NJ has a 150' limit on trotlines?!?

[njjoe_II]

150 feet!?!  

Fifteen years ago a coworker invited me to ride along with him as he ran a trotline on the Wye River in Maryland.  It was my first and last experience with running a trotline but I never forgot about it.  I always wanted to do it again.  

Now that I have gotten back into crabbing I looked into the feasibility of running my own trotline.  I spent hours online gathering information on building a propstick, and assembling and running the trotline.  

I settled on a 500' line with salted eel slip-knotted directly to the line, just like we did 15 years ago.  The design was put to paper, a bill of material created, and sources identified.

Then I decided to check the NJ regs to determine if there was any special criteria for the buoys.  That is when I found out the NJ DEP limits the length of the trotline (for a non-commercial crabber) to 150 feet.    That sounds ridiculously short, no?

My non-commercial license states it is good for two (2) trotlines.  Does that mean I can run two 150' lines in series?  I could live with a 300' line if I had to.  Could the two lines share a common anchor and still be considered separate?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Joe

[CaptMoose]

Correct: maximum 2 x 150' lines with a max of 25 baits per line.  The jury is out as to whether you can connect them together.  Nobody from the state will give anyone on the forum a straight answer if it is OK to connect them together so it will no doubt be decided in the field at the discretion of the officer who checks your gear.  If you connect them & use a single buoy/anchor setup at each end, definitely have two 150' lines that you can easy disconnect (snaps) so you are meeting the letter of the law.  

My $0.02:
1)  The law does not prohibit the lines from being connected.
2)  If you ask me, having 4 buoys and anchors in the water creates more of an obstruction to navigation than 2.

Good luck out there if you give it a go.

[fishingtom]

Correct: maximum 2 x 150' lines with a max of 25 baits per line.  The jury is out as to whether you can connect them together.  Nobody from the state will give anyone on the forum a straight answer if it is OK to connect them together so it will no doubt be decided in the field at the discretion of the officer who checks your gear.  If you connect them & use a single buoy/anchor setup at each end, definitely have two 150' lines that you can easy disconnect (snaps) so you are meeting the letter of the law.  

My $0.02:
1)  The law does not prohibit the lines from being connected.
2)  If you ask me, having 4 buoys and anchors in the water creates more of an obstruction to navigation than 2.

Good luck out there if you give it a go.

Now I understand why you folks drive all the way to Maryland dragging your boats and all your gear.  Those regs. must make it pretty tough to get a bushel of crabs on a trotline...

[olclamman]

   joe
     make  a call to the folks  down  at nacote  creek   office  -  609 748 2040  they  should  be able  to
      give  the info  you need
                                                    oc

    see ya down the bay ( barnegat ) 

[Ronster]

The jury is out as to whether you can connect them together.  

I've been specifically told by F&W it's two seperate lines.

[crewstation]

I run into the same issue in NJ, but I found a loophole!  I took my two 150' lines and tied them together TIGHTLY.  Then I bought another 900' of line, made the whole thing into two (2) 600' lines, and drove south until NJ and DE were in my rearview mirror.     Whenever the 26th chicken neck comes into view, I giggle like a schoolgirl.

[Crabslayer]

"Wye" not do what everyone else from the North does and got to the Wye? 

[Skiff]

I run into the same issue in NJ, but I found a loophole!  I took my two 150' lines and tied them together TIGHTLY.  Then I bought another 900' of line, made the whole thing into two (2) 600' lines, and drove south until NJ and DE were in my rearview mirror.     Whenever the 26th chicken neck comes into view, I giggle like a schoolgirl.

  You are driving too far  Delaware as no limit on trot line length  And living in south Jersey  when you crab Salem cove In Salem,NJ  you are in Delaware waters (Delaware owns the whole river right to the shore line)  it will cost you for a Delaware license   But free boat ramp right there.

[njjoe_II]

I run into the same issue in NJ, but I found a loophole!  I took my two 150' lines and tied them together TIGHTLY.  Then I bought another 900' of line, made the whole thing into two (2) 600' lines, and drove south until NJ and DE were in my rearview mirror.     Whenever the 26th chicken neck comes into view, I giggle like a schoolgirl.

