Anybody going? I will try to go as long as my little boy is feeling good after his surgeries on Friday.

Hearings are scheduled for the three bills backed by SF in the MA Legislature in Room B-1 in the Statehouse Bldg on Beacon Hill in Boston on Feb 28th at 11:00 AM. We must have as many people attend and speak in favor of these bills as possible. If you have wanted to do something to help turn around the decline in striped bass fishing, now is the time, and this is your opportunity!


You do not have to speak on each bill. Clearly the bill to conserve striped bass by ending the commercial fishery would go a long way to solving our problems. Recent correspondence with the ASMFC has confirmed that if MA ended its commercial fishery for striped bass that other states would not get the MA quota for their own commercial fisheries. Ending the allowed huge 1,200,000 pound quota, combined with the enormous illegal take of striped bass taken under the cover of the legal fishery, would put a lot more big female stripers on the spawning grounds each season. Our bill also would remove the second striper from the recreational bag limit, and that too would help save a lot of big spawners.~


Those who are currently killing and selling these fish, along with some charter boat captains who believe that bagging a second fish per customer is necessary to attract customers, will be there in force to testify against conservation. If we don’t care enough to show up in force we will certainly be defeated. No lobbying effort can make up for angler apathy. We need you on February 28th. If you are not from MA but fish here, own property here, or are from nearby game fish states that are being affected by the commercial fishery in MA, please show up and have your say.


Dean Clark and others on the MA state board have worked hard to break our key arguments down into segments. If you already know what you want to say, that’s great, but if you want to speak with Dean about taking one of the segments that you are comfortable with, the testimony is all written out for you.


After the hearing we’ll be working with our lobbyist and members to get these bills out of Committee and onto the floor for a vote. The commercial lobby will have far less influence on the general assembly, but we must get the bills out of committee to have that debate. In the 1980s the striped bass situation began to turn around almost as soon as the commercial fishery was ended. There are still a lot of large female stripers in the ocean.~ If we can stop the MA commercial fishery it will be a huge step in the right direction and impetus for other states to act. Be part of the solution!

Excellent thread. I'm shocked it wasn't posted here before. Incredible opportunity to make a difference! The more attendance the better.. There even seems to be transportation available.
Make it count!

Can we read the proposed bills somewhere?
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Go to the stripers forever website. They are posted there.

Bill S.337 (http://masenate.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S00337)

Here's the proposed bill. But I'm sorry anything that encourages the taking of 20-26" fish is not good for the fishery. If you want to help the fishery do what has worked in the past and raise the minimum size limit. The funny thing about this bill is SF has run out of officials in the eastern part of the state that will listen to them so they are working there way west.

Hopefully these bills will get killed early and quit wasting our State houses time.
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That bill is the same as we have up here in Maine. Good set of rules.Sad part is we preserve them an then they go back through the gauntlett. 3/4 of all the tags I've had come back have been from fish on their way south in the fall.It's also a lot better than 2 fish anywhere.I'll try to get the time off work to come down.

I think I was the only rec. fisherman who showed up last year to state my hands-on experience and observation that the inshore striper fishing grows ever worse. Facing me down were a dozen Vineyarders, who couldn't explain why their beloved MV BASS AND BLUEFISH DERBY has less than six fish per year, the last three years, which barely crawl over 30.0 lbs. (and NONE which made 40) from the shore. Nevertheless, they were there wringing their commercial hands in mock anguish and despair about how they need commercial access to striper to pay for their center consules, gas, and generally make a living.

Yeah, maybe I'll go again. But I'm so discouraged against the individual greed which solidifies by numbers into commercial fishery industry greed...as a simple matter of basic human nature.

Regarding the goal of obtaining legislation changes in favor of preserving this ever more popular game fish PUBLIC RESOURCE, the momentum will always be against us. The momentum is that a few, expert and dialed commercial fishermen will ALWAYS catch enough fish to sell, just about no matter how scarce the species resource.

Hopefully these bills will get killed early and quit wasting our State houses time.
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How is protecting an endangered resource from greedy pigs a waste of State House time?It can only help the resource rebound.

How is protecting an endangered resource from greedy pigs a waste of State House time?It can only help the resource rebound.
Because he makes money off the fish, so "the striper stocks are just fine."

