New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife |
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DIVISION PROPOSES 2001 FISH CODE
July 12, 2000
For more information contact:
Bob Soldwedel at 609-292-8642
The New Jersey Fish and Game Council has scheduled a public hearing for the proposed 2001 Fish Code at 7:30 p.m., August 8, at the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Assunpink Conservation Center on Eldridge Road in Robbinsville, Monmouth County.
"All New Jersey anglers are encouraged to attend and actively take part in shaping the future of their sport," said Division Director Bob McDowell.
The Fish Code describes the legal angling methods, season dates, size and catch limits, and trout stocking locations and dates for freshwater fishing in the Garden State. The regulations are reviewed annually and appropriately revised based on biological findings, changing situations and anglers' recommendations, and then proposed for the next year's code.
Anglers should consider how the following proposed changes to the 2001 Fish Code would affect their fishing and provide the Division with their comments.
- Opening day of the trout season has been set for Saturday, April 7 at 8 a.m. Trout anglers should note that this is the first Saturday in April rather than the second Saturday, which is traditionally when New Jersey's trout season opens.
- The minimum size of an American eel that can be used as bait will be set at six inches. This will prohibit the taking of elvers (juveniles) as required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
- Scarlet Oak Pond in Mahwah (Bergen County) and Riverview Beach Pond in Pennsville Township (Salem County) have been added to the list of trout stocked waters. Both Everittstown Brook and Frenchtown Brook (Hunterdon County) will continue to be stocked with the same number of trout at all their traditional stocking points, but will now be stocked under the name of Nishisakawick Creek.
- Pompton Lake (Passaic County) will be open to fishing during the pre-season trout stocking closure. Trout, if taken during this period (March 18, 2001 to 8:00 a.m. on April 7, 2001) must be released.
- The size limit for lake trout in Round Valley Reservoir will be reduced from 24 inches to 20 inches. Fish population surveys have found an over abundance of lakers between 20 and 30 inches. As a result, the reservoir herring population has been depressed and growth of lakers and other trout species has been poor. If the harvest of lake trout can be increased, the size and weight of the remaining trout should increase as the forage base recovers.
- The size limit for muskellunge and tiger muskies at Lake Hopatcong and Monksville Reservoir will increase from 30 to 36 inches, and at Echo Lake Reservoir from 36 to 40 inches. The daily creel limit at all three waters will be one muskellunge or one tiger muskie. The size limit is being increased to protect fish that could be potential spawning stock.
- To comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's striped bass plan, the size limit on striped bass has been changed from a minimum of 28 inches with a catch limit of two, to one fish of at least 28 inches and one fish between 24 and 28 inches.
- The daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass at Split Rock Reservoir will be three in total. This is being proposed to reduce the immediate harvest when the reservoir's fishing becomes available to the public so that a quality bass fishing experience can be prolonged.
To obtain a copy of the proposed 2001 Fish Code, send a self-addressed, stamped ($0.55 postage) 11" x 14" envelope to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 400, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0400, ATTN: Fish Code. Written comments regarding the code should be submitted by August 16th to Director Bob McDowell at the above address.