What were they thinking of at the time. I hope this is not going on now.


View this slide show.Haul-Seining (www.noreast.com/emblaze/haulseinestart.cfm)

That was 33 years ago

Originally posted by striprman
That was 33 years ago

... and still practiced in many states.

Still happens on a dumping tide at Ocracoke, right?

They actualy still do that?

Arghhh!:smash:

:eek:

:yak6:

WTF!!!!!!! They don't stand a chance! :lossinit: I don't know how stripers survive sometimes. It would seem to me that would kill a large ammount of juvenile fiah as well. arrrrrgh now I'm gonna be pissed all day.:af:

-DAve

I have these pictures published in Jan 1972 in a Fenwick Rod Newsletter. This actually happened at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Area. These guys allegedly hauled 500,000 pounds of Striper in a week.
I am uncertain whether this continues today. I do know that there is netting going on in Virginia as we speak.

This is why everyone should join Stipers forever.

http://www.stripersforever.com/Home/

This is a non-profit organization that is pushing for a legislative ban on commercial fishing for Stripers. They are also the only group that I am aware of that is pushing to have Stripe Bass declared a "Game Fish only".

:yak5: thats sickening

:af: :mad: :yak6:

Sometimes I am amazed by the ignorance of my fellow recreational fisherman.
Yes, the photos hit us emotionally in the heart for a species we love. And yes, that is a huge haul of 30lb+ stripers.
But, look at the facts in play. That is a once in a lifetime haul of stripers. How often do you come upon a pod of fish like that per year? Beach haul seiners are limited to setting nets from the beach in just the same way surfcasters are limited in their casting from shore.
These pictures are of legal fish, taken within season and above the size limits. Don’t forget that these fish have already been allocated to the commercials, no matter who or by what means they are taken!
The beach haul seine crews take of commercial stripers represent a fraction of a percent% of the total amount taken by both rec. and comm. fishers. I don’t have the time to look up the stats right now, but recreational landings FAR outweigh any commercial harvest by multiples.
In these pictures we see literally tons of cow bass on the beach, and that’s tough to see. But lets remember that during the time these photos were shot it was recreational fisherman who were decimating the fish stocks, selling part time commercial. 3 million rec. fishers taking fish and selling a couple boxes per week plus several extremely low Y.O.Y. spawning years led to all the small and medium size fish being harvested and the surge of huge bass everyone was catching in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
The type of fishing I believe must be curtailed or those taking large quantities of indiscriminate fish, such as long-lining and those that ruin the underwater environment like bottom dragging gear.
We’re quick to parade the fisherman in “The Perfect Storm” for taking as many swordfish as they could and then dieing for their greed, but condemn the guys in the less glorious haul seining just breaking money to survive because of our own jealousy.
My only point is, I hope before we jump on any bandwagon make sure you have ALL the facts and understand what is really going on.
Groups like StripersForever scare me. They are a group of zealots, not completely in touch with the needs of our striper coast, who’s only interest seems to be hording all the stripers for themselves. I believe they are the gateway for even more repressive laws and for eco-environ freaks to make headway into governing how we fish for the Striped Bass that we all love.
Rant over..
Krispy

Originally posted by Krispy
Groups like StripersForever scare me. They are a group of zealots, not completely in touch with the needs of our striper coast, who’s only interest seems to be hording all the stripers for themselves.
I think StripersForever's motives are genuine....but their methods are questionable. They seem more than willing to spread false information to serve their cause...

-spence

IMHO, it just sucks seeing that many fish die.

Well said Krispy:claps: You beat me to the punch!

Krispy is right.. qoutas are givin for commercial harvests and if someone doesnt catch and sell, then someone else will...

Wait a minute. I did not condemn the commercial guys. On the contrary, I once belonged to the Thundermist Striper Club in Woonsocket. 80% of those guys were commercial rod and reel on the Cape. I don't have any problem with the commercial guys making a living.
My point is more directed at a broader stroke. Let's just make Bass a Game fish an end the problem. I am not advocating an ecological moratorium on Stripers. What I am saying is that the Striper is too valuable of a resource to have guys selling them commercially.
I never sold Bass even though I fished in the early 70s with a lot of commercials that now make a living writing books about their exploits. I just don't see the point in bringing back a species that was nearly wiped out to still have them havested and sold commercially. If Stripers Forever is the forum that will accomplish this, then I will support them regardless of their other motives. Just one man's opinion.

preach on Brother Krispy! :claps:

blind faith leads to the undoing of so many, and makes others look the fool.

