Herring rule changes, where will you get bait now

[MargaritaVille]

Well,
I held off for quite a while on posting this. We used to commercially fish for herring in the Maurice River. The state has changed this so it is no longer worthwhile.

Before you start cheering that FINALLY a rule that takes away from commercial fishing.

This new change affects almost everyone. The state is moving back the date when herring fishing can be done from March 1 to May 1.

This is done to protect the species of Alewife and to force you to target Blueback Herring.

Since bait will not be commercially available where will you get your bait?

If you do find live bait, believe me the state of NJ FGW will be right behind you since Alewife can not be caught or sold and is really the only species in the rivers during the early part of the spring run.

I mainly net fished to get my own bait and make a couple of bucks. Believe me it was not much.

What makes me even more Pissed off is the fact that I have watched the Camden Aquarium, In April, catch more than 10,000 herring to be used in the aquarium. The state gave them a special use permit. 99% of these herring were Alewife, the exact same species that the state is trying to protect.

I can assure you that during the spring run, the half dozen netters in the maurice river barely caught 10,000 fish the entire season. these guys did it in one day.

Oh well, I am done ranting.

[Partnership]

Jason:
Does this mean that we cannot catch river herring for bait in the Maurice and other rivers to live line for stripers this year???

In affect then, it shuts down the river fishing with live bait until May.

This must be a ploy by the commercial clammers(LOL)

[Fishaholic29]

Does this only affect the Maurice River, or is it a statewide thing?

[Brian E. Mullaney]

Glad I have plenty of alewife flies.

All kidding aside that sucks. I wanted to try live-lining near Trenton this spring. Oh well :(

[In Depth]

Relax guy,s , it's a big deal for the netters and the bait shops that buy bait from them to sell to you and me.
Buying herring this year is going to be a big problem. HOWEVER
Catching them yourself is legal as long as you conform to the possession limmits.

35 per day per angler.

It's a pain in da arse dealing with the limmit but it just another thing to have to put up with.

My problem is that in the spring i usualy have 2 or 3 guys with me when im fishin. My live well is more then sufficent to handle up to 100 herring for the course of a day with very little loss. Now i have to seperate the limmits which realy taxes the amount of available space i have on my skiff.
With 3 guy's fishin, 35 herring is bait for a couple of hours and then i have to go deal with the crowds again to get more bait.
It's no fun leaving hot fish to go spend time baiting up again.

[MargaritaVille]

This is only a ban on netting the fish.

You can still catch upto 35 herring a day for personal use.

I am not sure if there is a boat possession limit or if the limits must be seperated.

Either way, it is a PIA for some of the hardcore guys that fish. (I am not one of them) tongue.gif

[nocturnal]

I hope this does not include rec. cast nets
again!This means more sleepless nites this
spring!Jiggin is to slow.

[MargaritaVille]

nocturnal,
You better check on the cast nets. I know they finally banned snag hooks, but am not sure about cast nets for herring.

[In Depth]

In fresh water they are still allowed provided they are les then 8' dia. Which in english means a 4' net. They are sold by there radious not dia.
I throw but have to be carefull where i do it do the snaggy nature of the area where they concentrate. Trenton
Once there thick jigging realy isin't that slow.

[beachblitz]

Don't count on catching herring in Trenton this spring. At least not from shore. The ENTIRE fishing wharf next to Katmandu has been closed. The county shut it down last summer because of a potential collapse and there is no word on fixing it. They even posted a guard there last year. Government at its best.

[In Depth]

Beach ,

I realy feel bad for the guy's who arent fortunate enough to have a boat . The wall guy's are screwed.
I'm just counting my blessings i'm not one of them.

[BobEver]

Originally posted by In Depth:
Beach ,

I realy feel bad for the guy's who arent fortunate enough to have a boat . The wall guy's are screwed.
I'm just counting my blessings i'm not one of them. ID:

Talk to your boat mechanics yet this week? I really hope they get you back together soon, as I know its driving ya nutso.

[In Depth]

You think i'm nutso now wait till march.......
I'll be lookin at jail time....! :D

[beachblitz]

It will also be a problem for out-of-towners that want herring. Instead of catching them from the wall, you'll need to tow a boat to Trenton.

My boat is too big to launch in Trenton without the docks. I can't get in it without getting wet. So I'll have to tow it further and take the longer ride from Bordentown. Not to mention stopping by the police station and paying for the permit.

I wish the local government would stop 'improving' things around here.

[Luke Sodwalker]

I'll get my own bait. Called a plug.

[c-witch]

Guys,
We routinely catch herring from the Burlington river front. It usually heats up around May 1 through 20th. Just look for the crowds, usually near the Oneida Boat club on York st at the waterfront. Ample parking in the area.