Author Topic: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd  (Read 6730 times)

Offline Bucktail

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Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« on: March 27, 2014, 12:14:02 PM »
Recreational Fishing Alliance  
Contact:  Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732  
March 27, 2014

RFA-NJ Hosts Public Discussion in Manahawkin With NJDEP  
  
Slot striper? One fish bag limit? Increase the size from 28 to 34 inches? Leave it alone?

When it comes to striped bass, everyone's got a management answer - but what exactly is the question that fisheries managers are asking? Whether you fish by boat or by beach, if you're a New Jersey striped bass angler the time for management discussion has arrived!

On Wednesday, April 23rd from 7 to 9 p.m., join Russ Allen of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Holiday Inn on Route 72 in Manahawkin, just east of Exit 63 off the Garden State Parkway, for a special public forum exclusively on striped bass management.

Hosted by the Recreational Fishing Alliance's New Jersey Chapter (RFA-NJ), this free event features an overview of the latest Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) striped bass assessment results, current coastwide stock status, New Jersey's survey results and potential ASMFC management actions.

The forum will offer attendees a unique glimpse at what fisheries managers discussed at the ASMFC Striped Bass Board meeting back in February. ASMFC will take up the striped bass discussion again at their spring meetings in Alexandria, VA which start on Monday, May 12th. In response, the public will be asked to comment on a series of management options this summer which are designed to meet conservation goals and targets for Atlantic Coast striped bass stocks; any changes to the recreational or commercial sector are expected to be implemented in time for the 2015 calendar year.

Organizers at the RFA-NJ say the Wednesday, April 23rd event at the Holiday Inn of Manahawkin is designed as an open forum for individual saltwater anglers, for-hire captains and members of the recreational tackle community, those with a direct interest in the future of striped bass management along the coast.

"We held a similar forum in February at the Atlantic City Boat Show which was very well received, but we're hoping this time to get more folks from the surf community involved in the discussions, especially casters from the Central and North Jersey Coast," said RFA-NJ board member Greg O'Connell, recently tabbed as National Shore Access Representative for RFA.

"The planned forum should not only educate anglers on the state of the fishery but also provide an opportunity to have their thoughts and opinions heard by the folks tasked with making the changes," O'Connell said.

Members of the RFA and the RFA-NJ chapter will be reaching out to various fishing club leaders in the coming days to encourage active participation in this public forum, which is being held to inform interested members of the public about the upcoming management discussions, while providing an unofficial forum for public feedback.

"At the boat show there was plenty of discussion about slot fish, poaching, and even some of the out-of-state efforts by some to open the EEZ to striped bass fishing, which as we learned in Atlantic City has very little support in the community," said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio, a longtime opponent of reopening the EEZ to striper fishing. RFA was originally founded in 1996 in part as a response to NOAA Fisheries' efforts to reopen federal waters to striped bass harvest.

"New Jersey anglers are blessed to have one of the leading striped bass experts along the entire Atlantic Coast working in our own DEP offices, and we're very thankful that Russ is offering up his time to meet with the public on April 23rd," Donofrio said.

Donofrio also went on to praise state legislators for their ongoing commitment to the recreational fishing community, particularly with regard to striped bass. At a meeting this past weekend of the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club attended by Donofrio, Capt. Nowalsky and elected officials from the Cape May District, South Jersey anglers learned first-hand that efforts to open up commercial striped bass processing in the state have officially been stalled by one particular Trenton saltwater angler.

"New Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bob Andrzejczak of Cape May County made it fairly clear to his fellow anglers in Strathmere that this unwise legislation would not be going anywhere in his committee," Donofrio said. "This is a bad piece of legislation which we're afraid could create a black market for New Jersey fish to enter restaurants and also pose legal problems with the current gamefish status of striped bass."

"Our thanks to Chairman Andrzejczak for his pledge to defeat those efforts," said Donofrio.