When money is involved, it doesn't matter how much evidence there is that the stock is at risk. As long as there is one dissenting view that claims the stripers are healthy, people who make money off the fish will grasp onto that one view/report and say "see! I know those 4 groups say the fish is at risk, but this one guy over here doesn't think so and he's the only one who's correct."

Apparently comms are chartering buses to fight this.

I wish they would have the meetings on an after work basis....or at least 1 meeting....middle of the work day is a killer

Any one in my area Dedham wants to car pool
we can share the parking fee. Up to four people
should do it.

If you can carpool shoot me a PM

I'm coming from 93N

GREED!!!!!!! The millions of pounds that the recreational catch is devasting. Slam bam em from shore over the rocks take the hook out of the juenile fish and throw them back in over and on the rocks. At least give em an aspirin before releasing.

U so called recs have been destroying the fisheries.

GREED!!!!!!! The millions of pounds that the recreational catch is devasting. Slam bam em from shore over the rocks take the hook out of the juenile fish and throw them back in over and on the rocks. At least give em an aspirin before releasing.

U so called recs have been destroying the fisheries.

I'm a recreational fisherman and I understand why you think that way, but at the same time there are many rec guys like myself that are nowhere near like that. I see the goons out there and it pisses me off. I hate the kill tournaments, they piss me off too. But I also hate the "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. I know plenty of "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. They are not making a living off fishing for stripers or any other fish.
I can just easily turn around and say something negative about real com fishing, but the stupid back and forth banter gets us nowhere.
I'm for rec and com guys reducing their limit. Nobody has a right to these fish. They just need to be managed better.

Bravo

I'm a recreational fisherman and I understand why you think that way, but at the same time there are many rec guys like myself that are nowhere near like that. I see the goons out there and it pisses me off. I hate the kill tournaments, they piss me off too. But I also hate the "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. I know plenty of "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. They are not making a living off fishing for stripers or any other fish.
I can just easily turn around and say something negative about real com fishing, but the stupid back and forth banter gets us nowhere.
I'm for rec and com guys reducing their limit. Nobody has a right to these fish. They just need to be managed better.

You sure have alot of Hate and are a bit blinded by it... Youre a rec guy that sees things only one way, and just like stripersforever, who do have good intentions by the way, but arent addressing the real problem. Rec, com, charter, boat, surf should all be working together even though its not the case. If Stripersforever had a common cause I would join. Stripersforever guys think that if they shut down Mass com season they will have fish back how they were before, end of story. I com fished a few years through 2010 by the way.... Will they then give bonus tags to the rec guys in order to keep their Com Quota? Or will that Alocation go to a state like VA???
As A Charter Captain I take Recs Out... They complain about the coms, yet not one releases a fish until they catch their limit? The first question they ask is, "How many can we Keep?" No we put 20, 30, 40 plus fish in the boat and you let me see you try to explain to those guys that the Striped Bass Stock is about to collapse! Everybody makes money off these fish, rec, com, boat, surf, tackle manufactures, hotels, tackle shops, restaurants, boat companies, poachers, etc. Who could afford to fish at $5.00 a gallon, driving or boating???

You sure have alot of Hate and are a bit blinded by it... Youre a rec guy that sees things only one way, and just like stripersforever, who do have good intentions by the way, but arent addressing the real problem. Rec, com, charter, boat, surf should all be working together even though its not the case. If Stripersforever had a common cause I would join. Stripersforever guys think that if they shut down Mass com season they will have fish back how they were before, end of story. I com fished a few years through 2010 by the way.... Will they then give bonus tags to the rec guys in order to keep their Com Quota? Or will that Alocation go to a state like VA???
As A Charter Captain I take Recs Out... They complain about the coms, yet not one releases a fish until they catch their limit? The first question they ask is, "How many can we Keep?" No we put 20, 30, 40 plus fish in the boat and you let me see you try to explain to those guys that the Striped Bass Stock is about to collapse! Everybody makes money off these fish, rec, com, boat, surf, tackle manufactures, hotels, tackle shops, restaurants, boat companies, poachers, etc. Who could afford to fish at $5.00 a gallon, driving or boating???

I have a lot of hate? Did you read my post? I said in the end we need better mangement and less bickering. I want better mangement with everybody still enjoying what they do.
The people I disagree with, NOT HATE, are the people who kill these fish in excess. Understand?

