I AIN'T NO TREE HUGGER BUT !

[wb]

?--And just asking--Where does the money go in NJ for unused bonus tags??

or even used tags? It sure ain't sprucin' up AC like the billion$ in lottery and casino gambling funds are...

[overbite]

  Where does the tag money go if not used. The same place that the money you put in a parking meter and leave with time left on it. or pass it along

[IKAT]

?--And just asking--Where does the money go in NJ for unused bonus tags??

or even used tags? It sure ain't sprucin' up AC like the billion$ in lottery and casino gambling funds are...

I hope not

[FishOn]

As many have said I personally do not have a problem with people keeping their limit. I do see fault in the regulations on many of our fisheries so I'll save my words for the fisheries managers that want to protect dogfish while we can't find a flounder, weakfish, etc..

However I personally hate the classic bass-stacked-like-wood on a dock photo. Dead bass, fluke, seabass, and ling are not pretty. The angler on the dock appears to have lost the initial excitement. And I don't mean to dog on the for hire captains, but that type of picture just seems to me like it is only for the capt or angler to show they can put limit catches together.  A pile of them appears as systematic destruction of a species. Just saying live action shots when the fish is landed and still lively and the angler still has the adrenaline rush is always a better photo in my opinion.

[BigAl13]

?--And just asking--Where does the money go in NJ for unused bonus tags??

To the obama campaign fund

[overbite]

 
Fish On I respect your opinion But Did you ever see a photo of a Shark. Sail Fish , Marlin, Taken at dock side the taken back or out to sea and dumped. I Have. Ever see how long liners and commercial trawlers dump their By Catches back like Sward fish , Tuna, and many more types of fish. The damage to the sea bed by Roller gear. Lost traps on Reefs that keep on Catching and killing. Photos of Catches have been going on since there were cameras. Its what the fishermen wants for bragging rights. If there is a Dock and fishermen there will be photos of them. And yes it shows what A certain charter boat can produce. A There is commercial fishing and quotes set for dog fish. Only in america do we not find them edible but I have had the batter fried and in England and other parts they are the fish and chips of choice. You Just have to skin and clean Right away and ice them or ammonia sets in, And lastly ever see sea robins thrown up on the beaches in NJ. They to are very edible. and sought after by many nationality's i have seen people on sandy Hook picking up what so called sports men discarded.  Ling were once trash fish, now they are still sewer trout, trash belleys, but people now pay to fish for them
In ending  you have a right to a opinion and not to BASH others for theirs  If its not illeagal its not a sick bird, leave it be Bill

[FishOn]

Fish On I respect your opinion But Did you ever see a photo of a Shark. Sail Fish , Marlin, Taken at dock side the taken back or out to sea and dumped. I Have. Ever see how long liners and commercial trawlers dump their By Catches back like Sward fish , Tuna, and many more types of fish. The damage to the sea bed by Roller gear. Lost traps on Reefs that keep on Catching and killing. Photos of Catches have been going on since there were cameras. Its what the fishermen wants for bragging rights. If there is a Dock and fishermen there will be photos of them. And yes it shows what A certain charter boat can produce. A There is commercial fishing and quotes set for dog fish. Only in america do we not find them edible but I have had the batter fried and in England and other parts they are the fish and chips of choice. You Just have to skin and clean Right away and ice them or ammonia s ets in, And lastly ever see sea robins thrown up on the beaches in NJ. They to are very edible. and sought after by many nationality's i have seen people on sandy Hook picking up what so called sports men discarded.   Ling were once trash fish, now they are still sewer trout, trash belleys, but people now pay to fish for them
In ending   you have a right to a opinion and not to BASH others for theirs   If its not illeagal its not a sick bird, leave it be Bill

Ok, what does dogfish quotas and sea robin collectors have to do with my last post? I don't like when people kill ANYTHING that will not be consumed if that is what you mean. It obviously happens often, doesn't make it right or sporting IMO. I'm not bashing anyone for keeping their limit. I'm just saying the regs are not fair to the fish and made the dumb comment that the same old fishing photo that has been done since the beginning of photography is boring and often not flattering.

