The Fishing Line, Government regulations dominate scene

Spring fishing is here but fishing regulations, registry and licensing issues are still the dominant topics.
The Cape May County Party and Charter Boat Association will hold a very important meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at the Rutgers Co-op Extension Bldg., 355 Court-House S. Dennisville Road, Court House, to discuss the mandated saltwater registry and to debate the need for a saltwater fishing license for New Jersey.
David Chando, director of NJ Fish and Wildlife, will be the guest speaker. This meeting is open to the public and really needs to be well attended.
Much has been written in this column in recent weeks about the possibility of a license and the pros and cons of “free vs. fee” based system.
No one wants to have to pay anything more to fish, but the reality is that in order to meet federal requirements, a registry that can support good data collection is going to cost money. If New Jersey doesn’t set up a strong system, NOAA will do it for us.
Please come out to this meeting and hear both sides of the issues. We cannot afford not to have our voices heard.
The Atlantic Star, Wildwood Crest, report for March 28:
Jerry and Randy Cohen, Cherry Hill; Danny Rekos, Burtonsville, Md; Jim and John Loper, Townbank; all caught the limit of sea bass with fish up to 6-pounds. Ryszard Wieliki and Miroslaw Szydlowska, both from NYC, brought in 24 sea bass each.
Captain reports most anglers had their limit or close to it on a day that turned out to be rainy and foggy, with winds SE to SW at 15 knots. The current against the wind in the afternoon made for tough anchoring.
The Starlight Fleet is running Combo Tile Fish-Sea bass Trips Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday until April 22 and they will be starting four hour fishing on Saturday and Sunday through April with 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. trips. Call 898-0827.
Captain Jim McClintock, Fins&Grins, No Bones Marina, Wildwood, tells me he’s been hitting some pretty phenomenal stripers and tog. Tog season will close April 30 so call him now at 425-3021.
The Winter Flounder Management Board has approved the release of Draft Addendum I to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for the Inshore Stocks of Winter Flounder for public review and comment. The Addendum proposes measures to reduce fishing mortality on the inshore stocks of winter flounder (0 to 3 miles) including recreational bag limits, recreational seasons, and commercial possession limits. Meeting to accept public comment is scheduled for April 16, 7 p.m., Ocean County Administration Bldg, Room 119, 101 Hooper Ave., Toms River, 292-7794.
More than 180,000 trout will be waiting for New Jersey anglers on opening day, April 11, 8 a.m.
NJDEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has posted extensive information about Trout Fishing Season on its Web site including weekly stocking schedules, trout allocations by water and day stocked, fishing locations, regulations and highlights for 2009. The information is in a new and easier to read format and can be accessed at njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_spring.htm
Trout Conservation Areas are not closed during the pre-season period and provide anglers great trout fishing opportunities when most other trout-stocked waters are closed. Only artificial lures may be used in Trout Conservation Areas. Trout caught in any of these waters during this period must be released immediately. Note that fishing is not permitted on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 11.
You can buy and print a fishing license and trout stamp online at wildlifelicense.com/nj/
Delaware River striped bass regulations have changed in Pennsylvania allowing recreational freshwater anglers to harvest a daily limit of two striped bass measuring 20-26 inches from April 1 through May 31, from the Calhoun Street Bridge in Trenton downstream to the Pennsylvania state line.
This change is based on a Delaware study that determined that a number of the above sized male striped bass are in the river during April and May.
New Jersey still has a closed season (catch and release with required use of non-offset circle hooks of size 2 and larger, while fishing any natural bait) for striped bass during the same time period.
Anglers fishing the Delaware River from the New Jersey shoreline, or returning to New Jersey by boat and/or car in April and May must abide by New Jersey’s striped bass regulations. Possession of striped bass in New Jersey is illegal during this time period.
Pequest Trout Hatchery is looking for volunteers for the fishing education instructor training program on Tuesday, April 14 at 8:45 a.m. Contact 908-637-4125 or e-mail Jessica.Griglak@dep.state.nj.us
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories to cmiller@cmcherald.com. This column appears first online at capemaycountyherald.com