NJ keepers in NY waters

[newcaddy4j]

I've seen a lot of posts of guys saying they stay out of NY waters for Fluke because of the size limit differences.   

I've been under the impression that its not what waters you fish, its your home port that matters.   So I can fish NY waters and get my NJ keepers as long as I am returning to NJ, not NY.   

I was told its your home port by a NYS DEC official last year.   

To make sure I put a call in to the NY DEC in Stony Brook.  I left a message and as soon as I hear something I'll post here.

[Hotrod]

I do believe you can't have nj size fish in ny waters.

[IKAT]

If you have fish from Jersey in NY and there not 19.5 you could get fined

NY--4@19.5
NJ--5@17.5

So don't have a legal fish from NJ while fishing NY waters under-19.5

Get the NY one here

https://nyfgisales.appsolgrp.com/fgnyia/html/index.jsp

[Andys Delight]

You can not be in NY waters with a Jersey fish.  I know someone out of Jersey City.  He was telling me how they all have to follow NY limits at all times simply because they have no choice but to cross NY waters to get to and from their home port.  If I have intent to fish NY waters at all I usually do so first and then end my trip back in NJ waters.

[newcaddy4j]

Yep you guys were right.  I spoke to a fisheries guy at the NYDEC.  He said as long are you are fishing in NY waters you need the license and need to adhere to the bag limits no matter what home port you go back to.

[IKAT]

Yea I thnk RHODE ISLAND and one other state you dont need the license --but you still need the NY fishing from NJ  

[89stang1]

Personally i think these different size limits for bordering states water really suck!!!! when it comes to a situation like Raritan Bay without clear defining lines its just a trap a real money maker they need to get together and make this a single size limit!. We pay enough $ to keep our boats out there no need for this NONSENSE!

[IKAT]

Does this help   

Just kidding--like they said the guys up the Hudson on the Jersey side--they should have diff. rules.

[89stang1]

Does this help  

Just kidding--like they said the guys up the Hudson on the Jersey side--they should have diff. rules.

NO! i have maps and charts on my boat its the last thing i wanna look at while fishing  the jersey guys up the hudson is just the start of the confusion lots of senarios.....what if im heading towards the back of the bay and i think im not gonna make it back without a gas stop and i pull into Great Kills harbour with jersey fish onboard. Plenty senarios its just a bad formula!

[wb]

its just a trap a real money maker

Agree somewhat, but only if BOTH
A. you don't follow the rules; and
B. they feel like citing you

Ya Sista's A$$ was boarded by NYDEC a few weeks ago. Extremely nice and coureteous, they checked EVERYTHING, efficiently, down to flares and fire extinguishers. Even made me open up mytote holding the stainless BBQ, looking for illegal fish. Bass and fluke on board were all way-NY-good; everything else onboard good too except for the no NY licenses (thought NJ was reciprocal with NY in boundary waters but NOT SO, as they pointed out.)

Inspections concluded with a smile, they gave (and made me key into my phone) the 800-number for free NY license (with promise to register asap,) and were on their way. Can't say enough about how well the whole situation went.

But we were following the rules. I'm sure if we had some NJ-but not NY legal fish we would have been futched.

Also I wonder if a 2012 USCG Auxiliary inspection sticker on the portside window would have avoided  the boarding entirely. Yes, they did maneuver around us to come up on the port side. I guess I should have asked them.

Edit: I just realized my avatar has the shot of the fishbox when boarded. Nothing even remotely close in there....

[Mr Limpett]

Right, You should fish NY waters first, keep NY sized fish, then fish NJ waters.