Received a response email this morning.
This guy is a friend/neighbor who has always been very helpful in updating me on F&W issues, so please do not bomb him with emails in response to this. If we have follow up questions, which I am sure there will be, please post them here and I'll send him a complete compilation of questions. I appreciate everyone's cooperation in advance with this request.
In summary:
150' trotline is measured first snood to last snood, no anchor or guidelines are included in the measurement.
Two trotlines may not be tied together.
Two trotlines can share a common anchor line, provided that a buoy or stake is marking the ends of each individual line and the baited portions of the lines are separated by at least 100'.-------------------------
From: Babb, Russell [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 9:34 AM
To: Ron Meischker <
[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Need a written determination about crabbing with recreational trotlines
Ron,
See my answers in red below. Any other Qs, let me know.
Russ
Russ Babb, Supervising Fisheries Biologist
Marine Fisheries Administration
Bureau of Shellfisheries
Nacote Creek Station - (609) 748.2040
Delaware Bay Office - (856) 785.0730
***PLEASE NOTE NEW E-MAIL***
[email protected] From: Ron Meischker [mailto:
[email protected]om]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 11:34 PM
To: Babb, Russell
Subject: Need a written determination about crabbing with recreational trotlines
Russ,
Please forward this question to the appropriate individual and ask them to provide me with a written determination to clarify rules about crabbing with a recreational trotline in New Jersey. The speculation is thick on bluecrab.info about this and I want to help set it to rest.
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New Jersey’s recreational trotline regulations allow a crabber who purchases $2 recreational crab pot license to utilize two trotlines of no longer than 150’ in length and containing no more than 25 baits each. The regs also state that trotlines must be marked at each end by a clearly visible stake or buoy.
With these facts in mind, please answer the following questions.
Question #1What constitutes the 150 foot length of each trotline? The baited portion of the line itself only, or do we need to calculate the anchor and buoy lines into the length calculation?
DFW enforces the 150' regulation by measuring from the first snood (i.e., baited line) to the last snood, the length of which would not include the anchor or float lines.
Question #2 & 2aSome recreational crabbers believe it is acceptable to tie two trotlines together to create 300 total feet and 50 baits of linked line. Others think this is not correct, because that would be one 300 foot trotline as opposed to two 150 trotlines, defeating the purpose of the maximum trotline length being set at 150 feet. Additionally, the regs say each trotline must have both ends marked by a clearly visible stake or buoy, which would seem to defeat any argument that you can tie two lines together, because then each end would not be marked by a buoy.
Can two trotlines be tied together?
Connecting two trot lines together to form one 300’ trot line is a definite no. Must be separate. If no, may they share a common anchor line between the two lines as long as both ends of each line are clearly marked by a stake or buoy?
It would be acceptable for someone to use the same anchor for two separate trot lines provided that a buoy or stake is marking the ends of each individual line and the baited portions of the lines are separated by at least 100'.