Lets see... its been 3 or 4 years now that i have been saying this.... Im sad that I was right..


This is the letter that I sent to Mr. Beal of the ASMFC. The meeting is coming on March 23rd so time is of the essence. You can use the cut and paste letter that was sent out or you can refer to my letter is you so choose. We need to get as many e mails sent as possible in the next five or six days.
the striped bass need our help. Thanks.
Captain Jim White
F/V White Ghost-2
Dear Mr. Beal:
My name is Captain Jim White. I own and operate the F/V White Ghost-2 in Rhode Island. I have been fishing for striped bass for more than 50-years and I lived the last crash of this fishery. It is my professional opinion that we are once again heading towards another crash in the very near future. I have extremely accurate records dating back to the 19960's. My log book shows that from 2006, which is the same date that MRFSS cites, I landed 2,600 fish that season. In 2010, that number has dropped to 487. The 70-percent decline in the numbers of recreational caught fish, is exactly the same as mine.
The worst part is that the decline has taken place with the smaller fish. Fish less than 23-inches in length. They are almost non-existent in our waters now and have decline drastically over the last five years. We once had a robust winter fishery here in Rhode Island. That fishery is now gone.
This past year that decline has also taken place in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and likely elsewhere.
I assure you that this is not the ranting of some lunatic recreational angler. I consider myself a commercial fishermen by all accounts. I've seen and looked at this problem from both sides. It's ridiculous to blame one group over the other at this point. If the striped bass population crashes again, everyone will loose, both groups. And, I've lived this once already, and the warning signs are the same as they were in the late 70's and early 80's.
I know that there are lots of theory's out there as to why we aren't seeing any small striped bass. One being touted is the movement of striped bass to offshore waters. Having fished for tuna fish the last seven or eight years, I agree that a large portion of the stock has moved or migrated offshore. However, these are still LARGER SIZED FISH. Not school size fish. Inshore, there aren't any small bass what so ever to speak of. Once those bigger fish are gone, that's the end of this fishery.
There are also three other factors this time that we didn't have to deal with the last time the stock crashed. Today, there is no closed season on fishing for striped bass, not even in their wintering grounds off the Carolina's. It's become a 24-7>>365 days per year fishery with no escape. No species on earth could withstand that kind of pressure. Not ONE!!!!
Mycobacteriosis is also taking its toll on these fish. With 70-percent of the stock infected it doesn't bode well for their survival. Add to all that a lack of baitfish up and down the coast and you have a recipe for disaster.
I urge you in the strongest, possible, terms to support a reduction in the numbers of fish being taken immediately. The lost of this fish will result in the entire spotfishing industry being wiped out. I've worked in a bait shop for over 15-years and I can tell you with certainty that without the striped bass, those businesses will go under. Striped bass fishing is where the money is for bait and tackle shops.
One last thing, when MRFSS Data is cited for other species like fluke, scup, sea bass, tautog, etc. the data is used almost immediately to reduce mortality on the species involved. I don't understand why, when the MRFSS Data shows a seventy percent decline in catch effort for striped bass that no one pays any attention to it.
I would be happy to present to the Commission any and all data that I have in my possession and to give my professional opinion on what is happening, especially in Rhode Island. I also hold a BS Degree in Marine Science as well as having researched, written and published many articles on the subject.
I also lead the group here in RI in 1982, to get then Congresswomen Claudine Schneider (R) to write and submit House Bill 4884 that was presented to the 98th Congress. That bill lead to the higher size limits and the eventual moratororium on striped bass, as well as the late Senator John Chaffee (R) lobbying for research money to study the striped bass issue.
Thank you for your time and trouble in regard to this matter. I hope to hear from you in the near future about what the Commission will do at their up coming meeting this month.
Sincerely,
Captain Jim White
F/V White Ghost-2
43 York Drive,
Coventry, RI 02816

Thank you Captain White. I just read this to the wife, first thing she said is people shouldn't be allowed to take to many... Something needs to be done, obviously, about this and I know guys here on S-B feel strongly about this. What can we do? Gamefish for RI, one at 36??
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

atta boy Jimmy /lets hope better late never //

Nebe more like 7++

I noticed a drop the year before the Pogies hit providence in abundance. Then the year of the pogie, I was convinced we were on a downward trend.... But I am no expert
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

i'm not sure he correlated the bass being off shore due to the lack of bait

but don't mind me -i'm rather sleepy
racoon's woke me and the dingo up

Lots of stuff messed up. From YOY to Myco. Few small fish. Check for tYpOs, reword, and send in. We also need to find out more on what it is about... Allocation? Species review?

good job jim! here's mine...
Dear Mr. Beal,

I realize that the ASMFC uses the best available #'s and science, but i use the
eyeball test of MANY very experienced anglers (many with over 30 yrs on the
water) they ALL see the species in trouble. Please don't forget the myco
situation which affects as many as 75% of one of our most important breeding
stocks.

