[Blowtoad]

Why is it that you cant sell striped bass, summer flounder, weakfish, etc. without a commercial license but there are some idiots out on the Mullica catching all the white perch they can and selling them. Is this because white perch are not considered a "game" fish. If this is the case then something needs to be done to correct this issue. Theres a report on Scottsbt.com about someone with an insane amount of perch and I've heard other reports about this through the grapevine. Pardon my insults but these people are frelling r-tards. These fish are schooled up and preparing to spawn in a couple months. I think its time to correct this issue.

In addition, while I have no problem with someone commercial fishing for certain species, why does the state allow the netters to harvest perch during the spawning season? Of all the times to open the season, the spawning season is the worst. Would never happen with stripers or other big time game fish.

 

[fdformicola]

could be perch are prolific spawners, just a guess:huh:

 

[fshlot]

As a perch guy who fishes the heck out of them every spring,i can tell you there aren't a whole lot of people that sell these fish.It takes way too much to make any kinda money off these perch.If someone wants to try and make money off of perch,i see no problem with that,there are plenty of perch in the rivers around SJ...Just my opinion

 

[JoeyZac]

Why is it that you cant sell striped bass, summer flounder, weakfish, etc. without a commercial license but there are some idiots out on the Mullica catching all the white perch they can and selling them...................

Why is it? Because they haven't be caught by a co.

Don't know if it's happening, who's doing it, or to what extent it's being done, but a big part of the answer is getting caught, outed, and fined.

In all seriousness, call a co and turn them in.

 

[boatliftman]

Its not illegal to fyke net perch in the rivers

 

[mericanwit]

Hey, who's got any fresh perch for sale?

 

[AJ168]

I ran into the guy at Chestnut Neck yesterday while pulling a boat at work. The CO was at the ramp checking guys and I he was telling me about a guy that caught something like 200 pounds of perch the other day to sell. Then the guy himself showed up. He was pretty nice. I can't blame him for doing it, If I wasn't a full time student, I'd be trying to make some extra money by going commercial.

 

[johnny d]

I read the report on Scottsbt. Who ever these guys are they filled 4 larger coolers, plus 5 large buckets of Large white perch. How much fish does two guys need???

Now you know why the fish eventually disappear especially catching them right before they are about to spawn.

 

[mstelmac]

Lets be real here. There is no problem with the white perch population and there likely will not be one any time soon. There is also no huge demand for perch filets. Yeah a couple of guys sell then but who really cares....not me. I would rather not pay the taxes to have someone police the white perch fishery.

These fish are super resiliant and live everywhere. I for one like a nice perch filet but not a huge population do. Let the poor guy make a few bucks to feed his family if that is his only means.

 

[Mullica Bob]

As long as there are a few left for me to catch out my backdoor I could care less.

When there gone, there gone.

 

[JoeyZac]

I care. It's not right to complain about comms that poach, or the bucket brigade that poaches, but then turn a blind eye because it's just a couple of recs and rationalize that it doesn't really matter.

Poaching is poaching, period. I thnk it should be punishable to different degrees based on what/how much got poached, but I don't see a reason to ignore any of it.

 

[mstelmac]

I won't tolerate taking undersized fish but they are catching good size perch and then selling them to probably a hand full of people. I see your point though that if you open the door then what laws do we have.

I struggle with "too much law" for the little guy.

The bucket brigade is different with their 10 inch fluke and 8 inch tog.

I guess though that you have to draw a strict line and can't take it case by case.

 

[AJ168]

How is it poaching? I watched the conservation officer check them.

 

[Guatemala Dave]

NJ doesn't have any lisence to sell fish.

As there are no federal restrictions or specific rules related to a species of fish there is no NJ regulations against selling a legal catch on hook and line. Federaly regulated fish must abide by federal laws.

NJ lisences are more concerned with gear types. As noted above Fyke nets are still permitted for harvesting perch in tidal rivers. This is hard work but when they get a hit it can be big. A single net can take THOUSANDS of perch and usually when the big hits come usually the price dives to nothing.

Now as to the question of how many fish does one person need, if you are making a serious living on the water You should figure about 500 pounds a day to take home even a half decent paycheck. If you see someone with a couple helpers on the boat that number should be doubled.

Now I still use fyke nets myself, (for fish other than perch, but I do get some by catch) but I would be glad to give them up if we could keep the perch in the rivers and expand this recreational fishery since it is one thing that we can still take home and eat.

 

[JoeyZac]

How is it poaching? I watched the conservation officer check them.

I'm talking about selling them (either as food or bait). Legal to cach all want, but not legal to sell them without a license. Just like Peanut Bunker and Spot.

 

[Guatemala Dave]

No lisence needed to sell hook and line caught...

Spot, bunker, croakers, eels, white perch, sea robins, kingfish, and anything else that doesn't have special federal permits attached.

NJ. Lisences gear such as Bait nets, Fyke Nets, Gill nets, haul seines. minature fykes. Crabs and Clams(shellfish) have specific lisences. At this point in time there is no state commercial hook and line lisence.

 

[dory]

freshwater only

OTh
Th The limitTHER SPECIES​

The limit for white perch is 25 per person per day Is that for freshwater only? If it is than no foul If it is for the whole state than there is an issue


Rock Bass, White Bass, White Perch,
Yellow Perch, Sunfish (see above for sunfish
exceptions), Bullheads, White Catfish,
Suckers, Carp, Bowfin​

Open year round
Statewide (exceptions below) No minimum size 25 combined
Conservation Regulation
Ryker Lake
Sunfish: 7 inches 10 combined
Yellow Perch:
No minimum size 10
Conservation Regulation​

Rainbow Lake (Salem Co.) Sunfish: 7 inches 10 combined

 

[Guatemala Dave]

Limit's Fresh water only

Tidal waters on the Mullica start at Crawleys Landing

 

[Mullica Bob]

Tidal waters on the Mullica start at Crawleys Landing

"Crawleys" where's that?

Crowleys is on the Mullica.

 

[Guatemala Dave]

I Stand Corrected

:nuts: Sorry