Jersey Coast Anglers Association

07/22/2026

Sorry, the tournament has been canceled due to lack of participation.

06/05/2026

Below is the link to the June issue of the JCAA newsletter.

03/26/2026

NJMFC SETS 2026 AND 2027 SEA BASS REGULATIONS

At the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council Meeting on 3/26/26 the council set the recreational sea bass regulations as follows: 12 1/2" size limit
10 fish May 15 – June 21
1 fish June 22 – Sept 22
10 fish Sept 23 – Oct 31
15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31
The season will open on 5/15, which is two days earlier than last year. The one fish season begins on 6/22 and extends through September22 before the ten fish season begins on 9/23. That means we have no closed season, other than prior to 5/15. It also allows us to keep ten seabass during the last three days of fluke season. Further, it closes the gap from when fluke season ends until sea bass season begins.
A big thank you goes out to Joe Cimino and Adam Nowalsky who fought very hard for New Jersey at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council meetings. We also would like to thank Marine Biologist Peter Clarke of our Bureau of Marine Fisheries for spending a great deal of time developing a plethora of options for us to choose from. Further, we would like to thank all those from our BMF and the NJMFC for accepting public input and doing the best they can for the fishermen of our state. Paul Haertel JCAA Sea Bass Committee Chairman

03/24/2026

NJMFC TO SET SEA BASS REGS ON 3/26

2026/2027 Sea Bass Options - 12.5” Size limit for all options for 2026-2027

Below are the four options that will be considered by the NJMFC at their upcoming meeting. Council members will listen to public comments and then decide which option it will enact at their meeting on 3/26/26. The meeting will be held from 5-7 PM at the Stafford Township Firehouse located at 133 Stafford Av., Manahawkin, NJ. The meeting will also be available via webinar at:

https://dep.nj.gov/event/marine-fisheries-council-meeting-2026-03-26/

The comments below each option are my own and do not necessarily reflect that of JCAA. However, a clear majority of JCAA member clubs support option 10.

Option 6

10 fish May 15 – June 21

1 fish June 22 – Sept 22

10 fish Sept 23 – Oct 31

15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31

The season would be open for 231 days. The season would open on 5/15, which is two days earlier than last year. The one fish season would begin on 6/22 and extend through September 22, before the ten fish season begins on 9/23. That means we would have no closed season, other than prior to 5/15. It also allows us to keep ten seabass during and last three days of fluke season. Further, it closes the gap from when fluke season ends until sea bass season begins. It would be really nice to be able to keep sea bass in September. It’s been years since we were able to do that.

Option 8

10 fish May 17 – June 30

1 fish July 1 – Aug 31

10 fish Sept 26 – Oct 31

15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31

The season would be open 204 days.

The season would open on 5/17, the same as last year but two days later than the other three options. This option would allow us to keep ten sea bass for the last 9 days of June when it is normally closed. However, only one fish is allowed during July and August. The season is closed most of September until it re-opens for ten fish on 9/26. It does close the gap after fluke season ends. For those who fish the weekends, this might not be a good option as the season would not open until Sunday, 5/17 for this year and then next year the 17th would fall on a Monday. The other options allow the season to open Friday the 15th this year and then on Saturday the 15th next year.

Option 10

10 fish May 15 – June 21

2 fish July 1 – Sept 14

10 fish Oct 1 – Oct 31

15 fish Nov 1 – 12/31

Estimated Harvest 2,782,041 16.09% The season would be open for 206 days.

The season would open on 5/15, which is two days earlier than last year. This is probably the best two fish option as it allows 2 fish during July and August as well as the first 14 days of September. As with option 6, it would be really nice to keep some sea bass in September. However, there is a 9 day closure at the end of June, as we had in the past. It would also not close the gap from when fluke season ends until sea bass season begins. However, the gap would only be for five days as the sea bass season would re-open on 10/1.

Option 11

10 fish 5/15 – 6/21

2 fish 6/22- 9/4

10 fish 10/1 – 10/31

15 fish 11/1 – 12/31

The season would be open for 205 days.