I strongly support the proposal by the Maine Department of Natural Resources
that asks the Striped Bass Management Board to create an addendum to reduce
coastwide mortality on striped bass. I am aware this is an agenda item for the
Striped Bass Management Board at the ASMFC Winter/Spring 2011 Meeting in
Alexandria, Virginia on March 23. I want to go on record as supporting this
proposal and I urge the Striped Bass Management Board to take positive action to
move forward with generating a new addendum to Amendment 6 of the Interstate
Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass that will address reducing
coastwide striped bass mortality as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Signed, Donald Guimelli

OK - got this off the SNSA list:


We apologize for the short notice on this Call For Action, but it is a chance for you to have a positive influence on how striped bass are managed. All indications and data suggest that the coastwide recreational catch of striped bass has been declining since 2006 – an eye-popping 70% drop in just 5 years. Add to that the poor spawning year classes since 2003, and the resulting lack of recruitment of young fish into the population, and the future does not look very promising. The striped bass population is being propped up by the good year classes of late 1990’s, plus 2001 and 2003, but if these now legal bass are overfished, as they are being now, and are not replaced, we could witness an epic crash in the striped bass population over the next 5-10 years.

There are real problems with the fisheries management plan for striped bass and it all starts with commercial and recreational fishing mortality rates that are too high, and triggers for management board action that are unrealistic. Action by the Striped Bass Management Board is like turning an ocean liner – it takes forever. So while the population continues to decline precipitously, the Striped Bass Management Board appears to be unresponsive. All of this scares the daylights out of us at Stripers Forever, and is all the more reason why gamefish status for striped bass is critical.

But there is something you can do to help – RIGHT NOW!

On Wednesday March 23, 2011, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will hold their winter/spring 2011 meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. Stripers Forever learned recently of a very important agenda item for this board meeting which is a proposal by the Maine Department of Natural Resources requesting that the board consider initiating an addendum to the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass to reduce coastwide mortality on striped bass. Other state marine fisheries directors, including Massachusetts, are recognizing the problems with the striped bass population and the lack of response from the management board. The board will be discussing this agenda item and taking possible action next week. It is unknown how many states will support this proposal, but we need as many fishermen as possible to urge your own state’s representative to the Striped Bass Management Board to support it. We also need you to contact the ASMFC directly in support of this proposal.

Attached is a PDF file with all the members of the Striped Bass Management Board. We suggest you start by emailing your own state director, then other board members from your state if possible.

It is critical for you to email Robert Beal, the ASMFC’s interstate fisheries management plan coordinator for striped bass at rbeal@asmfc.org.

Here is some sample language. Please cut and paste it into an email and send it to as many of your state’s representatives on the Striped Bass Management Board as you can, as well as Robert Beal at the ASMFC.

Dear _______________,

I am writing with serious concerns about the current trends in the data for the coastal striped bass population. Specifically I am very disturbed by the fact that the over all recreational catch of striped bass on the Atlantic coast has decreased by 70% since 2006. Concurrently, the Young of the Year index from the Maryland sections of the Chesapeake Bay have been very poor since 2003, resulting in extremely low recruitment into the coastal striped bass population. It is my strong belief that current fishing mortality rates set by the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass are too high and are resulting in unsustainable levels of striped bass mortality.

