New regulations for the recreational and commercial harvest of black sea bass, summer flounder, and weakfish became effective in New Jersey on March 25.
The regulation changes include a reduction in the recreational black sea bass season, a minor change in the summer flounder recreational season and a recreational and commercial possession limit reduction for weakfish.
ASMFC established a coastwide black sea bass season of May 22 through Sept. 12, possession limit and minimum size remain at 25 fish per day and 12.5 inches.
The Board approved the NJ Marine Fisheries Council recommendation to change the NJ summer flounder recreational season to May 29 through Sept. 6, which includes both Memorial Day and Labor Day. The recreational possession limit and minimum size remain at six fish per day and 18 inches.
The Board implemented measures to promote stock rebuilding of weakfish, which results in a recreational possession limit of one fish per angler per day. The former limit was six fish per angler per day.
Miss Chris reports very good striper fishing. Fishing has rapidly improved with a lot of limit catches with whole boat limits on some past trips. Fish continue on clams and storm shads. Miss Chris is sailing daily at 8 a.m.
James Colburn, Philadelphia; Peter Delhon, Cherry Hill; Derek Masterson, Philadelphia; along with Harvey Leames and Kevin Keenan both from Drexel Hill, caught the limit on a recent Miss Chris trip with fish up to 36-inches.
The Royal Flush, Wildwood, is back in the water and ready to go. Give Captain John a call and plan to enjoy these April days.
The annual Cape May County Fishing Contest is considered one of the longest continuously running contests of its kind in the U.S. Results of the County’s year-long 2009 Fishing Tournament have been released:
Bluefish, 12-pounds 8-ounces, Greg deFelice, EHT; Drumfish, 89-pounds, Mark McPherson, North Cape May; Flounder, 12.51-pounds, Garry Ober, Medford; Porgy, 3-pounds 10 ounces, William Meyer, East Greenville, Pa.; Seabass, 6-pounds 7-ounces,
Ron Waller, Toms River; Sheepshead, 14-pounds 2-ounces, Joe Parson, Cape May, Striped Bass, 64-pounds, Bill Kampf, North Wildwood; Tautog, 11.35-pounds, Phil Mansfield, Ridley Park, Pa.; Weakfish, 15.65-pounds, Stephen Buchanan, Avalon; Snowy Grouper, 48.5-pounds, Pat Lynch, Galloway.
Rules and Regulations as well as other information about the annual contest such as prior year winners can be found on the Tourism Department website at www.thejerseycape.com
Remember: Trout fishing season opens April 10.
Sandy, a white spotted bamboo shark, has given birth to a healthy baby shark and the Atlantic City Aquarium is asking children ages 12 and under to submit a name for the baby shark, via the “Contact Us” page www.acaquarium.com.
Send your fish stories and photos to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All photos submitted appear online at SeeMyBigFish.com.
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