How many traps can I use in NJ?

[tedbo]

But it would help the population to grow so I would be willing to.

How?

[Lordron]

It is of my opinion that with stricter laws you have less people crabbing in our waters there for the ratio of crabs being pulled from our waters would go down increasing the population. This would increase the size of the catch for people who take the time to be licensed.

Or I could just be to hopped up on caffeine this morning     

[tedbo]

Thanks for the explanation, I see it a little differently.

Unlike our neighbor to the south, and thankfully, jersey's crab fishery is not under extreme pressure year after year to yield high numbers, the restaurants do not place the same amount of demand for fresh crab week after week. And there isn't the same outcry from watermen in jersey over regulations because of the lower expectations.

I know all of the above provides a better relationship in NJ between comm and rec crabbers throughout the state.

I think govt does a good job when the avg person doesn't even know they are there. When it comes to managing their crab population, I think NJ is at the top. The resource is doing well, people are coming to the state and crabbing and spending money locally, and catching crabs.

Put a lic. on it and you'll lose probally 25% of that business right away. And the people who buy the lic. will probally go crabbing more often to justify the cost thereby taking more crab per lic than you would yield without the lic.

[Ron]

But honestly what percent of the crabbers in NJ are from out of town.  

Many out of staters come to the shore and crab while they are here.     They are more of a casual crabber, handlines, baskets off of piers, etc. but they do crab here.   

[Lordron]

You guys both make very good points. And I'm all for keep NJ free to all crabers, but if there came a time when it would change I don't think it would be all that bad.

Besides when I get skunked I have to buy them on the way home to save face infront of the wife...... So I would pay someone one way or another.  Just rather be paying the guys that work hard day in day out to have them on my way home from Tuckerton.

[on the hook]

OK, IMO, and it's important to me the state would make a lil money, and the catch would go down, number wise...Only person that won't crab is the 1 or 2 times a year guy...YOU WILL get your license and crab just the same as you do now...I'm talking a $5 or $10 license, not a $50 one...This is no different than costing 1 or 2 gal of gas A YEAR more to go, except it will just get wasted by the state

I go to Md and buy launch permit and license to keep a bushel....so does my crabbing partners...If we get a bushel, between 2 of us, that is good enough...If I was worried about a $10 license, I wouldn't go crabbing at all for the cost....

If this has to do with crab numbers???...then I would venture to say that a extremely cold winter will have way more effect on them or a mild winter(like the last)....jmho

[Sunpal]

A couple of points: I believe there is a huge number of out of state crabbers in NJ, (myself included) just look at all the NY, PA, and CT license plates next summer when you go to the shore.  Second, people will still crab without obtaining a license; the same type of folks who take undersize crabs now.  NJ would need more enforcement officers to check for licenses, there aren't enough already from what I've seen.  Crabbing in NJ isn't the industry it is in other states, and as others have said the population of crabs isn't in danger.  If the law is passed, I'll follow it and buy one, but I won't like it.

[Ron]

If the law is passed, I'll follow it and buy one, but I won't like it.

There won't be a law passed requiring anyone to buy a recreational crabbing license anytime soon here in NJ. 

[Ron]

OK, IMO, and it's important to me the state would make a lil money, and the catch would go down, number wise...

The amount of money lost in tourism dollars would dwarf the few dollars brought in by a license fee.

[tedbo]

I'm talking a $5 or $10 license, not a $50 one...

I agree with Ron, there's no talk of this happening, however when you talk about a lic, I would think it would be modeled after MD, and it would be closer to $50.  It wouldn't make sense for NJ to go thru all the bs for 5 or 10 bucks.

[54bobby]

imo, i think only BCI members should be allowed to crab in NJ.

[jack1747]

imo, i think only BCI members should be allowed to crab in NJ.

IMO, I think only water front property owners should be allowed on/around the water. 

[fishingtom]

IMO, I think only water front property owners should be allowed on/around the water. 

Maryland only Jack, there is no reason to go on the water in Va...

[jack1747]

Maryland only Jack, there is no reason to go on the water in Va...

True.. 

[on the hook]

The amount of money lost in tourism dollars would dwarf the few dollars brought in by a license fee.

I agree Ron, problem is, when did the state ever give a [curd] about your money, unless they were trying to get it?

No, I don't think there will be a license...was just commenting on "IF" and catch #s...

[Ron]

Gotcha.

[on the hook]

BTW, I remember back about 06 when we ALL had to take a mandatory "Boaters Course"...8hrs, $75....$25 of that to the instructor and about 50 people...She said she could get it done in 4hrs "IF" we wanted...Huh? Well let's get-r-done....Imagine that...8 hr course but done in 4....Why not just give the answers and send in the money?..

Anyway, what about the out of staters that rent skis/boats etc??  This is about when I left for Iraq, so not sure how it ended...I did get my license...

[54bobby]

IMO, I think only water front property owners should be allowed on/around the water. 

i live on a barrier island and fema says i have water front property.  lol

[crewstation]

There won't be a law passed requiring anyone to buy a recreational crabbing license anytime soon here in NJ. 

Why did I picture Marlon Brando saying that?

[Ron]

That's pretty close to the truth.