I strongly support the proposal by the Maine Department of Natural Resources that asks the Striped Bass Management Board to create an addendum to reduce coastwide mortality on striped bass. I am aware this is an agenda item for the Striped Bass Management Board at the ASMFC Winter/Spring 2011 Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia on March 23. I want to go on record as supporting this proposal and I urge the Striped Bass Management Board to take positive action to move forward with generating a new addendum to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass that will address reducing coastwide striped bass mortality as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Signed,

Your Name
Your Address

Send this info to the committee members of your state (on next post):

Send this info to the committee members of your state (on next post):

ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS BOARD
REP. DENNIS ABBOTT
199 ASH SWAMP RD
NEWMARKET, NH 03857-2073
E-Mail denevel@comcast.net
Tel: 603 - 659-3175
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM A. ADLER
PO BOX 397
GREEN HARBOR, MA 02041-0397
E-Mail bill.adler@lobstermen.com
Tel: 781 - 545-6984
Fax: 781 - 545-7837
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ASM. NELSON T. ALBANO
1028 E LANDIS AVE
VINELAND, NJ 08360-4041
E-Mail AsmAlbano@njleg.org
Tel: 856 - 696-7109
Fax: 856 - 696-7159
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MARK ALEXANDER
CT DEP MARINE FISHERIES DIV.
PO BOX 719
OLD LYME, CT 06371-0719
E-Mail mark.alexander@ct.gov
Tel: 860 - 434-6043
Fax: 860 - 434-6150
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN A. ARWAY
PA FBC
PO BOX 67000
HARRISBURG, PA 17106-7000
E-Mail jarway@state.pa.us
Tel: 717 - 705-7801
Fax: 717 - 705-7802
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PAT H. AUGUSTINE
25 STUART DR.
CORAM, NY 11727-1918
E-Mail paugustine3@verizon.net
Tel: 631 - 928-1524
Fax: 631 - 928-3540
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBERT BALLOU
RI DIV OF FISH & WILDLIFE
3 FORT WETHERILL RD
JAMESTOWN, RI 02835
E-Mail robert.ballou@dem.ri.gov
Tel: 401 - 423-1926
Fax: 401 - 423-1925
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KURT BLANCHARD
RI DEM LAW ENFORCEMENT
235 PROMENADE ST. STE. 250
PROVIDENCE, RI 02908-5734
E-Mail kurt.blanchard@dem.ri.gov
Tel: 401 - 222-3070
Fax: 401 - 222-6823
Position: Liaison, LEC Rep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
STEVEN G. BOWMAN
VMRC
2600 WASHINGTON AVE, 3RD FL
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23607-4317
E-Mail steve.bowman@mrc.virginia.gov
Tel: 757 - 247-2205
Fax: 757 - 247-2020
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A.C. CARPENTER
PRFC
PO BOX 9
COLONIAL BEACH, VA 22443-0009
E-Mail ac.prfc@verizon.net
Tel: 804 - 224-7148
Fax: 804 - 224-2712
Position:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SEN. RICHARD F. COLBURN
DISTRICT OFFICE
5210 HERON RD
CAMBRIDGE, MD 21613-3572
E-Mail richard.colburn@senate.state.md.us
Tel: 410 - 228-1137
Fax: 410 - 376-3737
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BILL COLE
406 PENROSE CT
GREENSBORO, NC 27410-3114
E-Mail wcole1976@triad.rr.com
Tel: 336 - 294-3919
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 02, 2010 Page 1 of 5
ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS BOARD
BRIAN CULHANE
98 CLEVELAND AVE
SAYVILLE, NY 11782-1325
E-Mail b-culhane@excite.com
Tel: 631 - 563-7866
Fax:
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SEN. DENNIS S. DAMON
ME SENATE DISTRICT 5
256 OAK POINT RD
TRENTON, ME 04605-6113
E-Mail dsdamon@panax.com
Tel: 207 - 287-1515
Fax: 207 - 287-1585
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CATHERINE W. DAVENPORT
1005 POPLAR NECK ROAD
WHITE STONE, VA 22578-2122
E-Mail dymer@kaballero.com
Tel: 804 - 435-2173
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PAUL DIODATI
MA DMF
251 CAUSEWAY ST #400
BOSTON, MA 02114-2153
E-Mail paul.diodati@state.ma.us
Tel: 617 - 626-1530
Fax: 617 - 626-1509
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RUSSELL DIZE
PO BOX 165
TILGHMAN, MD 21671-0165
E-Mail mjdize@verizon.net
Tel: 410 - 886-2249
Fax: 410 - 841-3086
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. MICHELLE DUVAL
NC DMF
PO BOX 769
MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557-0769