I'll rant a bit, 
Regulations are crap because most of the time they are too late. The current condition and the recreational vs commercial regulations on the weakfish fishery is a perfect example. I believe that blowfish,ling and striped bass are going to decline in numbers as well if things continue the way they are. Its not the anglers fault and certainly not the for-hires fault as everyone has a right to earn a living. Its the dumb ass fisheries managers and their junk science that are reactive versus proactive.

[bassnblues]

Not to open a can of worms but I've always wondered why Striped Bass is the only gamefish (that i can think of)  that's not protected during their spawning season.

Fluke , flounder, redfish, snook, sea bass, blackfish, Salmon, freshwater bass and trout seasons are all closed when the species spawns. Just food for thought.

[BigAl13]

probably because the only time ther not past 3 miles in the ocean is during there spawn

[ChrisL]

Not to open a can of worms but I've always wondered why Striped Bass is the only gamefish (that i can think of)  that's not protected during their spawning season.

Fluke , flounder, redfish, snook, sea bass, blackfish, Salmon, freshwater bass and trout seasons are all closed when the species spawns. Just food for thought.

The regulations are modified for spawning waters, back bays and rivers.  Locally, the regs for the Delaware river are designed around spawning season. 
There's no saying that the fish cooperate with when and where the scientist say they should spawn. 

[FishOn]

There's no saying that the fish cooperate with when and where the scientist say they should spawn. 

Which is why a slot limit with a trophy tag would be beneficial.  That way no matter what happens with timing the 20-40lb egg laden females would have to be released. That in combination with getting the gill nets out of the chesapeake and keeping closer tabs or cutting harvest all together  for the VA and NC commercial guys where these fish often winter. In other words gamefish status, just like Florida did to get redfish to rebound and stay that way. Yeh it sucks for the commercial guys trying to make a living but they have proven themselves in the past to be irresponsible with acts such as high grading when they were only allowed 50 fish ( another extremely stupid regulation) vs weight quota. Also if anyone can explain how placing gill nets in the spawning grounds is a sustainable practice, I would love to hear it.

[bassnblues]

I think Florida and to some extent the rest of the Gulf states get it. No nets within 3 miles, spawn season closures, one per year tags to kill some gamefish...And they arguable have the most thriving recreational charter/guide industry of anywhere.

[overbite]

 I have said before I am 71 and have fished since I could walk. along with 4 generations of family. My family has been water related and still is. From The Net Surf fishing boats along the NJ beaches. To the birth of party boats and recreational fishing to today. I have seen feast and famine times of plenty. Regulations Come and go some good, some bad, some made by Knee Jerking. some by luck.  As technology gets better both for Commercial and sport fishermen Laws and regulations are a Must. But Politics play a big part of it all. Many Fish run in Cycles such as Blow fish, Weakfish to name a few. But many have been exploited _ Bunker, Striped Bass, Flounder , Mackerel, Herring,  and so on. But a few regulations were put in place and some results have been made. Their is no love relationship between Sport and Commercial By Commercial I mean any income derived from fishing period, Who has the most money behind them. But Voting is stronger, With all of the so called fishing interest groups preaching They have your interest as #1 is BS they first fill their pockets and only pander to their interests.
If this was not True why are there still pots on the artificial reefs. Paid for Thu Rec. Funds. Where is all the Fed. ex-size tax on all sporting goods and fuel going and being divided, NJ is on the bottom of that heap.  Answers are hard to come by but OPINIONS are of no Shortage. The bunker boats were moved off. Striped Bass made a Game Fish IN NJ.The non US boats have been moved Off. And that again is another story on How The US boats used a loophole and Caught and sold at sea the same fish they wanted protected.  Anyone remember or heard about The Porgy Pirates In The Raritan Bay,
And how they wiped out that fishery. Sorry for the rant  . But Lots of Luck and Vote .
Bill 

[IKAT]

