I am an avid recreational fisherman from Tuckerton, N. J. who fishes the waters off Long Beach Island, N.J. I am appalled by the unsubstantiated decision of the National Marine Fisheries Service to shut down sea bass fishing on October 5th based on flawed and insufficient data regarding the health and status of the fishery. This will be devastating to our already depressed economy in NJ, of which the rippling effect will have a significant "negative" impact on thousands of Jersey shore businesses (who pay significant tax dollars to NJ) including party/charter boats, marinas, bait & tackle dealers, and the employees who could lose their jobs because of this decision by NMFS.
If these regulators would leave their desks and come to NJ to fish our waters for sea bass, they would quickly find out that sea bass are more abundant than ever before with the vast majority being around 12" in size (legal last year) which we return to the water in order to adhere to the new 12 1/2" size minimum. The ratio of fish released vs. those kept is probably 25/1 leaving many fish to grow larger and build the stock. When your fishing rig hits the bottom, you immediately have two fish on--There is no shortage of sea bass! Yet, I am lucky if I come in after a full-day of fishing with just one-half dozen fish--and the regulators think that is over-fishing??
The recreational fishermen are doing more than their job to protect the fishery and should not be punished by regulators who rely on flawed and insufficient data (data they admit is insufficient) to make their decisions.
This is AMERICA and we should have the right to catch sea bass and feed our families. My family, fishing friends, and I will no longer RE-ELECT ANYONE who supports the NMFS if this agency should continue to make such decisions.
The Recreational Fishermen and Fishing Industry in NJ desperately need your help, and I ask for your SUPPORT in this matter!
Yours truly,