The Striped Bass Bonus Program (SBBP) in New Jersey officially reopened as of September 1, 2016. Anglers are reminded that permits issued for 2015 are not valid this season, which runs through December 31. Applications are available for the 2016 season at the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife’s website.
The number of permits issued will be limited at the Division’s discretion based on harvest reports and other factors to ensure that the 2016 quota is not exceeded; deadline for submitting all applications is October 31 and applications postmarked after the deadline will not be processed.
Non-SBBP regulation in all state waters is one fish 28 inches to less than 43 inches and one fish at 43 inches or greater. Effective September 1, 2016, the SBBP regulations are one fish 24 inches to less than 28 inches; note that the order of fish harvested does not matter. Bonus harvest reporting is mandatory and must be reported within 24 hours of harvest via online or by calling 609-748-2074. The SBBP Permit must be securely attached to fish through the mouth and gill immediately upon capture and prior to transportation. 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 is transferred to the recreational fishing sector by way of the SBBP.
The current allocation from ASMFC is 215,912 pounds to be distributed between individual anglers and party/charter boats. Should NJ overshoot this quota in 2016, any overage would be subtracted from the 2017 quota. Although this program does allow for the harvest of an additional striped bass for New Jersey anglers, the Division encourages catch and release whenever possible so this species can prosper for future generations.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife 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.
In order to apply for the SBBP, applicants must also fill out the Child Support Certification Form and submit that along with the SBBP application to the Division by October 31, 2016. All applications will be processed in order of receipt and applications postmarked after the deadline will not be processed.
In addition to private anglers, the Party/Charter Boat (PCBT) facet of the SBBP also resumed as of September 1. Data collected from this program has proved invaluable for managing striped bass. Qualified PCBTs will be issued a limited number of permits allowing customers to keep one Bonus Fish per customer per day. PCBTs will be required to submit mandatory daily logbooks of their striped bass catch and will also be required to provide mandatory weekly reports of striped bass bonus harvest in order to ensure the quota is not exceeded.
For additional information concerning this program or any other striped bass issue, please contact the Division’s Nacote Creek office at 609-748-2020 or [email protected] or visit the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Striped Bass Bonus Program page.