I see the goons out there and it pisses me off. I hate the kill tournaments, they piss me off too. But I also hate the "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. I know plenty of "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. They are not making a living off fishing for stripers or any other fish.


Your words above.... Those Comm guys arent complaining about the lack of fish, niether are the goons...


By the way who kills most of the striped Bass???

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sbass/images/fig40_2.gif

In my opinion,

Biggest impact would be to reduce limit to one per day.

Second ring I would grab for would be to up the minimum size to 32". Comms are at 34" and there is no way you can get 36" until that is changed.

I am undecided as to the commercial question. But I would like to see it limited to Mass residents only. The commercial fisheries is so effed up it isn't funny, on both the management and the fishermen's sides. We have all seen what a few pogie boats did a few years ago, the net pairs off the beach in RI, and the fleet pillaging Stellwagen as I type..... They need to provide for their families too, but no one has been able to make all parties agree on a solution for the big picture.

I would like to hear some input from BasicPatrick, who has committed the past five years to working against bycatch and other wasteful practices destroying all the sea's resources.

In my opinion,

Biggest impact would be to reduce limit to one per day.

Second ring I would grab for would be to up the minimum size to 32". Comms are at 34" and there is no way you can get 36" until that is changed.

I am undecided as to the commercial question. But I would like to see it limited to Mass residents only. The commercial fisheries is so effed up it isn't funny, on both the management and the fishermen's sides. We have all seen what a few pogie boats did a few years ago, the net pairs off the beach in RI, and the fleet pillaging Stellwagen as I type..... They need to provide for their families too, but no one has been able to make all parties agree on a solution for the big picture.

I would like to hear some input from BasicPatrick, who has committed the past five years to working against bycatch and other wasteful practices destroying all the sea's resources.

I agree that the one a day limit would make the biggest impact, 32, 34, or 36 inch fish would do... And many saw what the 36" 1 a day did in the early 90's. As far as residents only for Mass com I dont see the fuss, agian that would be selective to a specific group. I by the way did not renew my Mass Com license in 2011, more money in OT back home with no overhead. I really dont know what the fuss is about, the local economy makes out by these out of state com guys or part time com guys. there were what 2500 some odd mass permit holders that did not sell a fish $400 x 2500 + $1,000,000 to the state... no brainer. The same 10 Percent are doing the quota every year regardless...

I see the goons out there and it pisses me off. I hate the kill tournaments, they piss me off too. But I also hate the "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. I know plenty of "com" guys that are not really commercial fishermen. They are not making a living off fishing for stripers or any other fish.



Your words above.... Those Comm guys arent complaining about the lack of fish, niether are the goons...

By the way who kills most of the striped Bass???

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/af/sbass/images/fig40_2.gif

Yea, I do not like those things I listed. They are no good. Just don't lump everybody into the same category. Im a rec fishermen but I haven't kept or killed a fish in years.
Again, they need to be managed better. Com licenses need to go only to com fishermen, not weekend warriors.
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Yea, I do not like those things I listed. They are no good. Just don't lump everybody into the same category. Im a rec fishermen but I haven't kept or killed a fish in years.
Again, they need to be managed better. Com licenses need to go only to com fishermen, not weekend warriors.
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I understand how you feel....You be the judge of whats good and No good.... They are your fish, how dare those googans and rod reel com guys!!!! You obviously can go out to fish for pleasure, catch and release, and afford to do it, Private plane to Block, Cutty, MV?????? Many rec guys do like to bring something home for the table to eat. Its nice of you to dictate who is deserving of a license... I enjoyed having my mass com license selling 600-900lbs a day in 3 hours 3 days a week it was stupid easy... Let the weekenders have 5 fish on Sundays to themselves, maybe they should get rid of sundays??? You see how happy I am releasing fish in my avatar????

Bottomline here is money.... So when you go to our illustrious statehouse, see if you can figure out where the casino industry's $11.4 million in lobbying money went. Not trying to discourage folks from attending, but you should know the reality of how things work up there. I'll bet the minutes of the meeting could be typed up today. They know which way it is going to go.....

