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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would simplify the State’s rules regarding striped bass fishing was approved today by the Assembly, by a vote of 76-2, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey’s reputation for recreational fishing is outstanding, and with this bill, we will be able to preserve our fisheries while removing any confusion so fishermen can follow the intent of the law,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “With the original size limits on striped bass, we were trying to conserve our natural resources, not burden recreational fishermen with needless red tape. This bill simplifies the size standards while protecting our natural resources.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would simplify the State’s rules regarding striped bass fishing was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 38-0.

“New Jersey benefits from having a thriving recreational fishing industry, which lures fishermen from all over the tri-state area to our waters for a good catch,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “As such, we have to be careful that we don’t deplete our natural resources, which is why we have size limits on stripers in the first place, to ensure that we aren’t taking fish that are necessary for the continued viability of our State’s fisheries. However, rather than breeding more fish, recent regulations have only bred confusion among fishermen, and this legislation is intended to clarify the intent of conservation without bogging sports fishermen down in the red tape of the law.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would simplify the State’s rules regarding striped bass fishing was unanimously approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.

“Since the State adopted new regulations on striped bass fishing in September 2004, there has been a lot of confusion on what constitutes a legal catch,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “The entire point of setting size standards and a daily catch limit is to encourage conservation of our fisheries, but when fishermen are confused about whether or not they’re in compliance with State law, that point is lost. These updated rules simplify the regulatory process, so that we can accomplish the real goal of protecting our fisheries from depletion while at the same time fostering recreational fishing in New Jersey.”