Western Sound Blackfishing 2019

[poorrichard]

I would like to see the potting of blackfish stopped or controlled too. The DEC seems to either ignore the problem or is afraid to take it on. My opinion is they want no part of addressing the issue. The old Shoreham pipeline used to be a great spot to blackfish years ago. I heard that this year someone counted 90 plus pots in the are. No fish population can sustain that kind of pressure. Again. I haven't seen the DEC in the area in years. I am on the water multiple times a week.

Keep in mind the reason we are catching so many small fish is the keepers get taken in the first couple of weeks in the season and only the undersized fish are left on the grounds.

A slot requirement may help. This would keep the larger breeding population in the water for a few more years while the kiddies get time to grow to reproducing age.

 

[rabiatou]

many traps are unmarked write to dec and your city and state rep you may get some action crazy idea go back to 15inch.

 

[george]

At $10-15 a pound live will always result in poaching. This season was promising, but there were a lot of fish between 15-16 inches that went back.

There are discussions happening now behind the scenes to get a hold of this fishery. Finally, there has been some money spent on something other than striped bass. For these studies,all states ill need to regulate potting better than they are now.

 

[rabiatou]

thanks but the poachers who use unmarked traps don't care about regulation. reminds me of dec checking families out fishing not the poachers working at night

 

[george]

thanks but the poachers who use unmarked traps don't care about regulation. reminds me of dec checking families out fishing not the poachers working at night

It's going to be tough selling illegal tog next year with the tag requirement. It worked well on striped bass.

 

[rabiatou]

I hope you're right now tell me where all the blues and fluke went. thanks

 

[BennyV]

Great discussion. All I can say is where there’s a will there’s a way.

I honestly wish we could get the PBs more involved somehow. The data that could be collected would be potentially game-changing.

 

[george]

Great discussion. All I can say is where there’s a will there’s a way.

I honestly wish we could get the PBs more involved somehow. The data that could be collected would be potentially game-changing.

Problem there is the lack of trust between the industry and fisheries managers. But I do agree there’s a ton of data there.

 

[flounderbound]

I don`t know how the tag system will work but there are corrupt buyers out there,These are the people buying 12-14" blackfish.

 

[george]

I hope you're right now tell me where all the blues and fluke went. thanks

It’s obvious somethings up with bluefish. Let’s hope it’s cyclical but until then we will probably see tighter regs on bluefish soon. As for fluke, I am as disappointed as anyone with the way this season went in the sound. I’ve never seen it that bad before.

it is kind of ironic that the only fish that people care about - striped bass - seems to be in better shape than most fisheries.

 

[george]

I don`t know how the tag system will work but there are corrupt buyers out there,These are the people buying 12-14" blackfish.

It can never be stopped due to exactly what you mention but it will reduce it substantially. And it’s a step in the right direction. I was at the meeting and saw the pushback on tags by the coms in attendance.

Next step is to get all of the pots registered just as they did in the lobster fishery. Also pots should be set relative to the number of tags you have. I’ll never know why anyone would need 1000 pots when there’s a 25 fish a day commercial bag limit. That limit is a law not a regulation and it’s not going to change anytime soon. I should know as I was at the table while this bill was negotiated.

At the time.the only tog taken in pots were bycatch in the lobster fishery And they wanted to keep them. So we backed off not knowing that the. Lobster fishery would soon after collapse resulting in the targeted pot fishery we see today.

 

[JoeBfishing]

George, has it always been 25 fish bag limit a day? Or 25 fish per trip?

 

[BennyV]

Problem there is the lack of trust between the industry and fisheries managers. But I do agree there’s a ton of data there.

Based on conversations I had with many captains this past year I think they would buy into collecting data. A simple app on a smartphone would be a great way to do it. Anything more than that is a hassle. Remember those special trips some guys were running a few years back? RSA or something like that. Guys hated filling out the paperwork and faxing it in.

 

[BennyV]

I don`t know how the tag system will work but there are corrupt buyers out there,These are the people buying 12-14" blackfish.

