Rumored quotas threaten to hurt local fishermen Ron Nuzzolo Fish On According to my friend Capt. Ed at NJSaltwaterfisherman.com, the word is out that the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is talking about a 30-40 percent quota cut for the 2008 season. Capt. Ed warns that this is even before the numbers for 2007 come out. From NJSaltwaterfisherman.com, observation would lead one to believe that New York, New Jersey and Delaware, at least, will overfish their quota, according to local forecasts so far. This has brought outrage on Capitol Hill, especially to Rep. Jim Saxon who helped author changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which was suppose to stabilize the quota, says Capt. Ed. Rep. Saxton promised us that the 2008 quota would be 19.2 million pounds; 2009 would increase to 22.7 million pounds; and 29 million pounds by 2012. Even though the stock biomass has doubled since 1993 and the spawning stock biomass has nearly tripled, NMFS is proposing to virtually halt all fishing, recreational and commercial, with this quota. Capt. Ed and others want to know how this can have been so mismanaged. What will lawmakers do? Are the fish already rebuilt to maximum levels given the depletion of the estuaries? Stay tuned... Capt. Bob from Sandy Hook Charters is one of many concerned captains; he explains that it comes as no shock. Who suffers? The fisherman, the bait shops, charter/party boats, boat manufacturers, coffee shops and restaurants, local gas stations, marine mechanics, ice dealers - the list goes on. The trickle down effect is already hurting several. Capt. Bob personally knows of three head boats that packed it in for the year, and where he docks, the owner rents boats, sells bait, gas, etc. and said that last year his business was off about 25 percent, and that this year it is down from that. Prices are going up due to the lack of business and shortness of the fishing seasons (killies are now $15 a pint), and the average angler won't be able to afford a simple pleasure like fishing. We have to make noise, according to Capt. Bob, not sit on our hands. E-mails to your elected representatives, marine fisheries, get out and support the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) and Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA). Fishing action remains red hot all along the coast. Capt. Steve on Reelfantasea reported action was just about as good as it gets from the Back Bay to the Barnegat Ridges - absolutely covered in Atlantic bonitos. Joe Franke, of The Village Harbor Fishing Club, was out for absolutely nonstop action with the bonitos with doubles and triples at time ("When the bones hit almost all rods that were out.") Joe ended the day back at the inlet with a full box of delicious bonitos and finishing up with some fluke fishing to bring home to his bride. The Frank Hettler was out for some nonstop action in the Back Bay with blues and a real nice catch of fluke to 7-plus pounds. Frank was the pool winner, not only never seeing so many quality fluke, but also catching his biggest fluke ever. The John Sforza party was out for a slamfest with quality weakfish, bluefish and fluke, while grass shrimping the Back Bay. The party of four got a limit of quality weakfish from 15-23 inches, while the blues were of the 12-16-inch variety, and full of fight. They also had some throwback fluke and managed a keeper or two of fluke to end the day. The weakfish have just exploded in Barnegat Bay and it just doesn't get any better than right now, with the size better than usual for this time of year, while grass shrimping or jigging it is just about as fun as it gets, according to Capt. Steve, Reelfantasea Charters, (609 290-1217). A Capt. Jack Night Blues report on the Prowler 5 was a trip they all have been waiting for. Started out with a one-two pick, which turned into the best fishing of the season. There were five to 10 fish on at a time, ranging between 8 to 12 pounds. The mates really had the hustle on all night. There were a few highlights of the trip and the first was massive pods of bunker with large bluefin tuna shredding them up. Prowler regular Cliff Stahl managed to hook one up and spool his reel in seconds. One fare landed a nice 21-pound striped bass and another landed a 9-plus-pound fluke. The pool winner was John Chiang of South River with a 14-pound bluefish. With the red-hot bluefish bite and seeing all the bluefin tuna smashing the bunker all night, this was definitely one of Capt. Jack's most exciting magic hour tips of all time. The Prowler 5 is sailing from 3:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from Atlantic Highlands (732-872-7530). Bill Fee on the Star Chaser from Brown's Point Marina had Jatin Desai and his two sons Neil and Rohan out fishing over the weekend. They caught fluke up to 20 inches and cocktail blues. Bait was killies and squid. Bill fished the Back of Raritan Bay and the Keansburg Canyon. On Captain Dave from Atlantic Highlands, first mate Brett had the Anthony Eresman party from Rockaway, a group of young men serving our country in the Armed Forces, trying for some fluke. Capt. Kevin took them out to the knoll and to the tip of the hook, and despite some challenging drifting conditions, the party was able to boat some nice fish. Best wishes and God Bless America. To charter a party on Captain Dave, call (862) 485-1358 Please send your comments and reports to ron@signbrothers.com. Did you know? My buddy Pete Johnson from the International Game Fish Alliance (IGFA) in Dania Beach, Fla., sent me this one: July Hot Catches from the Canyons in Maryland with a clam as bait, Capt. Ron Callis, Ocean City, Md., landed a great northern tilefish, (Lophalatilus, chamaeleonticeps) weighing 26.84 kilagrams (59 pounds 3 ounces). He submitted documentation that is pending to replace the current IGFA all-tackle record of 56-pounds 5 ounces, recorded June 8, 2005. For more information on how you can make the record books, log on to www.igfa.org for more fascinating facts.