E-Mail michelle.duval@ncdenr.gov
Tel: 252 - 726-7021
Fax: 252 - 726-0254
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PATRICK J. EMORY
DE DFW
89 KINGS HIGHWAY
DOVER, DE 19901-7305
E-Mail patrick.emory@state.de.us
Tel: 302 - 739-9910
Fax: 302 - 739-6151
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
GILBERT H. EWING, JR.
6 SUMMER CIRCLE
CAPE MAY, NJ 08204-4478
E-Mail ewingjr@comcast.net
Tel: 609 - 425-8575
Fax:
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TOM FOTE
22 CRUISER COURT
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753-6246
E-Mail tfote@jcaa.org
Tel: 732 - 270-9102
Fax: 732 - 506-6409
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. JAIME GEIGER
USFWS, REGION 5
300 WESTGATE CENTER DRIVE
HADLEY, MA 01035-9587
E-Mail jaime_geiger@fws.gov
Tel: 413 - 253-8500
Fax: 413 - 253-8488
Position:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MARK GIBSON
RI DFW
MARINE FISHERIES OFFICE
3 FORT WETHERILL RD
JAMESTOWN, RI 02835-2907
E-Mail mark.gibson@dem.ri.gov
Tel: 401 - 423-1935
Fax: 401 - 423-1925
Position:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
JAMES GILMORE
NYS DEC MARINE RESOURCES
205 N BELLE MEAD RD, STE 1
E SETAUKET, NY 11733-3456
E-Mail jjgilmor@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Tel: 631 - 444-0430
Fax: 631 - 444-0434
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 02, 2010 Page 2 of 5
ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS BOARD
WILLIAM GOLDSBOROUGH
CBF
6 HERNDON AVE
ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403-4503
E-Mail bgoldsborough@cbf.org
Tel: 410 - 268-8816
Fax: 410 - 268-6687
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DOUGLAS GROUT
NH FGD, MARINE FISHERIES
225 MAIN STREET
DURHAM, NH 03824-4732
E-Mail douglas.grout@wildlife.nh.gov
Tel: 603 - 868-1095
Fax: 603 - 868-3305
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MIKE JOHNSON
PO BOX 9
WANCHESE, NC 27981-0009
E-Mail mikej@darenc.com
Fax: 252 - 441-2443
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SEN. OWEN H. JOHNSON
23-24 ARGYLE SQUARE
BABYLON, NY 11702-2712
E-Mail ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us
Tel: 631 - 669-9200
Fax: 631 - 669-9007
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BRYAN KING
DC FISHERIES & WILDLIFE
DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT
51 N ST NE #5002
WASHINGTON, DC 20002-3323
E-Mail bryan.king@dc.gov
Tel: 202 - 535-2266
Fax: 202 - 535-1373
Position:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. EUGENE J. KRAY
325 STAGHORN WAY
WEST CHESTER, PA 19380-5113
E-Mail sigma58@aol.com
Tel: 610 - 692-7281
Fax: 610 - 692-9025
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
GEORGE D. LAPOINTE
ME DMR
21 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, ME 04333-0021
E-Mail george.lapointe@maine.gov
Tel: 207 - 624-6553
Fax: 207 - 624-6024
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DEL. LYNWOOD W. LEWIS, JR.
VA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
PO BOX 760
23349 CROSS ST
ACCOMAC, VA 23301-0760
E-Mail Delllewis@house.state.va.us
Tel: 757 - 787-1094
Fax: 757 - 787-2749
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. LOREN W. LUSTIG
CARROLL COUNTY
DEPT OF RECREATION & PARKS
300 S CENTER ST
WESTMINSTER, MD 21157-5364
E-Mail llustig@ccg.carr.org
Tel: 410 - 386-2103
Fax: 410 - 876-8284
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. SETH MACINKO
URI DEPT OF MARINE AFFAIRS
PO BOX 1551
KINGSTON, RI 02881-1551
E-Mail macinko@uri.edu
Tel: 401 - 874-4820
Fax:
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS W. MCCLOY
NJ DFW MARINE FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION
PO BOX 400, 3RD FLR
TRENTON, NJ 08625-0400
E-Mail tom.mccloy@dep.state.nj.us
Tel: 609 - 292-7794
Fax: 609 - 984-1408
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM MCELROY
3229 TOWER HILL RD
WAKEFIELD, RI 02879-2049
E-Mail fvellenjune@cox.net
Tel: 401 - 789-0527
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 02, 2010 Page 3 of 5
ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS BOARD
DAN MCKIERNAN
MA DMF
251 CAUSEWAY ST #400
BOSTON, MA 02114-2119
E-Mail dan.mckiernan@state.ma.us
Tel: 617 - 626-1536
Fax: 617 - 626-1509
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
STEVE MEYERS
NMFS F/SF8 SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
