The Fishing Line: The March is on

Today, fishers from every walk of life, recreational, charter, and some commercial, are marching in Washington, DC to draw attention to “the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA). Rally organizers are hoping to see a large show of force in defense of coastal communities.” (RFA)
What should have been a watershed moment for the fishing industry (MSA) has become a logistical and statistical nightmare.
Kudos to Sen. Charles E. Shumer (NY) for his recent statements urging the Secretary of Commerce to “scrap MRFSS” and pose a “Moratorium On Flawed Survey Data.”
On a better note, striper season opens on March 1: two fish, 28-inches or larger.
We are awaiting final decisions on regulations for catching weakfish, winter flounder, porgies and fluke.
Bill (bucktail willie) Shillingford brought me up-to-date on summer flounder. Currently there are 11 proposals for 2010. These will probably be cut to five or six before the first public meeting but in general here are the specs: There will be significant differences between North and South Jersey; Proposals range from longer seasons with size set at 18.5-inches with 4, 6 or 8 fish to 18-inches; Season that includes both Memorial and Labor Day with 4 or 6 fish.
South Jersey Charter Boat Association is in favor of the 18-inch fish and a May29-Sept 6 season with a six fish bag. This proposal captures both holidays. Willie and Captain Ray prefer this one, too.
There are other plans where the season is longer but they require an 18.5-inch fish. There is a real risk if size goes up and the same flawed data is used, NJ will over fish its allotment by a significant amount. In New York the past years, each year the size went up and NY over fished leading to last year’s limit of two fish at 20.5-inches.
These larger fish are mostly females. “So far since they have been regulating fluke, we have never seen the size go back down. Other states who have gone for the larger fish have all been now reduced to very large fish, a very small bag limit and a very short season,” Captain Ray told me.
Not good at all.
The next meeting is scheduled for March 4 at 4 p.m. The meeting has been moved from Gallaway to the Toms River Township Office, 33 Washington St. It would be really good for South Jerseyians to make a strong showing.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found the State of New Jersey out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks.
Delaware Bay has been identified as one of the most important nursing grounds for depleted sandbar sharks on the Atlantic Coast.
Action may include a federal moratorium on fishing for all 40 species of coastal sharks managed under the FMP in New Jersey’s state waters. For information, contact Robert Beal 202-289-6400.
Info on the DC March next week.
For Kids: Entries for the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Native Fish Art and Writing Contest must be received by Friday, March 5. For details go to njfishandwildlife.com/fishart.htm
Be sure to send your fish stories to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All photos submitted appear online at SeeMyBigFish.com. This column appears first online at capemaycountyherald.com