Jersey talking of 5" minimum for rec and comm crabbers

[pttsbrghfan]

Saw a post on Facebook from the Absecon Bay Sportsman Center that the state is considering increasing the minimum size of Crabs to 5". 

[jtrex75]

THAT WILL WORK FOR ME!!!

[pttsbrghfan]

Full post

Absecon Bay Sportsman Center
4 hours ago
We still have a while until these Ugly Bugs craw out of the mug, But I just got word that under discussion at the next NJMFC Meeting will be to increase the size limits on Hard Crabs in NJ, for both Recreational and Commercial Crabbers. Current size for Recreational Crabbers is 4 1/2" , Commercial Crabbers 4 3/4" . The recommendation by the crab committee is to increase the size the size to 5" for all Crabbers.

The reason for that is that many Crab Wholesalers ship to Maryland and Virginia where there is a minimum size of 5".

Now I understand that Nobody admits to taking Crabs under 5", the Truth be known, that a majority of legal Crabs in the South Jersey Bays are between 4 1/2" and 5". That means if you are catching two dozen Crabs a trip now, you can divide that number in half . That means that an awful lot of recreational crabbers are not going to bother to make the trip.

In any case this will be discussed at the NJMFC meeting this Thursday afternoon 4 pm. at the Galloway Township Library along with the finalization of the Summer flounder Regulations for the year. I also understand that we may find out exactly what happened with the Bunker Quota that was caught in the beginning of February, I hear that might be very interesting and controversial.

Whatever happens, I'll be there and as usual I won't be keeping my opinions to myself.

[Ron]

This should be interesting.    I am unaware that Crab Council (which is a subset MFC) is on the record at a public meeting where they made a formal recommendation of 5" keepers.   It wouldn't shock me if they haven't, because all-too-often everything with the Marine Fisheries Councils and Shellfisheries councils, the guys who comprise the councils and their subsets break Sunshine Laws by meeting and determining policy outside of the confines of a properly announced open public meeting.

This is the same Crab Council that rejected license transfers for commercial crab licenses under the guise of not liking the paltry $100 transfer fee the state wanted to administer the transfers.   The real motive was so the members of the council could limit their commercial competition and allow licenses to die with their owners without heirs who want to utilize them, as opposed to allowing them to sell/transfer them outside of their immediate family so they can be utilized.

I plan to go to the meeting on Thursday to check it out.   I'm sure I'll frustrated by the lack of order at the meeting as I am at Delaware Bay shellfisheries meetings I attend, where the meetings run chaotically, without any semblance of following Roberts Rules, etc.

[pttsbrghfan]

Are they the group that is keeping the blue crab record closed as well?

[Ron]

Are they the group that is keeping the blue crab record closed as well?

It's all under NJ DEP, but I don't think the crab council is responsible for that.

[CaptMoose]

I'm in favor of increasing the min to 5", but agree with Ron that the public business should follow proper rules and requirements allowing for public comment.

[Ron]

I'm in favor of increasing the min to 5", but agree with Ron that the public business should follow proper rules and requirements allowing for public comment.

I'd like to rest assured that the change is for the right reasons, not selfish motivations.   If the Crab Council's reason is because commercial markets in MD and VA require 5" crabs, it has nothing to do with recreational crabbing and strictly has their own commercial motivations in mind.    NJ hasn't done any kind of true blue crab management or research worth talking about, so from a scientific standpoint, they'd be following suit with MD and DE where more work has been done on this subject and where the limits are higher than NJ's 4.5".   

While I'm sure some of the bait shop and boat rental owner business owners out there would say a size increase would hurt their business, NJ hasn't done any kind of economic research to see how crabbing fits into tourism dollars for the coastal regions.  In light of this there's no statistical data to say if it goes to 5" for recs that it will have any kind of significant economic impact for any coastal towns.   

Interested to see what Thursday brings.

[pttsbrghfan]

I would like them to possibly look into a female ban of some sort to hopefully increase the population.

[Ron]

I'm posting this from the meeting.   The meeting isn't over yet, but it appears there will be no discussion on this topic.

[Ron]

No discussion on this topic.   As a side note, I want back the hour and a half of my life I lost to this meeting.

[marknut]

No discussion on this topic.   As a side note, I want back the hour and a half of my life I lost to this meeting.

lol.  Wouldnt be a bad idea to have them be 5".  Have more crabbies for the future.

[crabbywaters]

5"? I thought that was the limit in nj 

[marknut]

nope 4'1/2.   Baby crabs 

[crewstation]

5"? I thought that was the limit in nj 

Some days that's the upper limit.   

[crabbywaters]

nope 4'1/2.   Baby crabs 

Dang, them are some little crabs.

[genecrabman]

I would like them to possibly look into a female ban of some sort to hopefully increase the population.

Look at the crazy mess going on in Maryland....Better not ask for  change if you like your crabbing...Banning sooks to Recs and strict limits for the commercial sector IS NOT working for Maryland...I'm not sure more restrictions work in the Crabbing business...It only adds more enforcement jobs...JMO

[pttsbrghfan]

For me a female ban of some sort wouldn't matter because I try not to take any females if I can help it.  Last year I think I took two, only because I was driving and my trap puller wasn't paying attention to the claw color.

[Ron]

It only adds more enforcement jobs...JMO

Interesting point, since we're in a state where Fish and Wildlife depends on volunteers to stock trout and pheasant because of cutbacks.

[flounderpounder]

41/2" crabs are redicilous to keep.