STATE FEDERAL FISHERIES
1315 EAST WEST HWY #13253
SILVER SPRING, MD 20910-6233
E-Mail STEVE.MEYERS@NOAA.GOV
Tel: 301 - 713-2334
Fax: 301 - 713-0596
Position:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ROY MILLER
31421 MELLOY CT
LEWES, DE 19958-3863
E-Mail fishmaster70@comcast.net
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
REP. CRAIG A. MINER
CT HOUSE REPUBLICAN OFFICE
L.O.B. ROOM 4200
300 CAPITOL AVE.
HARTFORD, CT 06106-4129
E-Mail craig.miner@housegop.ct.gov
Tel: 860 - 240-8700
Fax: 860 - 240-0207
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS O'CONNELL
MD DNR FISHERIES SERVICE
TAWES STATE OFF BLDG B-2
580 TAYLOR AVE
ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-2352
E-Mail TOCONNELL@DNR.STATE.MD.US
Tel: 410 - 260-8281
Fax: 410 - 260-8279
Position: Vice Chair
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BERNARD L. PANKOWSKI
5 BREEZE HILL RD
CENTREVILLE, DE 19807-1411
E-Mail bp@dbs4pos.com
Tel: 302 - 395-0900
Fax: 302 - 221-5620
Position: Proxy, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
REP. SARAH K. PEAKE
MA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
7 CENTER ST
PROVINCETOWN, MA 02657-2301
E-Mail sarah.peake@verizon.net
Tel: 617 - 722-2210
Fax: 617 - 722-2239
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KELLY V. PLACE
213 WALLER MILL RD
WILLIAMSBURG, VA 23185-2947
E-Mail kelltron@aol.com
Tel: 757 - 220-8801
Fax: 757 - 259-9669
Position: Liaison, AP Rep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KYLE SCHICK
PRFC
PO BOX 400
COLONIAL BEACH, VA 22443-0400
E-Mail kyle@cbycmarina.com
Tel: 804 - 224-7230
Fax: 804 - 224-7232
Position: Proxy, Gov. Appoint.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
REP. CURT SCHRODER
PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
315 GORDON DRIVE
EXTON, PA 19341-1201
E-Mail cschrode@pahousegop.com
Tel: 610 - 524-5595
Fax: 610 - 524-5667
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CRAIG SHIREY
DE DFW
89 KINGS HIGHWAY
DOVER, DE 19901-7305
E-Mail craig.shirey@state.de.us
Tel: 302 - 739-9914
Fax: 302 - 739-6157
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVID G. SIMPSON
CT DEP MARINE FISHERIES
PO BOX 719
OLD LYME, CT 06371-0719
E-Mail david.simpson@ct.gov
Tel: 860 - 434-6043
Fax: 860 - 434-6150
Position: Commissioner, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 02, 2010 Page 4 of 5
ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS BOARD
SEN. SUSAN SOSNOWSKI
RI STATE SENATE
680 GLEN ROCK RD
W KINGSTON, RI 02892-1717
E-Mail sen-sosnowski@rilin.state.ri.us
Tel: 401 - 276-5547
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DR. LANCE STEWART
PO BOX 177
COVENTRY, CT 06238-0177
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TERRY STOCKWELL
ME DMR
STATE HOUSE STATION 21
AUGUSTA, ME 04333-0021
E-Mail terry.stockwell@maine.gov
Tel: 207 - 624-6553
Fax: 207 - 624-6024
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
JACK TRAVELSTEAD
VMRC
2600 WASHINGTON AVE. 3RD FL
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23607-4317
E-Mail jack.travelstead@mrc.virginia.gov
Tel: 757 - 247-2247
Fax: 757 - 247-8101
Position: Chair
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SEN. ROBERT L. VENABLES, SR.
116 HEARN AVENUE
LAUREL, DE 19956-1208
E-Mail robert.venables@state.de.us
Tel: 302 - 744-4298
Fax: 302 - 739-6890
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
REP. WILLIAM L. WAINWRIGHT
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
PO BOX 33
HAVELOCK, NC 28532-0033
E-Mail williamw@ncleg.net
Tel: 252 - 447-7379
Fax:
Position: Commissioner, Legislative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PATTEN D. WHITE
PO BOX 1008
YORK HARBOR, ME 03911-1008
E-Mail patten.white@gmail.com
Tel: 207 - 363-6783
Fax: 207 - 363-6783
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
G. RITCHIE WHITE
30 LANG ROAD
RYE, NH 03870-2328
E-Mail r-dwhite@comcast.net
Tel: 603 - 964-2211
Fax: 603 - 964-2212
Position: Commissioner, Gov. Appoint
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LEROY YOUNG
PA FBC BUREAU OF FISHERIES
450 ROBINSON LANE
BELLEFONTE, PA 16823-7437
E-Mail leyoung@state.pa.us
Tel: 814 - 359-5177
Fax: 814 - 359-5153
Position: Proxy, Administrative
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 02, 2010 Page 5 of 5

