Black Sea Bass

[Great American Fisherman]

I asked asked Toni Kerns from ASMFC about the potential of a Black Sea Bass season for January and February 2013. Here is the response.

"The Board does not consider the recreational measures until the December meeting so I can not tell you what the regulations will be. I do know that there is the potential for a Jan/Feb season this year since NOAA added it to the proposed and final rule for the 2012 season. As it is each year, next year’s regulations will in part depended on harvest levels from this year. Both the southern states and northern states have had very good harvest success this year (after wave 3 both regions were close to the harvest target). Please watch our press release for information about Black Sea Bass."

Toni Kerns

Ok, now for reality.  NOAA is saying from Mass to NJ we are at 90 - 95 percent of our total 2012 harvest.  You do the math.   I assume we will have the short season that starts soon.  But I would also assume that the November 1 start date is in question.  Below will be a link to contact US Senator Robert Menendez from NJ.  Write to him and let him know that NOAA is wrong.  Our fishing future is in question.  We could be looking at a sad fluke season next year.  Who knows about blackfish.  We need to fight back and keep writing these politico's.  And remember to vote them out this November.  Here is the link.

http://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/
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[Kenny]

Great update....thanks Jim

[IrishAyes]

   Thanks for keeping us posted on this Jim.

It seems that every fish NOAA regulates takes a turn for the worse. Coincidence?    Or just a government agency not knowing what way is up?   

[Great American Fisherman]

Thanks guys.  But we need our members to write to Menendez.  We have to flood him with letters. If not, our fishing future is over.

[BigAl13]

Sent I think its great that there trying to preserve and or trying to stop over fishing i just think the methods they use to obtain there data are not relevant to real life circumstances

[MJ619]

US Senator Robert Menendez from NJ has never and will not represent anyone effectively in NJ.  I will write him but he is only interested in handouts to non US citizens.  Vote em out.

[Great American Fisherman]

Senator Menendez wrote back to me. I did not vote for him and do not agree with all he stands for. However, he does write back and does some homework before he does. When he says sea bass closed last year, he meant October 2009. Write to him, if enough of us do maybe he will do something as he did in the letter he states in the note to me. Here is his response:

"Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding the closure of the recreational black sea bass fishery. Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this critical issue.



I understand your frustration with NOAA Fisheries' decision to close the recreational black sea bass fishery last October. As someone who represents a coastal state with critical recreational and commercial fishing industries, I recognize the importance of fishing to those who enjoy this pastime and to those whose livelihoods depend on it.



In order to promote sustainable fisheries as well as a robust fishing industry, fisheries management decisions like the one to close the black sea bass fishery must be grounded in accurate and up-to-date data on our fisheries. In too many instances, that is simply not the case. Indeed, some of the same data that led NOAA to close the fishery last October was re-evaluated in February and resulted in NOAA increasing the total allowable catch for black sea bass in 2010 from 2.71 million pounds to 4.5 million pounds. These and other decisions have generated intense skepticism from anglers about the science drivi ng them. I recognize the severity of this problem, which is why I recently signed a letter along with a number of my Senate colleagues calling for increased funding for fisheries data collection. Better data will lead to less uncertainty about the size and health of our fish stocks, which can mean more opportunities for anglers to keep doing what they love.



Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of more assistance. I invite you to visit my website ( http://menendez.senate.gov ) to learn more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate. "