   Excellent idea!!  If I lived about an hour closer I might even consider it.

-Joe

[njjoe_II]

  joe
     make  a call to the folks  down  at nacote  creek   office  -  609 748 2040  they  should  be able  to
      give  the info  you need
                                                    oc

    see ya down the bay ( barnegat )  

Thank you, olclamman!

I called the number you gave me, and spoke to three people from the Fish and Wildlife office.  The first person told me it would be okay to run the trot line in series sharing a single common anchor   ; the second said no, each trotline would have to have separate gear, including anchors, but could be run in series   .  The last official, a very knowledgable Lieutenant, explained the trotlines could not be run in series and had to be separated by at least 100'   .   I had read the 100'-rule but tried to argue it meant 100' from some other crabber's line, but I was told that was not the case.  

When I inquired as to why the 150' limit was so small as compared to Maryland's the Lieutenant suggested it was because our bay is so much smaller than the Chesapeake and NJ boaters are not accustommed to such long lines.  I am not sure I buy either explanation.

He also told me he has worked in the field for 11 years and has never seen a non-commercial trotline run from a boat.  All he has seen is a few that were run by a guy in waders.

Oh, well.  One hundred fifty feet may be too short of a run to make it worth my while.  I would like to hear from other non-commercial trotliners who run relatively short lines.  Is it worth my while to deal with two 150' lines?

Thanks.

-Joe

[Ronster]

The last official, a very knowledgable Lieutenant, explained the trotlines could not be run in series

Didn't I post this earlier?   

Is it worth my while to deal with two 150' lines?

I say yes.    I plan on utilizing lines this year, especially in areas where I have historically hit a lot of paydirt.   

[Mr. Ray III]

Now I understand why you folks drive all the way to Maryland dragging your boats and all your gear.  Those regs. must make it pretty tough to get a bushel of crabs on a trotline...

 

[njjoe_II]

Didn't I post this earlier?  

Yes you did.  You nailed it.  

Coincidentally, when I called Fish and Wildlife I could have sworn the guy answered the phone by saying "Lieutenant Ronster".    Is that how you knew??  

-Joe

[Grizzly36]

The thing i like about a line as aopposed to traps is the amount or bait or chances to catch a crab if you will. At 150 ft of line with a 25 bait limit your looking at a chance to catch a crab every 6 ft. You could drop a traps at those distances but you would need two guys to pull and be really really fast so you can keep that spacing.

how about cost...Say two river anchors($40), two 5 gallons buckets for bouys($6), Chain, buckles, and poly rope($25), trotline rope(don't know the costbut say($30), PVC Prop stick and a spare($10), and a dip net($20) for a total of $131.  You may have some parts laying around or you might be abel to find them cheaper. 25 traps( same amount of bait) alone if your just getting foxy mate 4 door style will run you $150 before adding lines and bouys. 

I like running a line but traps are fun too and with cost comparison I think its more beneficial from a start up to just run traps if you can only have two seperate 150ft sections.  But if you're already established and can do both at once i'd do both.

[Ronster]

Yes you did.  You nailed it.  

Coincidentally, when I called Fish and Wildlife I could have sworn the guy answered the phone by saying "Lieutenant Ronster".    Is that how you knew??  

-Joe

Actually, I volunteer for NJ Fish and Wildlife...

[crewstation]

One hundred fifty feet may be too short of a run to make it worth my while.  I would like to hear from other non-commercial trotliners who run relatively short lines.  Is it worth my while to deal with two 150' lines?

Thanks.

-Joe

Joe,  I went out near Seven Mile Bridge in Tuckerton two years ago to a spot we used to catch a bushel as a kid.  A 150' line goes very quick.  And if you miss the approach by even a little bit, you may not get set up before the first few necks, and next thing you know you're at the end.  It's certainly feasible to run two 150's, but I don't think it's worth the effort.  JMHO

[crewstation]

  You are driving too far  Delaware as no limit on trot line length  And living in south Jersey  when you crab Salem cove In Salem,NJ  you are in Delaware waters (Delaware owns the whole river right to the shore line)  it will cost you for a Delaware license   But free boat ramp right there.