I have said before I am 71 and have fished since I could walk. along with 4 generations of family. My family has been water related and still is. From The Net Surf fishing boats along the NJ beaches. To the birth of party boats and recreational fishing to today. I have seen feast and famine times of plenty. Regulations Come and go some good, some bad, some made by Knee Jerking. some by luck.  As technology gets better both for Commercial and sport fishermen Laws and regulations are a Must. But Politics play a big part of it all. Many Fish run in Cycles such as Blow fish, Weakfish to name a few. But many have been exploited _ Bunker, Striped Bass, Flounder , Mackerel, Herring,  and so on. But a few regulations were put in place and some results have been made. Their is no love relationship between Sport and Commercial By Commercial I mean any income derived from fishing period, Who has the most money behind them. But Voting is stronger, With all of the so called fishing interest groups preaching They have your interest as #1 is BS they first fill their pockets and only pander to their interests.
If this was not True why are there still pots on the artificial reefs. Paid for Thu Rec. Funds. Where is all the Fed. ex-size tax on all sporting goods and fuel going and being divided, NJ is on the bottom of that heap.  Answers are hard to come by but OPINIONS are of no Shortage. The bunker boats were moved off. Striped Bass made a Game Fish IN NJ.The non US boats have been moved Off. And that again is another story on How The US boats used a loophole and Caught and sold at sea the same fish they wanted protected.  Anyone remember or heard about The Porgy Pirates In The Raritan Bay,
And how they wiped out that fishery. Sorry for the rant  . But Lots of Luck and Vote .
Bill 

Bill you know when the DRAGGERS were stopped in th RB as well as I do--you remember --NO Lights at night 

[IKAT]

   OK Have to add my .02 

I think on this subject ALL the states have to be involved that are part of the whole biomass of stripers that we are looking at. As far as NJ goes on the regs. (and I never condoned NJ for taxes etc.) I think they did a good job on the regs. since 1913--see pics.

NOW-for the Charter boats-------I have NEVER-NEVER met one that wasn't worried about the fish stocks(and I know a lot)(full time or part time) and would ever take anyhing above the quota for the trip.

OK--C&R--I will never condone C&R --AFTER--you have your limit---------SO to the guys that go for C&R--what is the purpose?
If I shoot a deer and wound it--I should just let it die???--If I can't find it--NO sometimes takes hours to track it--BUT it is harvested...........
In the water try and track a fish you through back   


BTW in the regs shown  --Years ago we had TROPHY TAGS--THAT WERE METAL---and you can see when that started

And YES it started when the INFLUX of people into the"GARDEN STATE" happened

And for the younger generations that moved to NJ--- They were called GARDEN APARTMENTS--CONDOS--and never stopped   

[ChrisL]

I have to agree that boxing a limit from the start and then switching to C&R doesn't make sense.  What happens when you have a legal limit in the box and then get a fish that can't be revived during the C&R session?
Granted, if done properly, C&R fishing causes little harm to the fish.  Evidence of this is the number of previously tagged fish that are caught again months or years later. Yes, there will be times when the fish is gut hooked, etc. and those are the exception, but it does happen. 

[BigAl13]

I dont keep any stripers i release them all. So if i dont keep my limit i shouldnt fish or are you saying that i can cnr because i dont keep any and if i do gut one or he dont make it i can keep that one

[bassnblues]

C&R has been a common practice in many types of fishing for many years. Many very healthy fisheries are almost completely C&R.

It's the killing part that needs careful management.

[BigAl13]

  thanks

[overbite]

  I for one have nothing but circle Hooks I stopped using all others 12 years or more ago. I even helped start them for fly fishing. and met with  I can not remember the last gut hooked fish, if even for 1, I also have been C&R for 10 or more years now I even passed this along to my grand son ^ years old and a proven fisher boy. ask any one at the Spy House Pier, Rosie has mentored him also. Shes a Legend at the pier and around, May I suggest the use of a circle hook or to make it Mandatory for all game fish, Bill