Bottomline here is money.... So when you go to our illustrious statehouse, see if you can figure out where the casino industry's $11.4 million in lobbying money went. Not trying to discourage folks from attending, but you should know the reality of how things work up there. I'll bet the minutes of the meeting could be typed up today. They know which way it is going to go.....


Of Course they do... Its already a done deal...

Cowhunter, what the heck is ur problem? They are not my fish or anybodys fish. I feel it is a privilege to fish for stripers.
How many times do I have to say it? THEY NEED TO BE MANAGED BETTER!
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Yea, I do not like those things I listed. They are no good. Just don't lump everybody into the same category. Im a rec fishermen but I haven't kept or killed a fish in years.
Again, they need to be managed better. Com licenses need to go only to com fishermen, not weekend warriors.
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Have you caught any big enough to legally keep and eat??? You ever fish outside one spot in Mass???

Cowhunter, what the heck is ur problem? They are not my fish or anybodys fish. I feel it is a privilege to fish for stripers.
How many times do I have to say it? THEY NEED TO BE MANAGED BETTER!
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You said a bit more than that. You are dictating who should be fishing for those fish! Not weekend com guys and Googans, your words... On the mangaged better, we may agree to a certain extent... But not a 20"-24" slot limit, (might help you out a bit though). I could direct you to a few rivers you can catch that class fish until you get really tired of it.

CH, I said the ones that kill an excessive amount. Googans, I refer to the people that treat the schoolies poorly by just ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them back in after ripping out the trebles. You are spinning my words around. When I say managed better, you are putting adding how I think they should be managed. You are way off base and interpret what people write the way you want to. You just want to argue with people. Everybody is should be allowed to fish, I feel...which is an opinion, that the bass need to be protected (managed) BETTER! Wow, I cannot believe how many times I have to say the same thing over and over.
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CH, I said the ones that kill an excessive amount. Googans, I refer to the people that treat the schoolies poorly by just ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them back in after ripping out the trebles. You are spinning my words around. When I say managed better, you are putting adding how I think they should be managed. You are way off base and interpret what people write the way you want to. You just want to argue with people. Everybody is should be allowed to fish, I feel...which is an opinion, that the bass need to be protected (managed) BETTER! Wow, I cannot believe how many times I have to say the same thing over and over.
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I read what you said, black and white. It was simple, yet obvious. I think all of us on this board agree that there are better ways to manage the fishery state to state which is unbiased, fair to everybody and foremost, ultimately best for a healthy striped bass fishery. I few very wealthy C&R Radicals at Stripersforever do not know whats best, it will not bring back striperst to the saco or kennebec like it was! You want it to go to legislature? You want somebody like Obama, Palin, Santorum, Romney, Gingrich to decide whats best? Seriously???? Next the whole south shore of RI will be closed to rec or com fishing, or the back beach... Let our government decide, they are competent????

CH, I said the ones that kill an excessive amount. Googans, I refer to the people that treat the schoolies poorly by just ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them back in after ripping out the trebles. You are spinning my words around. When I say managed better, you are putting adding how I think they should be managed. You are way off base and interpret what people write the way you want to. You just want to argue with people. Everybody is should be allowed to fish, I feel...which is an opinion, that the bass need to be protected (managed) BETTER! Wow, I cannot believe how many times I have to say the same thing over and over.
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Look at the Chart, you can see who kills an excessive amount, you especially want to quota NOAA....

Did I say I want the government to decide? NO. Stop putting words in my mouth. You're unbelievable! I just want better management for the stock so future generations can fish for these fish.
let me ask you something. Do you think that stripers should only be used for a profit? Example: guides, party boat businesses, and commercial?? That is how I your statements adding up. You seem to think they are only good to profit off of. How do u like getting words put in your mouth?
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Did I say I want the government to decide? NO. Stop putting words in my mouth. You're unbelievable! I just want better management for the stock so future generations can fish for these fish.
let me ask you something. Do you think that stripers should only be used for a profit? Example: guides, party boat businesses, and commercial?? That is how I your statements adding up. You seem to think they are only good to profit off of. How do u like getting words put in your mouth?
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You are preaching stripersforever, What do you think stripersforever is trying to do, who do they want to decide?!?!?!?! And no I dont think stripers should only be for Profit, Unfortunately in this day and age it is a luxury to do it fo fun, Most can't afford it! More recs sell fish black market than the Mass com quota. I guide for $ and for enjoyment, I rec fish strictly for enjoyment, I used to Com fish strictly for money, and I used to do kill and release tournaments for money and enjoyment. Confused??? Yeah, and NJ is a Gamefish State on Striperforever Page. They just gave the com quota to recs and kill more SB than any other state...