Skiff,  I'm not familiar with the crabbing in that area, but I've got two issues:

1)  The view on most MD rivers is much nicer than the view of Salem NGP.  Don't see too many herons perched up on those cooling towers, I bet.

2)  I don't want to infringe on Ronster's territory.  He might boot me from BCA, and I'd have to find another website to obsess over.

Seriously, I've never heard of anyone crabbing in that area.  Is it productive?  I'm sure the water is warmer there.  And it'd be nice to have a backup plan when I don't have time for a four-hour round trip.

[jason22]

Who do we need to know to have the law amended or changed 

[Ronster]

Who do we need to know to have the law amended or changed 

I've been working on it.

[Ronster]

Skiff,  I'm not familiar with the crabbing in that area, but I've got two issues:

1)  The view on most MD rivers is much nicer than the view of Salem NGP.  Don't see too many herons perched up on those cooling towers, I bet.

Pterdoctyls and harpies call the peaks of the cooling towers home...

2)  I don't want to infringe on Ronster's territory.  He might boot me from BCA, and I'd have to find another website to obsess over.

I've got my eye on you.  

Seriously, I've never heard of anyone crabbing in that area.  Is it productive?  I'm sure the water is warmer there.  And it'd be nice to have a backup plan when I don't have time for a four-hour round trip.

Salem Cove has yielded some big crabs over the years.   Pretty sure Tattoo mounted one of them.    

[njjoe_II]

Who do we need to know to have the law amended or changed  

That is what I asked the Lieutenant at Fish and Wildlife.  He claimed he gets virtually no inquiries regarding non-commercial trot lines so there appears to be no interest in opening a discussion.

I also inquired about getting a Commercial license, thinking if the potential catch justified the cost it would be worth it.  The good news was that the license was $100 (he thought) but there are no new licenses available for sale.  There is a finite number of Commercial licenses and they are often sold within families, so you can not just go online and get one.  Something does not sound right here.  

-Joe

[njjoe_II]

I've been working on it.

Is there anything I (we) can do to assist you?

I could write one letter a week.  It worked for Andy Dufresne. 

-Joe

[Ronster]

Is there anything I (we) can do to assist you?

I could write one letter a week.  It worked for Andy Dufresne. 

-Joe

No, I don't think that kind of pressure is necessary.   I've been working the back channels.

I've lobbied the four sitting Assemblyman in the first and second districts about the current crabbing regulations as well as a state senator from down here.   

I've even had an incoming elected official on the state level from this region on my boat crabbing this past summer and talked about a variety of shortcomings in the state's current regulations, including trotlines and making the size limit 5".    Once he's sworn in, I'll follow up with him and ask him work to improve the current regulations.
 

[njjoe_II]

No, I don't think that kind of pressure is necessary.   I've been working the back channels.

You do realize I was joking, right?  Andy Dufresne was the lead charactor in The Shawshank Redemption.  I was not planning on pestering the Statehouse with weekly letters for a new library.

Do you have a contact where I can send a single letter to?  If you have already met with, spoken to, or corresponded with state officials regarding this topic then it would only further the cause if others were to provide their input.  This board is the perfect forum for organzing such an effort.  Post the name/address of the state officials who are sympathetic to our cause and I am sure there are at least 100 NJ members who can send off an email or letter by Spring. 

-Joe

[Ronster]

You do realize I was joking, right?  Andy Dufresne was the lead charactor in The Shawshank Redemption.  I was not planning on pestering the Statehouse with weekly letters for a new library.

I knew the Andy Dufresne part was a joke, but your willingness and enthusiasm to help the effort was clear.   ;-)

Do you have a contact where I can send a single letter to?  If you have already met with, spoken to, or corresponded with state officials regarding this topic then it would only further the cause if others were to provide their input.  This board is the perfect forum for organzing such an effort.  Post the name/address of the state officials who are sympathetic to our cause and I am sure there are at least 100 NJ members who can send off an email or letter by Spring.  

Call me to discuss.   609-517-2531.