Emails sent.

Good thread Nebe.Thanks for posting.Same to you JohnR for thr extra info/addreses.

Here is what I sent to the MA representatives

Dear Dr Beal,

I am a dedicated recreational striped bass fisherman with 45 years of experience and a correspondingly high level of proficiency. Both from boat and from shore I have witnessed an alarming drop-off in the number of fish I am able to find and catch over the last 4 years. Although I am aware of a remaining population mass of striped bass feeding far off shore, I am deeply concerned by the lack of small fish either inshore or offshore, and the lack of fish of almost any size throughout hundreds of miles of their historic inshore summer range.

Although I am aware that NOAA's population estimates suggest a healthy stock, as a physician I am also aware that many patients die when the data and tests suggest all is fine.
In medicine, and in fishery science, truth is found not in scientific models, but in real world result.

The Striped Bass fishery is sick, please do your best to fix it.

Thank you,

Dr George Christman
Falmouth, MA

Mine will be in the mail @ sent-box shortly. As always I recommend people send a letter as well as an email.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I hate to sound so bitter, but I am convinced the only things informal letters do is make the person who wrote them feel better. They are basically dismissed. They have been written in mass for years and the regulations either don't change or actually get worse. More formal registered letters on a lawyers stationary will get more notice and be logged in.
I have found the best way to persuade a board who already has their mind made up regardless what you say is to have an overwhelming turn out at a meeting, and demand a hand-raising (for/against) on the issue at hand. They will never agree on a minor moderate change to the law. Propose the right thing to do and vote on that with the mob rasing their hand. Have cameras and video the event. Post it on you-tube. They do not want to be on video as seen voting against the masses. This works. Lawmakers are scared to death of seeing them selves on the Internet going against the crowd. They will change their vote right then and there just to avoid this, I have seen it.
BTW, expect strong resistance when you ask for a raise of hands.... but insist on it anyway
IMO most letters hit the trash and emails go into the junk folder and are not even read. If they get logged it is in place where no one will read them. They do what THEY want UNLESS you can put them in an awkward situation and force them to do the right thing for the fish and not their wallet.

I hate to sound so bitter, but I am convinced the only things informal letters do is make the person who wrote them feel better. They are basically dismissed. They have been written in mass for years and the regulations either don't change or actually get worse. More formal registered letters on a lawyers stationary will get more notice and be logged in.
I have found the best way to persuade a board who already has their mind made up regardless what you say is to have an overwhelming turn out at a meeting, and demand a hand-raising (for/against) on the issue at hand. They will never agree on a minor moderate change to the law. Propose the right thing to do and vote on that with the mob rasing their hand. Have cameras and video the event. Post it on you-tube. They do not want to be on video as seen voting against the masses. This works. Lawmakers are scared to death of seeing them selves on the Internet going against the crowd. They will change their vote right then and there just to avoid this, I have seen it.
BTW, expect strong resistance when you ask for a raise of hands.... but insist on it anyway
IMO most letters hit the trash and emails go into the junk folder and are not even read. If they get logged it is in place where no one will read them. They do what THEY want UNLESS you can put them in an awkward situation and force them to do the right thing for the fish and not their wallet.