CH, how am I preaching stripersforever when I feel everybody can enjoy the fish but we need better management?
Also, I've seen dirt poor people fishing stripers for fun. Not sure why u think u need a lot cash to do it. I love surffishing and I haven't broken the bank on it.
Im a realist. Stripers will never be a gamefish and that is what stripersforever wants, so again, how am I preaching SF?
I JUST WANT THERE TO BE MORE FISH FOR ALL!
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CH, how am I preaching stripersforever when I feel everybody can enjoy the fish but we need better management?
Also, I've seen dirt poor people fishing stripers for fun. Not sure why u think u need a lot cash to do it. I love surffishing and I haven't broken the bank on it.
Im a realist. Stripers will never be a gamefish and that is what stripersforever wants, so again, how am I preaching SF?
I JUST WANT THERE TO BE MORE FISH FOR ALL!
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We ALL Want more Fish, I love surf fishing and boat fishing, Unfortunately it has become a very expensive hobby... Real Plain and simple, who is proposing this "Bill"??? STRIPERSFOREVER! You want people to support Stripersforever and their agenda... SF: Slogan: Got FlyRod, Slots and Grey poupon????this is another go round...
Striped Bass is a Gamefish in NJ.. Its rec guys only, allowed 3 fish at 28", is that SF's idea of a gamefish??? Ive never seen so many dead Bass like here... Biggest problem is finding big enough coolers...

Whoever is sponsoring it, I wasn't sure of that. If anybody was to ask me, I believe recs and coms just need to take less. Cannot get more simplier than that.
Oh, and cannot keep anything over 38". Just my thoughts on that.
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[QUOTE=Haus;922097]Anybody going? I will try to go as long as my little boy is feeling good after his surgeries on Friday.

Hearings are scheduled for the three bills backed by SF in the MA Legislature in Room B-1 in the Statehouse Bldg on Beacon Hill in Boston on Feb 28th at 11:00 AM. We must have as many people attend and speak in favor of these bills as possible.

You are well aware that this bill is backed by StripersForever, (Big Advocates of Slot Limits). Your words above... I dont think a single person here has a problem with recs and coms taking less... Unfortunately SF has a different agenda...


You belong to an organization obviously, know what they stand for.

No, I'm not. Just because I said SF is backing it doesn't mean I knew they sponsored it. Backing and sponsoring is diff to me. Did they write up the Bill? I don't know that either. How am I "for" SF if I cont agree with everything they say? Im just a guy that uses common sense to try and get the striper population increased and sustained. I love surffishing late at night and year after year it is disappering for me.
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CH, every single thing you have said about me is wrong. Would ya just give up on calling me out on every little thing. You're wrong and will remain to be wrong. If you want to dispell everything I say, why don't you give me your idea on how to increase the stock or what ur opinions are? Stop trying to disprove me and give me your ideas.
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No, I'm not. Just because I said SF is backing it doesn't mean I knew they sponsored it. Backing and sponsoring is diff to me. Did they write up the Bill? I don't know that either. How am I "for" SF if I cont agree with everything they say? Im just a guy that uses common sense to try and get the striper population increased and sustained. I love surffishing late at night and year after year it is disappering for me.
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I understand now... "Backing" and "sponsering" two different things. Why Promote Stripers Forever then? Trying to rid of googans or weekend rod and reel com guys because you hate them kind of selfish and wrong if you ask me.... Good luck with your agenda....

You're out of your mind. Go talk crazy on some othe site.
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Again, I never said I wanted to get ride of certain groups. I did say I didn't like them. Again, u are spinning my words.
You are unbelievable and unable to have a normal discussion.
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We ALL Want more Fish, I love surf fishing and boat fishing, Unfortunately it has become a very expensive hobby... Real Plain and simple, who is proposing this "Bill"??? STRIPERSFOREVER! You want people to support Stripersforever and their agenda... SF: Slogan: Got FlyRod, Slots and Grey poupon????this is another go round...
Striped Bass is a Gamefish in NJ.. Its rec guys only, allowed 3 fish at 28", is that SF's idea of a gamefish??? Ive never seen so many dead Bass like here... Biggest problem is finding big enough coolers...

