March 16, 2008

Though a federal moratorium on blackfishing in New Jersey is scheduled to become effective on April 1, the changes in regulations proposed by the Marine Fisheries Council should prevent that from occurring.

The council has scheduled an emergency meeting for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Nacote Creek Enforcement Office in Port Republic. Public notice was required in order to hold that meeting, but there's really no need for the public to attend. The council's committee thrashed out the cuts required in order to come up with the 25.6 percent reduction required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Tautog Management Plan, while holding back on implementation in hopes that the ASMFC would accept the reductions already achieved under present regulations. Since the state was voted out of compliance, there is no choice but to quickly enact the new proposals.

Though the bag limit remains at four through April, the spring blackfish season will be wiped out. There will be no recreational blackfishing from May 1 to July 15. The one-fish limit will be continued from July 16 to Nov. 15, primarily as an accommodation to divers. Most of the bag limit is saved for the prime fall season, though it will be reduced from eight to six from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. The minimum size remains at 14 inches.

There are also a number of changes in the commercial seasons. Most importantly, it will be closed from April 15 to June 4, when potters trap great numbers of blackfish full of eggs about to be spawned.

Fluke fishermen worried about how they will be able to find 18-inch keepers this summer will have to do so in New Jersey waters.

New York anglers are faced with even greater restrictions, and their Marine Advisory Council recently voted to recommend an option calling for a 20 1/2-inch minimum with four fish from May 15 to Sept. 1. That recommendation hasn't been made official as yet, but will probably be enacted as there was only one vote against it. Of course, New Jersey fishermen working Ambrose Channel or the New York portions of Raritan Reach will have to observe those regulations and be sure not to transport any smaller fluke caught on the N.J. side through those waters.