The cod season appears to be off to a fast start, but just when you think everything is going so well someone comes along and bursts your balloon.
The close of the 2011 season saw some real good bottom fishing with a state record 21.55-pound blackfish being caught off the south shore.
In 2012, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has set new recreational and commercial fishing rules for blackfish. These emergency changes are necessary to comply with interstate management measures they say will help rebuild blackfish populations that have been caused by overfishing by commercial interests.
As a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, New York is required to develop recreational and commercial fishing limits that prevent New York State fishermen from harvesting more blackfish than the population can sustain. The ASMFC mandated that most of its member states, including New York, significantly reduce their harvest of blackfish because the population was at a low level.
The recreational season has been shortened by 70 days and now only runs from Oct. 8-Dec. 4. In addition, the minimum size limit has been increased by two inches to 16 inches total length. The possession limit of four fish per day remains unchanged.
Now get this, the commercial minimum size limit has been increased by an inch to 15 inches total length. The season and trip limits for the commercial harvest of blackfish will not change in 2012. That’s it, the people who caused the blackfish populations to dwindle go unscathed.
Happy New Year.
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The 29th Annual Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show is going on at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Raritan today through Sunday. Show Hours are today from 1-9 p.m., tomorrow from 9 a.m-8 p.m.; and on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
There are hunting and fishing seminars and the Garden State Deer Classic will be on hand and presented by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. It has been a part of this show since 1999. This statewide competition is open to all New Jersey deer hunters and is one of the most prestigious contests in the state. More than 50 of New Jersey’s most outstanding whitetail deer from this year’s hunting season will be on display.
For more informations and directions to the Expo Center, visit http://www.gsoss.com.
ken.moran@nypost.com