Hey CW...do you support 3 @ 28"? Seems like overkill to me.

Also, the bills that will be proposed on the 28th are proposed by various State Reps, not by Stripers Forever.

I think he speaks perfect sense. You posted a thread about the bills coming to the Massachusetts state house, written and orchestrated by SF and their agenda. Calling comms greedy pigs for not backing it.
SF can go back to Maine and worry about their own state. Massachusetts is doin a fine job without another states radical organization cramming their bills down our throats. if this bill gets thrown out SF will be right back to the massachusetts state house trying to get it passed another way. Waisting our states tax dollars.
Again....
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Hey CW...do you support 3 @ 28"? Seems like overkill to me.

Also, the bills that will be proposed on the 28th are proposed by various State Reps, not by Stripers Forever.

I do not support 3 at 28", never have.. 1 fish limit for charter and rec guys is ideal. SF has been behind this for a few years now, throwing alot of money at it. State reps, think government is best solution?

You're out of your mind. Go talk crazy on some othe site.
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Go Preach stripers Forever and their agenda while not even knowing you are??? Like FishingFreak said, mass has been doing just fine managing their fishery while ME is a DISASTER....

OK
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Greed is the overall problem here and will never get settled comm guys say everything is fine and if they dont get there money they wont be able to pay there bills. Join the club part time comm guys say they need the money or they cant keep there nice boat and mostlikey truck without making that extra money
Rec guys want to be able to keep catching fish for the next 50 years and want the fish for ourselfs

So here is my problem

Com guys there are other fish out there you can catch

Part time com guys if you cant aflrd the boat and the gas maybe you should get rid of the big boat and big truck

Rec guys well you just sit idle for a while whe. There isnt anything to fish for you can say i told you so and catch them for the sport you love not for the money you need. But the.kicker is if the fishing goes south the com guys wont be fishing anymore and the part timers who couldnt afford the.boat and gas wont have there boats anymore either
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Greed is the overall problem here and will never get settled comm guys say everything is fine and if they dont get there money they wont be able to pay there bills. Join the club part time comm guys say they need the money or they cant keep there nice boat and mostlikey truck without making that extra money
Rec guys want to be able to keep catching fish for the next 50 years and want the fish for ourselfs

So here is my problem

Com guys there are other fish out there you can catch

Part time com guys if you cant aflrd the boat and the gas maybe you should get rid of the big boat and big truck

Rec guys well you just sit idle for a while whe. There isnt anything to fish for you can say i told you so and catch them for the sport you love not for the money you need. But the.kicker is if the fishing goes south the com guys wont be fishing anymore and the part timers who couldnt afford the.boat and gas wont have there boats anymore either
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Rec Guys: Have $$$ but Can always sell fish black market and make some extra $$$ but dont need it.

Com Guys: Can always sell fish Black Market and make more money, there are plenty of other fisheries to make $$$ if SB goes south.

Part Time Com Guys :Have money, Bass is bonus $$$ to keep extra nice boat and truck, can sell black market and get double Ma price black market and get even nicer boat, truck...

I do not support 3 at 28", never have.. 1 fish limit for charter and rec guys is ideal. SF has been behind this for a few years now, throwing alot of money at it. State reps, think government is best solution?

I agree that 1 a day is ideal and is what I would like to see happen here in MA....1 @ 36"

So SF supports the 3 @ 28" in NJ? Is there any documentation to that effect? That would greatly discredit them wouldn't it?

CW...I'm happy to answer whatever you ask but I'm really not sure what this means...

"State reps, think government is best solution?"

Thanks

The striped bass stock will only go south if we let it. There is no reason it should go south.
Let's just say surf fishing was overwith becuz stripers didn't come close to shore anymore, like cod, haddock and pollack. That would totally put a huge dent in many fishing suppliers pocket. It would have a ripple affect much worse that a few regulations to help save the striper population.
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So you agree that com guys are greedy and instead of managing things so everyone can enjoy them you someone who makes money off killing the fish as many ways as possible should be able to.do.so untill there is nothing for anyone

And your research on this is that you found one large pod of fish so everything is fine even though you said that SF destroyed the fishing and it still hasnt gotten back to the way it was
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Hows this its the peoples fish 1 fish per person per day how ever big you want it to be do with it what ever you want for everyone up and down the striper coast

Now you will say that isnt fair but what isnt fair about it everyone gets the same amount
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I do not support 3 at 28", never have.. 1 fish limit for charter and rec guys is ideal. SF has been behind this for a few years now, throwing alot of money at it. State reps, think government is best solution?

