Effective May 15, the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife’s (Division) Striped Bass Bonus Program will be up and running again for 2023 offering tag holders one fish from 24 inches to less than 28 inches. Applications for individuals and party/charter boats are currently being accepted through October 31. Visit the Striped Bass Bonus Program (SBBP) webpage for application instructions and additional information regarding the 2023 SBBP.
The striped bass bonus is only available to those in possession of the state-issued SBBP tag; as a reminder, bonus harvest reporting is mandatory and must be reported within 24 hours of harvest, and the state also requires tag holders to keep a daily catch log. If a bonus fish is harvested, the SBBP Permit must be securely attached to fish through the mouth and gill immediately upon capture and prior to transportation. SBBP harvest must be reported online or by leaving a message at 609-748-2074. Reporting harvest online allows the Division to issue an additional permit, if requested, in the shortest amount of time. Required reporting information includes name, permit #, phone number, date of harvest, and fish length.
New Jersey is allocated a commercial harvest quota of striped bass under the Striped Bass Interstate Fisheries Management Plan as administered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Since New Jersey does not allow netting or sale of striped bass, this quota was transferred to the recreational fishing sector resulting in the origin of the SBBP.
The current allocation from ASMFC is 215,912 pounds to be distributed between individual anglers and party/charter boats. According to the New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries there were 11,021 bonus permits issued to saltwater anglers in New Jersey in 2022, another 155 to for-hire vessels. According to the BMF data for the year ending December 31, there were 839 fish tagged and harvested by individuals and 4,403 fish from for-hire boats, a grand total of 5,242 SBBP striped bass accounting for 33,642 pounds.
New Jersey initiated the program in 1990 to allow the harvest of an additional striped bass for New Jersey recreational anglers. Although the program has been modified throughout the years, the main goal of the SBBP is to allow anglers to participate in the management process while enjoying their favorite recreational pastime.
It is a popular program and provides valuable data for assessing stock status and fishing trends, making it an integral part of New Jersey’s striped bass management. For details go to dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/striped-bass-bonus-program.