This option would allow 2 fish beginning on 6/22 but then only extend through 9/4. It fails to close the gap from when fluke season ends on 9/25, as the ten fish season would not re-open until 10/1.

NJDEP| New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | Marine Fisheries Council Meeting | Event Description

03/07/2026

FINAL FOUR SEA BASS OPTIONS
Below are four options that were approved by the ASMFC on 3/5/26, that will be considered by the NJMFC. There is a remote possibility that they could be tweaked slightly but these are most likely going to be the final four. The NJMFC will listen to public comments and then decide which option it will enact at their next meeting on 3/26/26. The meeting will be held from 5-7 PM at the Stafford Township Firehouse located at 133 Stafford Av., Manahawkin, NJ. The meeting will probably be available via webinar as well, but there is no link as of this writing. The comments below each option are my own and do not necessarily reflect that of JCAA. Our member clubs will decide which option we will support in the near future.
Paul Haertel
JCAA Past President/Sea Bass Committee Chairman

12.5” Size limit for all seasons in 2025 and for all options for 2026-2027
2025 Regs - The season was open for 188 days
10 fish May 17 – Jun 19
1 fish July 1 – Aug 31
10 fish Oct 1 – Oct 31
15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31
Estimated Harvest 2,453,967 lb.
2026- 2027 Options
Option 6
10 fish May 15 – June 21
1 fish June 22 – Sept 22
10 fish Sept 23 – Oct 31
15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31
Estimated Harvest 2,816,631 16.27% The season would be open for 231 days.
The season opens on 5/15, which is two days earlier than last year. The one fish season begins on 6/22 and extends through September 22 before the ten fish season begins on 9/23. That means we have no closed season other than prior to 5/15. It also allows us to keep ten seabass during and last three days of fluke season. That could be a nice shot in the arm for both the for-hire fleet and private anglers. It also ends the gap between when fluke season ends and sea bass season begins. It would be really nice to be able to keep sea bass in September. It’s been years since we were able to do that.

Option 8
10 fish May 17 – June 30
1 fish July 1 – Aug 31
10 fish Sept 26 – Oct 31
15 fish Nov 1 – Dec 31
Estimated Harvest 2,811,030 16.86% The season would be open 204 days.
The season would open on 5/17, the same as last year but two days later than the other three options. This option allows us to keep ten sea bass for the last 9 days of June when it is normally closed. However, only one fish is allowed during July and August. The season is closed most of September until it re-opens for ten fish on 9/26. It does close the gap after fluke season ends.
Option 10
10 fish May 15 – June 21
2 fish July 1 – Sept 14
10 fish Oct 1 – Oct 31
15 fish Nov 1 – 12/31
Estimated Harvest 2,782,041 16.09% The season would be open for 206 days.
The season opens on 5/15, which is two days earlier than last year. This is probably the best two fish option as it allows 2 fish during July and August as well as the first 15 days of September. However, there is a 9 day closure at the end of June, as we had in the past. No seabass would be allowed for the second half of September. It fails to close the gap from when fluke season closes on 9/25, as the ten fish season would not re-open until 10/1.

Option 11
10 fish 5/15 – 6/21
2 fish 6/22- 9/4
10 fish 10/1 – 10/31
15 fish 11/1 – 12/31
Estimated Harvest 2,824,720 16.65% The season would be open for 205 days.
This option would allow 2 fish for the last 9 days of June but then would be closed for all but the first four days of September. It fails to close the gap when fluke season ends on 9/25, as the ten fish season would not re-open until 10/1.

02/24/2026

Below its the link for our March 2026 newsletter.

