The Fishing Line: Elusive Stripers Keep Fishers Guessing

Weather can be brutal for fishing this time of year but despite that, catches of porgies, blues, sea bass, and triggers have been reported. Tog are around, too, and starting Nov. 15, the limit goes to six fish at 15 inches. Waiting for those stripers? This information from the RFA should be of great interest: At their October meeting, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted to reduce the annual harvest of striped bass by 25 percent or more along the coast, and by just over 20 percent in the Chesapeake. The motion, which passed 14-2, calls for reducing harvest in the coastal recreational fishery by implementing a one fish bag limit while keeping a 28-inch size limit. However, as per regulations set forth in the official striped bass management plan, states may use conservation equivalency to develop their own state-specific measures so long as any combination of size and bag still achieves a 25 percent reduction in harvest.
The approved addendum will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2015. ASFMC Technical Committee will have to review any submitted conservation equivalency proposals by the states with the Board to review and consider approval at the Commission’s Winter Meeting in Alexandria, Va., Feb. 3-5. Addendum IV is available at www.asmfc.org, under Breaking News. As I write this, results are not in yet from the local meeting in Absecon held Nov. 6 which will address how NJ responds to the new regulation.
Register by Nov. 7 for the free Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) training Nov. 14-16, Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education in Waretown (Ocean Co.), geared for adult staff and volunteers of youth-centered community and/or faith-based organizations, as well as schools, looking to offer a youth fishing, conservation and aquatic education program.
HOFNOD is a great way to introduce youth to fishing, learning about their local waters and other natural resources while supporting positive outdoor recreation activities and life skills. The program is flexible enough to be used by most organizations. For information www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2014/hofnod_train11-14.htm
Join the American Littoral Society and learn how you can volunteer during a time of oil-spill disaster along the coast or in our coastal waters. Free workshop, tomorrow, Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-noon, Jacques Cousteau Research Reserve, 130 Great Bay Blvd,
Tuckerton. Contact: Stevie Thorsen, stevie@littoralsociety.org, 732-291-0055
Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament, Nov. 22, biggest striper and bluefish. Registration $30 includes party/awards dinner. Pre-register at Tackle Direct or 602-8957. Late registrations Anchorage Tavern, Somers Point, 6-8pm Nov. 21. Fishing is open to back bays, surf, and boats to three miles out, 7am to 4pm and in the waters off Absecon Inlet to Hereford Inlet. All proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For information or to download a registration form: www.artshed.com/fight. The tournament honors local fisherman and surfer Chris Hagel who lost his fight with leukemia in 2005. Since his passing the Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament has raised over $30,000.
NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will be releasing 9,500 yearling brown and rainbow trout just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. The trout, 8 to 10 inches in length, will be distributed into 23 lakes around the state beginning Nov. 24. This is in addition to the 25,000 trout released in 17 streams and 14 lakes in October. njfishandwildlife.com/news/2014/wntrtrt14.htm
The Fishing Line runs year round so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures (including some that didn’t appear in print) are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Check out Miller’s new children’s book “Counting the Fish in the Sea: The Story of the NEAMAP Trawls” on www.epektales.com