February 13, 2014 — The buzz at the docks this week was the announcement from the state of the closure of commercial menhaden fishing and speculation about what that means for recreational fishermen.
“At first glance, many recreational anglers will cheer this as a good thing, but the reality of this is that small businesses will suffer,” said Bob Matthews of Fisherman’s Den in Belmar.
The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife closed the commercial pound net, otter trawl, gill net, and bait net fisheries effective 12 a.m. Thursday on the basis that 2014 quotas had been reached by Wednesday.
However, the principal harvesters of menhaden in New Jersey — the purse seine fishermen — are not shut down and will still be able to ply their trade this year.
For recreational fishermen, who were hoping that menhaden would not be subject to the usual commercial pressures this year, that is not the case.
There is still plenty of uncertainty about how the bait supply to charter and party boats and tackle shops will pan out.
Read the full story from the Asbury Park Press