02/14/2026

SEA BASS REGULATORY UPDATE AND SURVEY

The bad news is that although New Jersey expected to receive a 20% liberalization, regarding our sea bass regulations, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) decided to give a 27% increase to states to our north and a 16.5 % increase to states to our south, leaving NJ with what is left over. Depending on exactly what regulations the other states develop, that should allow us to liberalize by 15-17%.
The good news is that even a 15-17% increase will result in a very significant liberalization to our regulations. Our Bureau of Marine Fisheries (NJBMF) is working on a range of options that must first be approved by the ASMFC. Then they will be reviewed by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council’s (NJMFC) sea bass advisors committee, which will whittle the options down to just a few which will be made available to the public. Finally, the public will have a chance to comment on these options at the NJMFC’s meeting on March 26th. Upon conclusion of the public comment period, the council will vote on which option will become law for both 2026 and 2027. In the meantime, the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and the NJMFC are interested in input from the public on possible sea bass measures for 2026. Those interested may take the survey below to provide general guidance regarding the regulations. The chart below includes samples of options that may be approved. However, they are likely to be tweaked or modified and a couple more similar options may be developed. Option 1A would allow the one fish limit to begin on 6/22 and run into September with the possibility of the ten fish bag limit season beginning later that month, perhaps even while fluke season is still open. That option would allow the season to be open for 43 more days than last year, albeit much of it with just a one fish limit. Option 2A would allow for a two fish limit from 7/1-9/15. There would be a ten-day closure at the end of June and a two-week closure at the end of September before the ten fish season opens on 10/1. Option 2B would allow for two fish from 6/22-9/6. There would be no closure in June but then the season would close for more than three weeks in September. Options 2A and 2 B would allow the season to be open 19 more days than last year. There is a comment section in the survey. You may want to state whether you prefer the one fish or two fish option and whether it is more important for you to extend the season further into June or extend it into September. You may simply indicate your preferred option number or make any other suggestions that you have.

Please complete the 2026 BSB Measures form only once.
Those without internet access may request a paper copy by calling the Marine Resources Administration at 609-748-2020.
Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 11, 2026, in order to be considered.

The following chart includes SAMPLES of a couple of the options which will likely be tweaked or modified further. Additional options may be developed from these as well.

Run Name SEASON 1 SEASON 2 SEASON 3 SEASON 4 Total Extra Days Open
NJ Current Regulations Date 5/17-6/19 7/1-8/31 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31
Bag 10 1 10 15
1.A Date 5/15-6/21 6/22-9/17 9/18-10/31 11/1-12/31 43
Bag 10 1 10 15
2.A Date 5/15-6/21 7/1-9/15 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31 19
Bag 10 2 10 15
2.B Date 5/15-6/21 6/22-9/6 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31 19
Bag 10 2 10 15

Click here to take the survey.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0cN2UAI4n0uzauCkG9ZCp10UaAYX2OpPjCULvJJdp9dUQVZKNFROMTlSVDU2TzE4SlRTSVc4MEUwMi4u&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&fbclid=IwY2xjawP9iuJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2NJgjUBVEX_6Q36mNqbODvH5ddcpRjP7EsLPyFCHymXwJIdDn0cf9N9kc8Y_aem_Br02J6s5f9nQ_9k56K8fHQ

01/21/2026

Let me introduce myself. My name is Mark Taylor, and I am the President of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA). One of my objectives is to enhance angler participation within the JCAA. I also aim to encourage greater involvement in fishery management initiatives. While I recognize that these goals come with significant challenges, I am convinced they are crucial to the long-term success of both the JCAA and our fisheries future. I am committed to dedicating my efforts toward this purpose and look forward to support from many recreational anglers as we work together. If you're passionate about recreational fishing and want to make a difference, I encourage you to join us at our upcoming meeting. This is a great opportunity to learn more about JCAA and discover how you can get involved.

Upcoming JCAA General Membership Meeting:
Date: January 27th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Facility, 385 Herbertsville Rd., Brick, NJ 08724

If you plan to attend, please contact me at [email protected] so I can arrange proper seating. If you are a dedicated recreational angler who cares about the future of fishing, I hope to see you there. If you'd like to talk before the meeting, I will be available starting at 6:15 PM. I look forward to meeting you!

Mark A. Taylor
JCAA President