Effective Jan. 1, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection has mandated that anglers use circle hooks when catch-and-release fishing for striped bass with natural bait. The DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife announced the new regulation in December as an effort to help maintain and grow striped bass levels.
Requiring the use of circle hooks when fishing with natural bait is the first step to reduce release mortality in the striped bass fishery, says the DEP.
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