I would like to know how they by-passed the public comment portion of the regulation process. For years there has been public comment allowed with the options presented well in advance. Did that requirement expire this year?

Is this what you were looking for????

Click on the link:

If someone knows how to post the whole thing have at it, I had a hard enough time trying to figure out how to upload the PDF file.

Apparently there are some questions about the menhaden possession limits. I got this from the Director of Marine Fisheries:

I have already received a question about menhaden possession that we need to address. The intent of the measure is to limit “take”. I could have been more careful in the wording of the Declaration (as we are being in drafting the formal regulation) to distinguish between take and possession.

We are not trying to prevent possession of larger quantities of frozen, ground up or other obviously long dead menhaden from being possessed. This will require a little Officer discretion as to what is fresh and what is “day old”. Given that 26-142a licensed fishermen are exempt I would think the only legal and practical way to catch more than a handful of menhaden under a MWFL would be with a cast net. Possession of that gear along with condition of the fish ought to be enough for law enforcement.

Thanks Captian for putting up what you could find.

Stripertime: 26-142a-6. Commercial fishing gear. This includes the gill net category which as you can read above straight from the keyboard of the commissioner of the DEEP is exempt from the creel limit.

Congratulations folks , you have take the first steps to regulate the recreational sector out of the fishery. Before ya piss and moan crying that the comm. sector needs limits in the state as well , take a little time to consider what you are asking for.
If you have already cut your access to procuring your own or do not have the time or ability to get your own bait or chum you are currently buying it things could become expensive. Nothing would make me happier than if you guys were to get a commercial limit set , it would drive the wholesale price up 3 to 4 times what it currently is now. Keep in mind it is a limited access fishery; if you are no in it now you cannot get in it.