In New Jersey, recreational size limits are set by the New Jersey Legislature; state law also forbids the commercial harvest or sale of striped bass in the state. "Whatever actions the ASMFC decides to take in the coming months, it's going to be up to the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, along with our Governor, to come together to make it work," Donofrio said.

"If you want to see this done right, it's a good idea to get away from those keyboards for an evening and participate in public dialog with your fellow anglers," he added.

Wednesday night, April 23 from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Route 72 in Manahawkin, approximately 1 mile east of Garden State Parkway Exit 63. It's on the South Side of Route 72, just past Home Depot on the right. Admission is free.

About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.
« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 03:35:08 PM by Bucktail »


Offline Hunter 2

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2014, 07:51:55 PM »
Thankyou to the RFA for all they do for us. clp
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Offline fluke - u

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2014, 06:56:21 AM »
Thankyou to the RFA for all they do for us. clp
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Offline bayonne

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2014, 07:57:30 PM »
i say leave it alone the charter boats and head boats would take a big hit if it was made 1 fish or larger size limits i havent seen any decrease in striper fishing to say a change needs to be made i think its actually getting better every year


Offline Bucktail

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2014, 03:06:59 PM »
Is anyone planning on going to this tomorrow night?

STRIPED BASS MANAGEMENT FORUM ON APRIL 23

RFA-NJ Hosts Public Discussion in Manahawkin With NJDEP

A reminder from the New Jersey chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-NJ)...

On Wednesday, April 23, Russ Allen of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will be keynote speaker at a public forum on striped bass management from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Route 72 in Manahawkin.

Hosted by RFA-NJ, the evening's discussion will present an overview of the latest Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) striped bass stock assessments, coastwide stock status and potential management measures.

As noted today in the Asbury Park Press, "the forum promises attendees a unique perspective on what fishery managers discussed at the ASMFC striped bass board meeting in February and what might be on the agenda at the upcoming meetings in May. Based on those meetings, the public is expected to comment this summer on a series of management options designed to meet conservation goals for 2015."

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., where RFA representatives will be on-hand to answer any questions you might have in advance of the actual public forum, which is being designed as an open discussion for individual saltwater anglers, for-hire captains and those with a direct interest in the future of striped bass management along the coast.

There's seating for 200, so RFA-NJ advises attendees to arrive early. Representatives of STORMR jackets will also be with RFA-NJ featuring your chance to win a STORMR jacket, ideal for the upcoming striper season!

Wednesday night, April 23 from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Route 72 in Manahawkin, approximately 1 mile east of Garden State Parkway Exit 63. It's on the South Side of Route 72, just past Home Depot on the right. Admission is free.

Click here for directions.
 
About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.

Offline ChrisL

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2014, 05:25:34 PM »
If it's too windy to fish, I'll be there.   Otherwise I'll be out looking for stripers.   ;D

Offline cricker

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2014, 08:27:27 AM »
i really wish i could make it, i hope someone makes the point that those monster stripers people love to keep over 30 lbs, not only are the most important for breeding but also should be considered a public health risk for consumption, they are loaded with pollutants, i think they should do 1 slot, one over 28"


Offline ChrisL

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2014, 10:32:19 PM »
It was a very interesting and educational meeting. 
Russ Allen gave a great presentation on how the stock is assessed.  He went into detail on historical trends and the current state of the striper population.
The moral of the story seemed to be that the population is on a decline, but still within the established target.  Making some conservation minded changes to the regulations now would help prevent further decline.
The general feeling of those in attendance was that it would be good to decrease the number of large fish harvested and protect some of the previous year class fish from the past 10 years though the adoption of a slot.  The general consensus was that it's best to err on the side of caution to help the population increase while there is still a healthy population. 

Offline Bucktail

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Re: Striped Bass Management Forum on April 23rd
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2014, 11:59:56 AM »
Thanks for the info Chris.  t^


 

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