MEETING NOTICE GROUNDFISH RECREATIONAL ADVISORY PANEL MEETING JAN 22

[BasicPatrick]

Southern New England Cod fishing falls under the regulations for the Georges Bank Cod Stock and thus is not included in the current Gulf of Maine only regulation discussion.

This Summer there is a scheduled assessment of Georges Bank Cod and considering even fishermen think Georges Bank Cod are in worse shape than Gulf of Maine Cod it is likely we will see lots of action next year regarding that cod stock.

It would be nice if some science in the assessment indicated the southern New England fish are the once thought to be lost southern New England Cod Stock but that is probably me just dreaming. The Southern New England Fishery will likely be a hot topic a year from now.

[MikeToole]

I have caught a ton of cod over the last 50 years and I don't ever remember deep hooking a fish. So I don't think circle hooks will help much for recreational fishing to prevent unnecessary kills. But I would have no problem if circle hooks were required.

On the other hand going with single hooks on jigs would make a big difference in protecting fish in my opinion. Especially on small fish but really on all sizes treble hooks snag a lot of fish. If your fishing for haddock a single tube usually works better anyway.