I just don't see the point in bringing back a species that was nearly wiped out to still have them havested and sold commercially. If Stripers Forever is the forum that will accomplish this, then I will support them regardless of their other motives. Just one man's opinion.
Im sorry Piemma, I wasn't directing my comments toward you.
But, I belive that that targeting commercials, specificly rod and reel, as the primary reason for current striper problems is wrong.
We the rec. groups are the major harvesters of bass and therefore should be regulating ourselves with smaller or stronger catch limits. In fact, I feel that its possible to open more of the fishery to rod & reel comms (RR). It is the cleanest possible source of stripers, w/o by catch. Striped bass are an important resource. One that many folks want to eat. Why should the population be denied because they dont fish and we want more bass to ourselves?
I strongly feel that the biggest issues that need to be dealt with in regard to SB are environmental, i.e. the Chesapeake Bay pollution and the dwindling forage base. Where are the herring, whiting, bunker, mullet, butterfish, and snappers?
How is pollution affecting bass fry in the Chesapeake? Ect.
I will support them regardless of their other motives.
This is a dangerous view. First its game fish, only. Then its C&R only. Then MPP's for bass. No live bait fishing. Artificials only. Flyfishing only.
Proper management is the answer and not draconian regulation of the biggest fishery on the east coast.

Originally posted by Krispy
This is a dangerous view. First its game fish, only. Then its C&R only. Then MPP's for bass. No live bait fishing. Artificials only. Flyfishing only.
Proper management is the answer and not draconian regulation of the biggest fishery on the east coast.

I agree with Krispy on this - unbelievable but true. I believe the strongest direct influence on the state of the stocks of stripers is the recreational angler. The biggest indirect and likely even more damaging is the state of the forage fish: Menhaden #1 and then in no hard fast order; herring, mackeral, butterfish, mullet, and whiting.

Idealy, you would want a very healthy biomass of bass across the entire age spectrum. So you would have an ideal proportion of small fish and trophy size fish and everything in between to maintain the healthy sustainablility of the stocks and then some. In my opinion, this goal should be paramount above what I feel are less important issues like allocation. Where SF irks me is that they are concerened more about giving the fish to recs and about reallocating fish away from comm anglers - NOT fixing the problems in the fishery. They are doing very little to FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. Allocation does not and will not solve the problem with these fish. Say if you removed the entire commercial harvest of stripers in all size classes, the underlying forage supply COULD NOT HANDLE the reduced pressure. So what would you do? Tell recs to keep three fish per day? Sounds STUPID to me. Fix the problem!!!!!

Maintaining a healthy fish stock requires looking at the fish, not who gets to fish them. I would rather see indescriminate fishing methods done away and bycatch reduced and an effective education process for recreational anglers than just to say - "you comm guys, get your bleedin' hands off my bass". It seems to much of money grab to me. YES, I do feel that as far as allocation goes, the rec angler SHOULD have a much bigger piece of the pie and you know what? We do. But if you had actually achieved the most important object of fixing what's wrong with the bass (and other species), that they need to eat, they would be a healthier population that with good management, would bring back these fish across the age classes.

StripersForever DOES NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. If they focused on they real issues at hand and in the true best interests of the fishery I would personally support them. They don't. They go back and fight the same fight of the 80s and 90s - allocation. Didn't we learn anything from that? That all allocation does is say who has the legal right to take the pie? Not baking a better pie.

We need to make a better pie. We know how to make a better pie. Some say that will never happen because the biggest issue facing these fish is the lack of forage and that the regulators are too tight with the commercial harvesters of menhaden and herring et al. But that is where our fight needs to be and to be won. MAKING A BETTER PIE. Not picking who can have what piece...

Simply put: Loss of habitat=loss of little critters that support it and it affects it all the way up the food chain. Mismanagement is the single most important reason for the decline of all species. By the way, ever notice when you see your favorite hunting place disappear and turned into a housing development then they name the streets after the animals that were displaced? Fox run, pheasent run, deer run, etc. They're running alright :rolleyes:

So I really whipped up a hornets nest on this one. Look, I respect Krispy and John's opinion. I also agree that the loss of menhedan, herring, butterfish and all of the other forage species has affected the bass.
That being said, I stand by my opinion, which I hope you will respect, and that is Stripers should be declared a Game fish and managed as such. I don't see the logic in saying that if there is a commercial quota it doesn't matter who fills it. Just don't have a commercial quota at all. The Stripe bass is to valuable a resouce to have it fished for commercially. Now, if the nitwits on the Marine Fisheries Council could figure out how to manage the species more effectively then maybe we could co-exist with commercial harvest. I just don't see that happening and I feel that we must protect the species.
Saopbox withdrawn.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Recs- one fish 24 to 32 inches- thats it... that would make me happy :D

Commercials- pinhook only.

Recs one fish 24-32"
AND one fish over 45"

That would protect alot of fish, and still let people take "trophies" over ~30lbs...

I think thats how they do redfish down south....