Send it anyway....

I did.

Thanks for the info John.

Send the letters but don't expect instant gratification. I'll be at the meeting so long as they keep it open. I also don't think that coastal changes are the biggest area to gain an advantage and turn this thing around. As a chesapeake bay angler I can't tell you how disheartening it is to see a parking lot of boats decimating the striper population before they have a chance to swim oceanward. We do more as rec anglers to hurt the fishery than the netters do...there just isn't any data to show that other than the decline...IMHO. Our techniques for live baiting are becoming just as efficient and we need to consider catch changes in the bay.

Send the letters but don't expect instant gratification. I'll be at the meeting so long as they keep it open. I also don't think that coastal changes are the biggest area to gain an advantage and turn this thing around. As a chesapeake bay angler I can't tell you how disheartening it is to see a parking lot of boats decimating the striper population before they have a chance to swim oceanward. We do more as rec anglers to hurt the fishery than the netters do...there just isn't any data to show that other than the decline...IMHO. Our techniques for live baiting are becoming just as efficient and we need to consider catch changes in the bay.

Agree for the most part (and thanks for going). As rec anglers fishing for Rockfish, there is a lot more of us and the economic impact is far greater that that of commercials. All user groups need to be scaled back. I'd to see a reduction for 2005 limits (IIRC 2006 was where the limits expanded on rec & comm).

1@ 36

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

agreeing with eben again...

1@ 36


Eventually 36" may happen, although it doesn't make sense to do it right now. If the fishery is lacking small fish, which appears to be the case, a 36" limit doesn't have any huge impact seeing most of the biomass is likely made up of large fish at this point. A one fish bag makes sense though, and consider this also:

Many believe we simply put a highly restrictive limit on the fish size and all will be well, but this isn't the case. First, we need a burgeoning year class that results from a big YOY index( in short, a good spawning year). Once its widely accepted the fishery overall is in decline, size and bag limits will be established to protect said big year classes in order to rebuild the "breeding" part of the biomass. This is what happened last time...the 36" limit didn't just fall out of the sky, it was the last of a regulatory tightening that was targeted at preserving the 1982 year class of fish.

For those who aren't aware, the 1982 class was a larger than normal year class and was really the east coast striped bass population's saving grace. Size limits and moratoriums were put in place with the protection of the 1982 class in mind. The size regulations started with a minimum size just bigger than the bulk of the small fish and steadily increased so as to stay just ahead of the 1982 class growth, thus preventing anyone from harvesting them. If I remember right, the size limit started and progressed like this: 18-24-28-30-33-36 until the population was deemed restored.

The recent low YOY's should be a concern, and if we do get a big index in the coming years, its time to reenact the above policy once again. The population right now is top heavy with big fish and lacking small.(not good future implications)

John,

You are right. Scaling back on all fisheries is the way to go. My point was that MD could reduce the limits and mandate circle hooks for live lining and thus reduce mortality. This increases the number of fish that make it to the ocean--hence an increase in the smaller sizes. In the summer we catch a ton of 19-28" fish.

I'm all for reducing the commercial catch as well. If we could reduce teh nets here in MD I'm for that as well.

Eventually 36" may happen, although it doesn't make sense to do it right now. If the fishery is lacking small fish, which appears to be the case, a 36" limit doesn't have any huge impact seeing most of the biomass is likely made up of large fish at this point. A one fish bag makes sense though, and consider this also:


But 1@36" will reduce the mortality on breeding class fish, and allow there to potentially be a good YOY index! You can't make babies without a healthy population of breeding stock...

what is a StripersForver take on 1@ 36"?

I say 1@36" too. There are a lot of 30" fish out there that could have a chance to spawn before being taken. The average recreational fisherman is not going to catch many, if any, fish over 36". That would more than cut the recreational angler take in half and then they can follow suit by making the commercial take half of what it currently is too.

But, this is all a moot point unless the ASFMC reduces the take. How they can ignore current catch numbers and the fact that the commercial quota was not even reached last year is ridiculous.

Mandatory circle hooks for live bait would be a good step in the right direction.

It would help decrease mortality without taking away from anyone's precious quotas.

Conservation with a minimum b*tch factor.
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