Since you support cutting the rec limit in half, do you also support cutting the commercial quota by half?

Well fishinfreak an cowhunter I've been a member of Stripers Unlimited,CCA,Stripers Forever,RFA an many local an state clubs. Don't ever remember striper forever supporting stupidity like 3 fish 28 in as its a group to preserve the fish not kill more.All the way back in the 70's it was the same I make a buck off the fish so there are loads of them.Sport fishermen do catch an kill more fish. DAAAA there are only a few million more of them than there are comms. So they will. but percentage wise the few comms kill a higher singular number as far as number of fish killed per angler.How many a day for a comm. MMMMMM a heck of a lot more than 1 or 2 per sportfishermen per day. The quote googans that keep a lot of illegals mostly have a difficult time speakin english so much of that is only knowing what they know from where they came from . to many of them it truly is just for food till they learn our customs.Catch n release to them is like heardin cows to the farm then lettin them go before killin then for meat.thats not fixable for a long time to come.But excess is just that. There is no parety in numbers an percentage for comm an sport as one group is given a much higher catch per angler than the other. Now if comms can only keep 1 or 2 fish like the rest of us well MMMMM might be something to think on. C+R well many of us do that already.I've still not heard the comms say they'll take any cutbacks at all but are very quick to say sports are the problem an should stop wasting political time n money trying to take steps to preserve the Striped Bass.Bob Pond said it best long ago. As long as there is a bounty on the Stripers they will always be exployted an overfished.So many of us now just release about all we catch that it's gonna be harder to do much more than we already do. so we try to educate an speak a bit of reason so we don't end up back where we were in the 80's. But today as back then those small numbers that sell stripers still try to ignore all the rest of what is said. We used to have huge schools of stripers all along the striper coast now there are just a couple left. Food used to be a valid argument but the last couple yrs the ammount of bait up n down the coast is huge.Herrin an macks are all over the place. Sardines are coming back. sand eels are again found in the sand on many beaches. But few or no stripers. Just because someone is catching them in their back yard does not mean that the thousands of anglers not seeing them are all wrong. WE NEED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON TO KEEP IT FROM GETTIN WORSE.EVERYONE needs to cut back.I have a Charte liscence. I dictate what happens on my boat and the shore trips I do my best to teach people conservation minded fishing so their kids can do it too someday.

Rec Guys: Have $$$ but Can always sell fish black market and make some extra $$$ but dont need it.

Com Guys: Can always sell fish Black Market and make more money, there are plenty of other fisheries to make $$$ if SB goes south.

Part Time Com Guys :Have money, Bass is bonus $$$ to keep extra nice boat and truck, can sell black market and get double Ma price black market and get even nicer boat, truck...

So basically you're saying you support poaching.

:deadhorse:
comm vs rec.

This is all NMFS fault. The "user group" theory is just dumb and it does not work. Further, the entire fishery system is deeply flawed. My God, they even have the Codfish as their emblem fish and now that is headed into catastrophe, how fitting.

The banner below says it all on how to fix this problem. Bite the bullet and just do it. end of story.

1 at 36" makes the rec anglers and guides happy.Manage the comm. quota responsibly on a yearly basis. It is a system that would have a huge positive impact on the fishery, and would be virtually unopposed.

Rec Guys: Have $$$ but Can always sell fish black market and make some extra $$$ but dont need it.

Com Guys: Can always sell fish Black Market and make more money, there are plenty of other fisheries to make $$$ if SB goes south.

Part Time Com Guys :Have money, Bass is bonus $$$ to keep extra nice boat and truck, can sell black market and get double Ma price black market and get even nicer boat, truck...

black market sales (poaching) by both sides puts a big hit on the sb. what about all those ma comm tags reporting no catch...sure :smash: poachers are greedy sob's stealing from everyone.

