First day back.....

[SurfJockey]

Wet some lines in a few areas with Fireman Ed today in search of some early bass.  We hit up the Barnegat public docks around 9am.  Wind was blowing around 15.  No hits on some salted clams I had.  After calling it quitskys we then headed over to Oyster Creek to see what was going on.  Talked to a few guys, one of them showed us a nice 12#'er he had caught on the overnight.  We returned and fished around 9pm. Chucked some clams and Gulp bloodworms.  Wind still crankin around 10-15.  No takers.  Thought I had a few taps, but coulda been the bottom as we were drifting hi-lo's with 3 ozs.  Nice to get the rod & reel back in my hands and come home a little stinky.  Not long before it's gonna get going.

[Kenny]

Hey nice try today Jason!
Your right....soon my friend!

[SurfJockey]

Forgot to mention.....Had a Conservation Officer roll up on us over at the docks, and make sure we had our registry cards.  First time I've been asked.

[paul-e]

 

[Hotrod]

 

[Bucktail]

Nice try guys.

[Pops Soul]

Nice Try Jason Didn't try tossin some of those new plugs to see how they swim?

[Fireman Ed]

atleast we werre out there...

[fishingfever]

bass come this early in the year?

[Bucktail]

These bass have been there all winter.  As the water warms, so do  their metabolisms and appetites.

[rugman]

Nice what is the fine if you don't have the card ?

[Hunter 2]

Nice try Jason

[SurfJockey]

Nice what is the fine if you don't have the card ?

Not sure Arty.  Anyone know? 

[Bucktail]

Pretty sure there is no penalty for not having a card.

From the NOAA site:

What is the penalty for not registering?

Penalties will vary, depending upon the circumstances of a specific situation.

Sounds like BS to me.

https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/faq_registry.html#19

[fishingfever]

Its always great to get out the fishing rods after a long winter

[Scott G.]

 

[wb]

Pretty sure there is no penalty for not having a card.

From the NOAA site:
What is the penalty for not registering?

Penalties will vary, depending upon the circumstances of a specific situation.

Yep, I talked to a couple CO's last year and they both said they were giving warnings only for the first year, and that a lot of people were unaware of the new regs. Also a NPS ranger on SH I chatted with said the same thing.

Unless of course they thought you were doing something else wrong.....

But now we're going into the second year....

[gagedylan]

bass come this early in the year?

in Oyster Creek, you can catch bass all year, as long as the power plant is active. the water temp stays at around 72 degrees

[Tacklebox Joe]

Not to sidetrack the thread but have a Question: If the bill just signed only requires by law the DEP to create a registry which doesn't exist yet why do a lot of guys think they don't have to register with the feds or have a SWL from another state? Why do they think they will not get fined?

I have had many conversations with guys who think they do not have to register with the feds and/or hold a SWL from another state. This is untrue unless am I wrong....am I? If i am then how? No registry exists until such a time dep creates one correct? Therefore, you would still have to register and be subjected to a waring / fine if you haven't registered,  until such a time NJ has it's own federal approved program...correct? or am i off here....think not but could be.

[IrishAyes]

You are correct Joe. Registry needed from feds until NJ gets theirs in gear.