I agree Pete. Unfortunately there is always going to be a few bad apples. Unless the fines and punishment are so severe that it literally is not worth the risk.

I for one would like to see stepped up enforcement on ALL fronts. Commercial & recreational. I’ve heard stories about certain PBs allowing customers to keep short fish. That is simply unacceptable.

Unfortunately there is just not enough DEC officers in our area and the ones that are there simply don’t have the knowledge of where to look.

 

[secjurny]

The DEC knows where to look...with lack of man power only so much gets done.....the problem I see is the FINE is nothing just the price of doing business ...….. take the boat...take the vehicle.....take the equipment....etc the ones that get fined are out the next day doing it all over.......

 

[george]

George, has it always been 25 fish bag limit a day? Or 25 fish per trip?

It's a day. I'm guessing the bill was passed about 15 years ago. I did find something Of interest just now as it appears that DEC has a lot more to say about tog management than I thought: But I'm not sure. Maybe or resident scientist can check it out?

This was passed June 2019

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 13-0340-d of the environmental
conservation law, as amended by chapter 140 of the laws of 2016, is
amended to read as follows:
1. The department may, until December thirty-first, two thousand
[nineteen] TWENTY-TWO, fix by regulation measures for the management of
blackfish (Tautoga onitis), including size limits, catch and possession
limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, restrictions on the
manner of taking and landing, requirements for permits and eligibility
therefor, recordkeeping requirements, requirements on the amount and
type of fishing effort and gear, and requirements relating to transpor-
tation, possession and sale, provided that such regulations are no less
restrictive than requirements set forth in this chapter and provided
further that such regulations are consistent with the compliance
requirements of applicable fishery management plans adopted by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and with applicable
provisions of fishery management plans adopted pursuant to the Federal
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1800 et seq.).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

[BennyV]

It's a day. I'm guessing the bill was passed about 15 years ago. I did find something Of interest just now as it appears that DEC has a lot more to say about tog management than I thought: But I'm not sure. Maybe or resident scientist can check it out?

This was passed June 2019

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 13-0340-d of the environmental
conservation law, as amended by chapter 140 of the laws of 2016, is
amended to read as follows:
1. The department may, until December thirty-first, two thousand
[nineteen] TWENTY-TWO, fix by regulation measures for the management of
blackfish (Tautoga onitis), including size limits, catch and possession
limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, restrictions on the
manner of taking and landing, requirements for permits and eligibility
therefor, recordkeeping requirements, requirements on the amount and
type of fishing effort and gear, and requirements relating to transpor-
tation, possession and sale, provided that such regulations are no less
restrictive than requirements set forth in this chapter and provided
further that such regulations are consistent with the compliance
requirements of applicable fishery management plans adopted by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and with applicable
provisions of fishery management plans adopted pursuant to the Federal
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1800 et seq.).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

25 per day.

So what the bad apples are doing is running out getting their 25. Running back to port dropping 25 and running back out. Rinse and repeat.

Some guys used to actually load up and take a chance. They take those fish and fill up pens with 25 fish per closer to port.

 

[PropellerJohnII]

I was out yesterday for the whole flood. Slowest day of the year. Water about 47 on the surface. breeze from the NW. Fish very sluggish. Still managed quite a few, but nothing over 15" and most about 13" using sinkers and jigs.

Greens and asians got the same interest. Lots of green halves came back with all the good stuff sucked out.

A few bass to 26" and some rats on the way out on shads. No mid-sound schoolie action noticed.

Good report

 

[PropellerJohnII]

I hope you`re right about the small blacks,Benny.I have my doubts because many poachers at my marina have been keeping blacks as small as 12" for the market.And I`m not talking a few fish. These pedofiles are getting upwards of 50 lbs.a trip. Disgusting.

Grrrrrrr, Confiscate their boats. Gotta make a clear example.

 

[PropellerJohnII]

The DEC knows where to look...with lack of man power only so much gets done.....the problem I see is the FINE is nothing just the price of doing business ...….. take the boat...take the vehicle.....take the equipment....etc the ones that get fined are out the next day doing it all over.......

Exactly. Amen brother.??