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Bass rules discussions coming up soon
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/21/04
By:John Geiser
New Jersey striped bass fishermen concerned about the future of their fishery will have a chance to participate in the management process soon.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife has been working on various proposals to satisfy Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission demands for cutbacks, and opinions will be sought at public hearings in early June.
Michael Doebley, deputy director for government affairs for the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said it is important that anglers get involved.
"I've been talking with anglers all around the state, and they have different ideas," he said. "For instance, shorebound fishermen -- especially in south Jersey -- don't want to lose the slot fish. They want a smaller, tastier fish to take home and eat."
Doebley said the ASMFC's technical committee approved seven options that New Jersey offered for consideration two weeks ago.
"The one they would not consider was the set of current regulations," he said. "They said no way to that."
Doebley explained that the technical committee was actually against the current New Jersey regulations in 1999 when they were proposed, though they satisfied the requirements at the time.
"The trouble was that the catch of smaller fish went up so dramatically after that, it negated what the ASMFC was trying to do," he said.
Doebley said the options the division proposed to the technical committee recently roughly involved two fish at 28 inches or larger, or slots from 24 to 28, 29 or 30 inches with a second fish with a minimum of 34, 36 or 37 inches, or a slot at 26 to 30, 32 or 34 inches with a second fish beginning at 34 inches or larger.
Thomas P. Fote, legislative chairman of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and one of New Jersey's representatives to the ASMFC, said New Jersey's proposals will formally be unveiled before the ASMFC's striped bass board Tuesday.
The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Old Town Alexdandria, 625 First St., Alexandria, Va.
"A state representative will present the options at the Jersey Coast Anglers Association meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Brick municipal building, and the clubs will then have a chance to decide what they support," Fote said.
The JCAA meeting is not open to the public or to members of fishing clubs other than their appointed representatives.
Fote said the division has not set the times, dates or locations for the public hearings, but he thought at least three, possibly four, would be held.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/21/04
By:John Geiser
New Jersey striped bass fishermen concerned about the future of their fishery will have a chance to participate in the management process soon.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife has been working on various proposals to satisfy Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission demands for cutbacks, and opinions will be sought at public hearings in early June.
Michael Doebley, deputy director for government affairs for the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said it is important that anglers get involved.
"I've been talking with anglers all around the state, and they have different ideas," he said. "For instance, shorebound fishermen -- especially in south Jersey -- don't want to lose the slot fish. They want a smaller, tastier fish to take home and eat."
Doebley said the ASMFC's technical committee approved seven options that New Jersey offered for consideration two weeks ago.
"The one they would not consider was the set of current regulations," he said. "They said no way to that."
Doebley explained that the technical committee was actually against the current New Jersey regulations in 1999 when they were proposed, though they satisfied the requirements at the time.
"The trouble was that the catch of smaller fish went up so dramatically after that, it negated what the ASMFC was trying to do," he said.
Doebley said the options the division proposed to the technical committee recently roughly involved two fish at 28 inches or larger, or slots from 24 to 28, 29 or 30 inches with a second fish with a minimum of 34, 36 or 37 inches, or a slot at 26 to 30, 32 or 34 inches with a second fish beginning at 34 inches or larger.
Thomas P. Fote, legislative chairman of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and one of New Jersey's representatives to the ASMFC, said New Jersey's proposals will formally be unveiled before the ASMFC's striped bass board Tuesday.
The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Old Town Alexdandria, 625 First St., Alexandria, Va.
"A state representative will present the options at the Jersey Coast Anglers Association meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Brick municipal building, and the clubs will then have a chance to decide what they support," Fote said.
The JCAA meeting is not open to the public or to members of fishing clubs other than their appointed representatives.
Fote said the division has not set the times, dates or locations for the public hearings, but he thought at least three, possibly four, would be held.