys will agree that the actual written content of a law is more important than the intent of what was in the minds of those who did the writing.

In any case please don't use my name as an excuse not to have a lisence and hopefully there are lurkers from the enforcement end that may be willing to throw a little more light on the subjecy.

[HookinUp]

Dave, Under general regulations it says:
It's Unlawful To Take or attempt to take any fish in fresh waters by any manner except in the manner commonly known as angling with hand line or with rod and line, or as otherwise allowed by law.

The wordage: "Any person with a valid fishing license or those entitled to fish without a license may take baitfish in freshwaters"

Means if you are under 16 you are entitled to fish in NJ without a license or Trout stamp or use any method allowed by law to fish in fresh water. This also covers creel regs/

Disabled vets and senior citizens get the license for free but still need to have one.

My buddy got a ticket last year for not having a freshwater license while cast netting herring in fresh water.

[ 04-01-2004, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: HookinUp ]

[BobEver]

Indepth:

Did you get any herring at Mays Landing?

[BIGGESTJACK]

AT 12:15PM WENT PAST THE BRIDGE NEXT TO THE DAM IN MAYS LANDING THERE WERE 12 CARS AND TRUCKS PARKED AND I SAW TWO FIS CAUGHT AS I SLOWLY WENT BY.THE MOST PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR.

[MYNU]

Are there any good areas below the power lines to catch Herring either by cast net or sabakii rigs?

[Far26]

Plenty of herring still around I went with my son today after limiting out yesterday. We weren't disappointed, I now have plenty salted down for flattie season!
Fish and Game stopped by and did check for licenses and reminded a few guys that while fishing in freshwater you are limited to 3 hooks (some zabiki rigs have 6 or more).
May stop by again tomorrow to catch some to liveline in the backwaters tomorrow night.

[HookinUp]

Frank,

The regs allow you 9 single hooks or three of three hooks, or any combination that totals no more then 9 points.

What they mean by three hooks is if you are using treble hooks, you are only allowed to have 3 hooks on one line because each treble hook has three points which gives you a total of 9 points or hooks.

[ 04-02-2004, 06:10 AM: Message edited by: HookinUp ]

[Backwater]

The line I think is the "power lines" about 1 mile down river from the bulkhead. Downstream of that I don't think you the license. From the 2004 regs:

ATLANTIC COUNTY
Absecon Creek?Dam at Lower Atlantic City Reservoir
Great Egg Harbor River?Power lines at confluence of Gravelly Run (about a mile so below the bulkhead).
Middle River?None?all saline water
Mullica River?Line between Seventh Ave., Sweetwater, and
ramp at Crowleys Landing
Nacote Creek?Port Republic Dam
Patcong Creek?Bargaintown Lake Dam
South River?Power lines immediately below Route 50
Tuckahoe River?First northerly tributary downstream

FWIW
I've heard from other fisherman that they have been checked for licenses south of gravelly run on gibson creek: not sure of the regs there but I take it with a grain of salt. :D :D

[ 04-02-2004, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Backwater ]

[Guatemala Dave]

Hookin-up has that right, a year or so ago they changed the regulations so that sabiki rigs would be legal to use in the rivers for HERRING since everyone were using them anyway

[Far26]

I looked in the 2004 Fish and Wildlife Digest and you guys are right about 9 hooks for use everywhere except the DE River. You think the conservation officers would know the rules?
I guess much like us they have a hard time keeping up on all of them. :confused:
I'll have to keep a copy in the car, just in case they need proof. Thanks guys.

[ 04-02-2004, 08:01 AM: Message edited by: Far26 ]

[theREELmasterBAITER]

Craig--

When we goin' bro? I'm ready to hit the river up north for the bigguns. Let me know bro!

[In Depth]

There here rite now , live herring are the problem. You bring um and we'll catch um :D

I'm a little buissy rite now to travel for them.

[ 04-02-2004, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: In Depth ]

[finaddict5]

Just got back from the Mays Landing bridge this afternoon. VERY SLOW! My buddy and I got skunked and we saw less than 10 caught in the three hours we were there. We did ok Wed there and a few locals told me that Thursday was pretty slow as well. Lotsa netters at Eleventh Ave as we rode by on the way home.