2011 Fishing Regulations

[Great American Fisherman]

Maybe Captain TB can give some insight on this.  Or someone else.  Do we have a general idea on when the 2011 Saltwater Fishing Regulations will come out?  For me most importantly Black Sea Bass and Blackfish.

If Black Sea Bass opens in May like in 2010, my hope is that instead of closing in October we just keep it open until the end of the year or beyond. 

I guess there is no hope for a real Blackfish Season.  Even if they opened it on November 1.  Delaware is from September 27 to sometime in May and its 10 fish at 14 inches. 

As far as the Fluke goes.  I'd like to see it go a tad longer.  Later in September at least.

If someone has some insight I'd appreciate it.  But I understand its early.

Be good!

[jimbuoy]

I just went to a couple of bait shops this weekend to pick up the 2011 saltwater regulations. They are not available yet. All of the shops advised that the 2011 regs will be out at the end of March.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that until the 2011 regs come out we are to follow the 2010 regs.

AGAIN I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS CORRECT.

[Hotrod]

Yes . you are correct   and...

[Fireman Ed]

 

[Mark From PA]

How crazy.  2011 regs don't come out until the first quarter is over.  Just another example of the mismanagement of the regulators.  Regulations should be based on a long term approach to preservation, not a year to year juggling act.

[CaptTB]

2011 regs for Sea Bass were set back in December.
From the December MAFMC Press Release:

The Council and Board adopted coastwide management measures for the 2011 recreational black sea bass fishery. These include a 13-inch TL minimum fish size, a 25 fish possession limit, and an open season from July 1 to October 1 and November 1 to December 31.

There is the POTENTIAL for those regs to change sometime in the near future. This also from the press release:

The measures will remain in effect for 2011 until the ASMFC approves an addendum to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Plan that implements regional specifications for black sea bass that would achieve the necessary reduction in fishing mortality for 2011. Once the addendum is in place, the Council and Board agreed that management measures in Federal waters would revert to the same measures in place for 2010 - a 12.5-inch TL minimum fish size, 25 fish possession limit, and an open season from May 22 to October 11 and November 1 to December 31.

The addendum is still in the public hearing phase (just had ours in NJ last week) and there is NO GUARANTEE that the addendum will even pass, and even if it passes it may be different from what they originally speculated, and even if it passes it may not do so until well into the fishing year, and even if it passes only FEDERAL WATERS (outside 3 miles) regs will revert to 2010 regs, no one yet knows for sure what states will be in what regions with what set of state waters regs. Lots of ifs, only ONE certainty. That is, until something changes out regs are 25 fish, 13 inches and a season from July 1 to October 1 and November 1 to December 31.

Porgy regs were also set already:

the Council and Board adopted status quo
(same as 2010) measures for federal and state waters in 2011 for scup.

Bluefish regs were set back in August and were also status quo. Our other fisheries are state by state regs (Weakfish, Blackfish, Winter Flounder) 2010 regs remain in effective until/unless any other changes are made at any given time.

For Fluke regs see the next post!

[CaptTB]

Fluke regs will be decided at the NJMFC meeting on April 7th (meeting used to be a March date each year, it got pushed back to April due to changes in the ASMFC meeting schedule) Here is the list of approved and unapproved options for NJ.


New Jersey
2010 Harvest Target: 997,000 fish
2010 Landings: 593,677 fish
2011 Harvest Target: 1,335,000
Alteration for 2010 unadjusted: 125% liberalization
2010 Regulations:
Minimum Size: 18”
Possession Limit: 6 fish
Open Season: May 29-September 6
Proposed 2011 Measures:

Option Min Size Bag Limit Open Season Liberalization*
1 18” - 6 - May 28-September 5 - 31%
2 17.5” - 6 - May 28-September 5 - 117%
3 17” - 6 - May 28-September 5 - 207%
4 17.5” - 6 - May 21-September 11 - 139%
5 17.5” - 8 - May 21-September 11 - 145%
6 18” - 6 - May 14-September 18 - 61%
7 18” - 8 - May 14-September 18 - 62%
8 18” 6 May 2 – Sept 30 88%
9 17”/18” - 1/5 - May 28-September 5 - 97%
10 17”/18” - 1/5 - May 14-September 18 - 141%
11 17”/18” - 1/7 - May 28-September 5 - 97%
12 17”/18” - 1/7 - May 14-September 18 - 142%
13 17.5”/18” - 1/5 - May 28-September 5 - 72%
14 17.5”/18” - 1/5 - May 14-September 18 - 110%
15 17.5”/18” - 1/7 - May 28-September 5 - 73%
16 17.5”/18” - 1/7 - May 14-September 18 - 111%

(* Liberalization results based on catch per trip from NJ VAS and average coastwide weight per fish of 3.35 pounds
Additional Factors accounted for in proposal:
Averages of the most recent three years of data (2008 through 2010) were used, this was more conservative than if only 2010 data were used.

Technical Committee Recommendation:
Approve all options but 3, 4, 5, 10, and 12. Technically in the proposal the dual size limit will work but it will make future years analysis more difficult.)

Options 10 thru 16 offer a dual size and bag limit. First number in size limit corresponds to first number in bag limit (always 1 fish at reduced size limit) then the rest of the bag limit is at the larger size. For example: option 16 would give each angler one fish at 17.5" or greater and 7 additional fish at 18" or greater each day.

Between now and April 7th the state will shorten the list (removing unapproved options and listening to the advisors opinions, etc.) and will present the final list to the public for comment at the April 7th meeting. Then, the council will vote to decide which option becomes our regulations for Fluke. Other than the date change of the meeting this is how our regs have been decided every year for the past decade.

[wb]

wow slot limit proposals

3, 5, or 12 work for me

[IrishAyes]

Warren, options 3, 5, and 12, along with 4 and 10, were taken off the table. The possible overage was too much and it would probably lead to more restrictive limits in the future.

[Bucktail]

I'll take one from column A and two from column B.

[Bottom Dweller]

7

[IrishAyes]

I favor #8. Longest season. Still 18" and 6 fish is enough for anyone. 

[Bottom Dweller]

That too!

[Noworries2009]

Been talking with alot of local fluke fishermen for weeks and option #8 with the longest season  is the one that seems to have the most benefit. Especially with no sea bass in May a strong possibility. At least the head boats/tackle shops can benefit from the longer season. Maybe fit in an extra tournament too 

[Tacklebox Joe]

thanks capt !

[Mark From PA]

Given the options #8 with the longer season sounds good.  Although I only found 1 over 18 last season (About 200 under from 15 to 17.5).  Maybe they all grew enough over the winter.