There were no fishing reports today, but the blackfish and offshore sea bass boats should have good fishing conditions on Saturday with only light west winds predicted before gusty and very cold northwest winds return. The Golden Eagle from Belmar gave up on stripers some time ago, but looked forward to returning for the expected mackerel run at the end of December.

Paul Haertel of the JCAA provided the following update on the sea bass situation Sea Bass Update - Important NJMFC ASMFC Hearing on 1 4 18 By Paul Haertel, JCAA Board Member Past President The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (NJMFC) will meet at 4 PM on Thursday, 1 4 18, at the Galloway Township Branch of the Atlantic County Library, 306 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, New Jersey. Then at the same location, at 6 30 PM, our Bureau of Marine Fisheries (NJBMF) in conjunction with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries (ASMFC) will have a public hearing pertaining to Addendum XXX for black sea bass.

As noted in last night's blog, Tuesday will be the last trip of the season for the Sea Hunter out of Atlantic Highlands. They left plenty of stripers before Christmas, so the jigging should be productive after they sail at 7 30 a. m. The blackfish boats should also be taking advantage of a good forecast before very cold temperatures move in.

The striper bite is still very good on the troll. This week is also the last shot at sea bass for the season and there are still plenty of fish on the 20-30 fathom line wrecks.

The official release follows ASMFC Approves Black Sea Bass Draft Addendum XXX for Public Comment ASMFC and MAFMC Initiate Bluefish Amendment Annapolis, MD - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) met jointly to establish recreational specifications for black sea bass, scup, and summer flounder consider approval of Black Sea Bass Draft Addendum XXX for 2018 recreational management discuss the initiation of a new Bluefish Amendment and jointly take action on several items related to all four species (detailed below). The addendum framework will consider implementing a conservation equivalency management program for black sea bass similar to that used with summer flounder by allowing state or regional measures to be implemented in both state and federal waters allow for a summer flounder, scup and black sea bass transit provision in federal waters around Block Island similar to the provision allowed for striped bass and consider the possible implementation of slot limits in federal waters for summer flounder and black sea bass.