New Jersey fishing rules force boat to ride out storm at sea

[jackdaniels]

New Jersey fishing rules force boat to ride out storm at sea
RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer
CAPE MAY — The 90-foot fishing boat Jersey Cape is riding out rough weather offshore rather than violate what some say is a too-restrictive fishing law in New Jersey.

The Jersey Cape, which docks at Lund’s Fisheries here on Ocean Drive, sought safe harbor Wednesday morning as stiff northwest winds brought waves of 15 to 20 feet offshore.

The problem: The boat had 5,000 pounds of fluke aboard and New Jersey’s fish landing rules right now only allow 1,500 pounds.

The Jersey Cape was planning to unload this trip in Virginia where it has a permit to unload 7,500 pounds, but then the weather got bad and Capt. Mark Slamb of the Erma section of Lower Township wanted to come in and ride out the storm.

Wayne Reichle, of Lund’s Fisheries, said the Jersey Cape was fishing about 40 miles north of Cape May, which is where the fluke are now, and did not want to go to Virginia just yet. The hope was to ride out the storm in Cape May and then finish the trip.

Reichle said he called marine enforcement agents for the state Division of Fish and Wildlife and they discouraged coming in due to the state’s fish landings laws, which can result in fines for being over the landing limit.

“They didn’t directly say no, but the answer I got was they don’t want to see the boat come in unless it’s a life or death situation or a mechanical failure,” said Reichle.

Captain Mark Chicketano, who heads the division’s Bureau of Law Enforcement, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Reichle said he does not blame marine conservation officers since they are just enforcing the rules. He said the rules should be changed.

Reichle noted the states of Virginia and North Carolina work together in such situations. The fluke landing limit now is 7,500 pounds in Virginia and 10,000 pounds in North Carolina. Reichle noted the two states allow a boat to come ashore with 17,500 pounds and unload that state’s legal catch before heading to the next state to unload the remainder. A boat can come in with quota from another state.

“If Virginia and North Carolina do it, there’s no reason New Jersey can’t do it,” Reichle said.

Another option is to have a conservation officer on hand to watch the unloading, but Reichle said the problem is “there are too few officers” in New Jersey.

Clint Walker, who manages the boats for Lund’s Fisheries, said the fluke trip was to preserve future quota. The small amount of fluke allowed did not make the trip profitable, but future government quota is based on what fishermen land each year. He said the crew hoped to finish the trip, unload in Virginia, catch the 1,500-pound New Jersey quota, and be home for Christmas.

The situation was the buzz at a Coast Guard fishing safety seminar at Schellenger’s Landing on Wednesday morning.

“We should all be allowed to go to safe harbor in bad weather. This is causing accidents up and down the coast. I got a fine of $30,000 a few years ago for my boat coming in due to bad weather,” said fishermen John O’Leary.

Capt. Peter Hart maintained New Jersey is going against centuries of maritime law and tradition that allow boats to seek safe harbor in a storm.

Contact Richard Degener:

609-463-6711

RDegener@pressofac.com

[Big Jay]

Sorry, not shedding a tear. Taking fluke from our waters as a comm to another state?

F**k em...enjoy those 20-25's

[jackdaniels]

Yes, it kind of stinks. We can't catch them and they come here and take them somewhere else where they are legal. However we can't leave NJ and fish Slaughter Beach in Delaware without a Delaware license. Something isn't quite right.

[seapower]

I guess you guy's shouldn't be able to buy or sell out of you're "home" State either??? Pretty backward thinking IMO. Frank

[nautiduck]

Actually JD if you read it again it was a New Jersey boat who has permits for both Jersey and Virginia. I fail to see whats wrong with what he was doing.

[jackdaniels]

That's true. I missed that

[bigeasy]

Excessive, frequently stupid regulations is one of the things killing private enterprise. The other two are excessive taxes and litigation.

You can't get a loan because you can't present a profitable business plan to the bank. The country is in the sh---er.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Excessive, frequently stupid regulations is one of the things killing private enterprise. The other two are excessive taxes and litigation.

You can't get a loan because you can't present a profitable business plan to the bank. The country is in the sh---er.

well said

Mike

[Hatterized]

agree with all said.......BUT.....why should a vessel and its crew be subjected to possible catostrophic conditions....

if this vessel went down and lives were lost.......would be a lot of finger pointing.....

[Big Fish Billy]

Sorry, not shedding a tear. Taking fluke from our waters as a comm to another state?

F**k em...enjoy those 20-25's

Ditto Dat....but landing is one thing, no one can stop the boat from coming into port to safe harbor on anchor, and then going back out after to what ever port they want...without a tie up to a dock......