Jersey Shore Magazine

continued on page 12 Party Boat Tips and Advice Before you head on down to the docks, here's some tips and advice. • Anglers do not need an individual fishing license when fishing on a party boat. However, when fishing on their own, anglers must register for free with the New Jersey Salt Water Recreational Registry at www.nj.gov/dep/ saltwaterregistry. • In most instances, you can keep any fish that you catch as long as it meets National Marine Fisheries Service and New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations. Anglers who choose to keep illegal fish risk strict fines and severe penalties. If you are unsure about whether the fish you just caught is regulation, ask a deck hand. • While some boats do not require advanced reservations, it's always a good idea to call or check the boat's website or social media feed to secure your spot and to make sure the trip you plan on enjoying is not sold out. • Likewise, check your boat's website and social media feed before leaving to make sure that the day's fishing trips have not been cancelled due to weather, fishery regulations, or for other rea- sons. Even though it might seem pleasant where you are, all it takes is a small windy system a few miles offshore to change the boat's plans. • All posted rates and schedules are subject to change. • Plan to arrive at least thirty to forty-five minutes before your boat is set to sail so that you have enough time to park, unload your gear, and get your perfect spot on the rail. • As a rule of thumb, children age six and older are usually permitted on party boats (when accompanied by an adult) and have a separate rate. Check with your boat beforehand for minimum age requirements. • All boats have both a strict alcohol policy and a zero tolerance drug policy. Guests 21 and older are limited to bringing four to six beers in cans only (no bottles). Hard alcohol is not permitted onboard any of the vessels. • If you bring your own food and/or a cooler, make sure you do not bring glass bottles. Local lore and legend suggest that bananas on a fish- ing vessel are bad luck, so it's a good idea to leave your bananas at home. • Other items you should bring: sunscreen, sun- glasses, a few rags, rubber boots, rain gear, and an extra sweatshirt. Consider dressing in layers as it might be a pleasant day at your location, but thirty degrees cooler with a gusty wind on the water. If you do not have your own rod or tackle, most boats provide rentals and tackle for a nominal fee. • Make sure you tip the crew as they rely on your generosity for their livelihood just like servers and bartenders. caught the world record ling (12 lbs., 13 oz.) during a trip to the mud- hole fishing grounds. As the Jamaica II aged, it was time to upgrade the vessel. The Canaveral Star II party boat, with a more modern steel frame, came up for sale out of Port Canaveral, Florida and became the new Jamaica II. The streamlined, 125-foot steel-framed vessel sailed her first voyage out of Bogan's Basin in 2014. The original Jamaica II still sails the seas out of Brooklyn as the Capt. Dave III. The party boat business has seen a sharp decline in recent years as the fishing industry faces increased fishery management policies and regulations amidst a stagnant econo- my. Barnegat Light's Eble family was a casualty of the industry in 2015 when they called it quits after seven- ty years. Their legendary Doris Mae IV party boat is now the Voyager out of Fisherman's Supply on Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach. New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for 2017 are expected to be stricter than ever when they are announced later this spring. Party boat captains and crews are scrambling to figure out how to make trips worthwhile amid sharp reductions in quotas. "We are still fighting to save our season. If the regulations are enacted, we plan to keep fishing as usual but may add in some combo trips to spice things up a bit," Gutman said. With the new regulations and a bleak future, Captains say they will need the support of the public to sur- vive now and for the next generation of party boat anglers. —Jill Ocone The 125-foot Jamaica II sails from Brielle. Jill Ocone The Typical Jersey Shore Catch Spring: blackfish, striped bass, ling, sea bass, porgy, bluefish, flounder Summer: striped bass, ling, sea bass, porgy, bluefish, bonito, false albacore, tuna, fluke Fall: blackfish, striped bass, ling, sea bass, porgy, bluefish, bonito, false albacore, tuna Winter: blackfish, striped bass, ling, porgy, cod All illustrations by Diane Rome Peebles, except Red Hake: courtesy of NOAA. Blackfish (Tautog) Bluefish Bonito (Atlantic Bonito) Cod (Atlantic Cod) False Albacore (Little Tunny) Flounder (Winter Flounder) Fluke (Summer Flounder) Ling (Red Hake) Porgy (Scup) Sea Bass (Black Sea Bass) Striped Bass Tuna (Yellowfin Tuna)

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