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I hope it's not to late to rally the troops. NJ anglers/boater need to flood the office of Assemblyma Joe Roberts to force them to post Assembly Bill A3986 for a vote first thing on Monday. This bill if signed into lay would not allow commercial gear to be used on NJ's artificial reefs. These reefs were paid for through contributions ect by recreational fishermen and boaters as well as divers. The use of the gear the comms are useing/losing on the reefs are having a devistating effect on them as well as the fish population that inhabite them. Pleae call Ass. Joe Roberts at 856 742 7600 and urge hime to post this bill for a vote, leave a call back number and demand a return call from his office. If it's not post on Monday it will die and we're goning to have to start all over nest yr. It has already passed the senate 30 to 0, so if we get it passed then it's on to the Gov office.
"Normally, if we inspect 100 guys in every other fishery, you find a 4to 10 percent non-compliance rate. Tog is totally out of control. It'supwards of 30 to 35 percent," said New Jersey Marine EnforcementOfficer Joseph Meyer.
In one bust, a boat had 39 tog and 29 of them were in violation. Tog, aslow growing fish that takes almost a decade to reach sexual maturity,must be 14 inches to keep. The bag limit varies by season.
O'Shea last April expressed concern about "illegal, unreported andunregulated" fishing for tautog in New Jersey. He noted law-enforcementcases showed a noncompliance rate of close to 40 percent, and much ofthe live fish market was being supplied by recreational vessels.
"Obviously, the success of any effort to curb the illegal tautogfishery will depend on changing the compliance rate of recreationalanglers, as well as encouraging law-abiding harvesters to reportillegal activities," O'Shea said.
Commercial fishermen have been in compliance and are upset that a moratorium would also stop them from fishing.
"The commercial fishery is willing to take a reduction if it means nofishery at all," said Greg DiDomenico, of the Garden State SeafoodAssociation.
"Normally, if we inspect 100 guys in every other fishery, you find a 4to 10 percent non-compliance rate. Tog is totally out of control. It's upwards of 30 to 35 percent," said New Jersey Marine EnforcementOfficer Joseph Meyer.
In one bust, a boat had 39 tog and 29 of them were in violation. Tog, a slow growing fish that takes almost a decade to reach sexual maturity,must be 14 inches to keep. The bag limit varies by season.
O'Shea last April expressed concern about "illegal, unreported and unregulated" fishing for tautog in New Jersey. He noted law-enforcement cases showed a noncompliance rate of close to 40 percent, and much ofthe live fish market was being supplied by recreational vessels.
"Obviously, the success of any effort to curb the illegal tautog fishery will depend on changing the compliance rate of recreational anglers, as well as encouraging law-abiding harvesters to reportillegal activities," O'Shea said.
Commercial fishermen have been in compliance and are upset that a moratorium would also stop them from fishing.
"The commercial fishery is willing to take a reduction if it means no fishery at all," said Greg DiDomenico, of the Garden State SeafoodAssociation.
I sent an email to my assembly men Dec. 26th. I have not gotten a rely on their positions. If your assembly person does not act or take a position before the posting. Do not vote for them when they come up for reelection. If the bill is not posted it will die. Looks like the cheap way they can let things go on as usual Your man or women can say " I would have voted for the ban if it had just come up for vote'.
sorry about the 2x post...it's this site...hangs a lot...why I don't come here much.....takes forever to post sometimes...
I don't know if it's the DB software this place uses or lack of bandwidth?
I, for one, have a RECREATIONAL lobster permit, not a commercial. The recreational lobster fisherman are only allowed 10 traps maximum, and they can't be more than 3 miles off shore. Anybody can get one, but you really need a hydraulic/electric pot hauler to check your line. Since the bill targets commercial potters, there will still be recreational lobster pots on the reefs, but probably a lot less total pots. Fisherman will need to respect the flags/pots, because the recreational guys will be on the reef legally.
While this is a good start, it really doesn't affect the majority of the reefs. It can only keep the pots off of the reefs within 3 miles of shore in NJ waters. That is a total of 2 out of I believe 11 reef sites.
ReelNauti - 1/8/2008 4:58 AMWhile this is a good start, it really doesn't affect the majority of the reefs. It can only keep the pots off of the reefs within 3 miles of shore in NJ waters. That is a total of 2 out of I believe 11 reef sites.
This is no start....it failed.....
The bill wasn't voted on yesterday, so that means it is on hold till?
Why not a compromise and push for a trap reduction scheme for the reef. Instead of an all out ban on commercial gear on the reef. Or setting on evens and halves on td loran lines giving loads of room between sets. Maybe your issue could be resolved without the state.
Pots Off The Reef Bill 
