As reported in The Fisherman Magazine, by Jim Hutchinson....
Last night the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council met. One speaker was NJDFWCaptain Jason Snellbaker. He reported his unit had been busy on Raritan Bay with poaching this past fall. In one month 200 summonses were issued to illegal poachers. The discussion was had about having a New Jersey saltwater fishing license hoping to curb poaching by having additional officers. "Potential organized criminal activity", as Jim writes, is occurring on the Raritan Bay between Perth Amboy and Union Beach, for "commercial poaching of striped bass for markets unknown".
There was also mention of "A closure of the Raritan Bay striped bass fishery". Now that is a riot. There was so much pushback going to circle hooks and eliminating snag and drop 10/0 trebly hooks how do they think they will be able to shut down the bay to striper fishing.
One thing for sure is, there is no place hotter then the Raritan Bay in the spring and fall, the last great striper fishery, moreso from a boat then on land of course.