Management is key and with honest and valid reseach the problems could be dealt with. Fish, animals and even trees are suppose to be a renewable resourse, unfortunetly there are too many mouths to feed and too many homes to build and not enough resourses to substain this. I think the laws for stripers are inadequite, both commercial and recreational and they need to be reexamined. If you catch a shorty and have to release it, it never made any sense to me because theres a good chance said fish will not survive. Why not catch your bag limit regardless of size and go home? Commercial fisherman do the same, throw out the shorties, throw out the fish they don't want by the ton and we call that management? :huh: Great discussion just the same.:D

Originally posted by Eben
Recs- one fish 24 to 32 inches- thats it... that would make me happy :D

Commercials- pinhook only.

Then you would have a small range of fish being continuously taken out of the mix. You'd be better off with a Maine slot limit, say 22-25, increase your hits on males that die before 28 inches and a one fish over say 40 ish. Spread the load a bit.

Paul - I agree partially with what you are saying. My feelings are if we take off so much pressure on these fish there will be even less to eat. Fix the food problem - which is not just for bass but for cod, blues, little tunny, and even big tunny. Fix the food problem will go a long way to fixing the fish. THEN allocation can be better addressed.

"You'd be better off with a Maine slot limit, say 22-25, increase your hits on males that die before 28 inches and a one fish over say 40 ish. Spread the load a bit."



Male Fish Growing Eggs Found in Potomac

Tue Dec 21, 8:40 AM ET

SHARPSBURG, Md. - Male fish that are growing eggs have been found in the Potomac River near Sharpsburg, a sign that a little-understood type of pollution is spreading downstream from West Virginia, a federal scientist says.

The so-called intersex abnormality may be caused by pollutants from sewage plants, feedlots and factories that can interfere with animals' hormone systems, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Nine male smallmouth bass taken from the Potomac near Sharpsburg, about 60 miles upstream from Washington, were found to have developed eggs inside their sex organs, said Vicki S. Blazer, a scientist overseeing the research for the U.S. Geological Survey (news - web sites).

Authorities say the problems are likely related to a class of pollutants called endocrine disruptors, which short-circuit animals' natural systems of hormone chemical messages.

Officials are awaiting the results of water-quality testing that might point to a specific chemical behind the fish problems, Blazer said.

"It certainly indicates something's going on," Blazer said of the new findings in Maryland. "But what, we don't know."

The Potomac River is the main source of drinking water for the Washington metropolitan area and many upstream communities. It provides about 75 percent of the water supply to the 3.6 million residents of Washington and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

Blazer, who works at a federal fish lab in Leetown, W.Va., said she found the latest abnormalities last week while examining tissues from fish taken from the river near Sharpsburg.

The same symptoms had previously been found about 170 miles upstream, in the South Branch of the Potomac in Hardy County, W.Va. Blazer and other scientists discovered the problem there last year while investigating a rash of mass fish deaths.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers are seeking money for a much larger study across the Potomac watershed.

Endocrine disruptors comprise a vast universe of pollutants capable of driving a hormone system haywire. Some are hormones themselves — such as human estrogen from women taking birth-control pills or animal hormones washed downstream with manure — that can pass through sewage plants untouched.

In Hardy County, officials were especially concerned about chicken waste from poultry farms.

Other endocrine disruptors are hormone "mimics" — industrial chemicals or factory byproducts which confuse the body because they are chemically similar to natural hormones.

These pollutants are often found in very low concentrations, so until recently no equipment could detect them. But the first nationwide survey, in 1999 and 2000, found hormones in about 37 percent of streams tested.

Many scientists are concerned that people, as well as other animals, might be affected. "It's not good news that there's something that feminizes male fish in your water," said Gina Solomon, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

But the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) has not set standards for many of these pollutants. Because of this, many drinking-water plants make no special efforts to remove them.

Authorities in West Virginia are investigating whether there is a link to higher rates of certain cancers in people there.

A recent survey of cancer in Hardy County, where some residents get drinking water from the South Branch, found rates of cancer of the liver, gallbladder, ovaries and uterus that were higher than the state average. All four cancers can in some cases grow faster in the presence of estrogen or chemicals that mimic it, cancer experts said.

"It is at least theoretically possible that those two concepts are worth thinking about side-by-side," said Alan Ducatman, chairman of the Department of Community Medicine at West Virginia University.

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Posts: 3860 | From: Tabernacle, NJ | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged |

100,000 lbs an awful lot of Bass.....1/9 or 1/10 of the commercial limit in Mass this year if I have my figures correct. Whether you kill them all at once or a few at a time: DEAD IS DEAD. Hell they still allow heavy harvest of fish during spawning time, its easier they're all bunched up. BTW would you feel better if they were all bluefish?