With all the new regulations I think a new title for this forum might have to be "The Only Fish" rather than Garbage fish.
All the normal fish we normally target are going to be regulated as off limits in New Jersey very soon.

There's times it seems it's going that way. We try to remember that it's about getting out and having fun with friends and family, first and foremost. Secondly, catching fish and hoping to put fresh fish on the table. The hope is that people who are bummed about regs. levied on our traditional targets, anglers will try skate, dogfish or searobin this year and recognize that there's some delicious species out there that you are going to catch.

Last year I was cleaning a skate and did the autopsy. 100 small, pinky nail size blue crabs in its belly. It wasn't even a big skate. The destruction that bottom feeding fish do to our seedling clam beds, and juvenile species across the board, is intense. For the most part, as fishermen, we throw these back. By keeping a skate here, a dogfish there, a searobin as well, and eating it, you are helping to manage the fisheries. Enjoy these fish as food and I think we are helping to put a better, healthier balance in the bio masses of all our local marine species. Might sound heady, but that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I keep most of em. Get some good meals from them

if you cant make bite size meals for yourself share your catch with the crabs!!kinda like recycling jak

Hey Jak - never looked at that way. I sure do agree.