.Manage the comm. quota responsibly on a yearly basis.

Unfortunately as has been demonstrated, this can not be done in the current system. They tried, its not working and it's filled with emotions of all the user groups, who, like warring religious wackos, don't see the benefit of conservation of the fish if it means THEY can't participate to the degree they once did.
The only proven way to help the fish is to treat it in a similar fashion as tarpon, bonefish, permit, etc. Otherwise, as long as there is $/lb on the fish, it is doomed. Further, fishery managers, need to open their eyes more and protect the little fish that SB consume.

Well fishinfreak an cowhunter I've been a member of Stripers Unlimited,CCA,Stripers Forever,RFA an many local an state clubs. Don't ever remember striper forever supporting stupidity like 3 fish 28 in as its a group to preserve the fish not kill more.All the way back in the 70's it was the same I make a buck off the fish so there are loads of them.Sport fishermen do catch an kill more fish. DAAAA there are only a few million more of them than there are comms. So they will. but percentage wise the few comms kill a higher singular number as far as number of fish killed per angler.How many a day for a comm. MMMMMM a heck of a lot more than 1 or 2 per sportfishermen per day. The quote googans that keep a lot of illegals mostly have a difficult time speakin english so much of that is only knowing what they know from where they came from . to many of them it truly is just for food till they learn our customs.Catch n release to them is like heardin cows to the farm then lettin them go before killin then for meat.thats not fixable for a long time to come.But excess is just that. There is no parety in numbers an percentage for comm an sport as one group is given a much higher catch per angler than the other. Now if comms can only keep 1 or 2 fish like the rest of us well MMMMM might be something to think on. C+R well many of us do that already.I've still not heard the comms say they'll take any cutbacks at all but are very quick to say sports are the problem an should stop wasting political time n money trying to take steps to preserve the Striped Bass.Bob Pond said it best long ago. As long as there is a bounty on the Stripers they will always be exployted an overfished.So many of us now just release about all we catch that it's gonna be harder to do much more than we already do. so we try to educate an speak a bit of reason so we don't end up back where we were in the 80's. But today as back then those small numbers that sell stripers still try to ignore all the rest of what is said. We used to have huge schools of stripers all along the striper coast now there are just a couple left. Food used to be a valid argument but the last couple yrs the ammount of bait up n down the coast is huge.Herrin an macks are all over the place. Sardines are coming back. sand eels are again found in the sand on many beaches. But few or no stripers. Just because someone is catching them in their back yard does not mean that the thousands of anglers not seeing them are all wrong. WE NEED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON TO KEEP IT FROM GETTIN WORSE.EVERYONE needs to cut back.I have a Charte liscence. I dictate what happens on my boat and the shore trips I do my best to teach people conservation minded fishing so their kids can do it too someday.

The Map on their site used to tout NJ as a "gamefish state". Dont know if they were taking credit for it or what, and eventually it has changed on there. My problem was the definition of Gamefish state the current 2 fish at 28" in that state, then take the commercial quota away from the commercials, 321,000 some odd pounds, and give it to the Rec guys with an honor syste "Bonus" tag that you can print multiple copies of? It called "The Gift that keeps on giving". In this case did this change the amount of fish killed by getting rid of Com fishing in NJ? Absolutely not, you gave it to a different group that is killing even more....

Since you support cutting the rec limit in half, do you also support cutting the commercial quota by half?

If they cut the com quota in half I wouldnt have a problem with it. I do however have a problem with what they do with that quota? Give it to the rec guys like here in nj - bonus tags? Spread it out to the com quota's of other states? IF There is a problem with the Striped Bass Population then there should be cuts all across the board, state to state. Healthy stock mutually benefits everyone.

The striped bass stock will only go south if we let it. There is no reason it should go south.
Let's just say surf fishing was overwith becuz stripers didn't come close to shore anymore, like cod, haddock and pollack. That would totally put a huge dent in many fishing suppliers pocket. It would have a ripple affect much worse that a few regulations to help save the striper population.
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Yes it will, but the reality of it is that in many areas of the striper coast, they may never come close to shore anymore regardless of regulation.

So basically you're saying you support poaching.

Is that what I said????

I love all the guys trying to justify making money to offset fuel prices and to pay for their large boats and engines. If you can't afford to run your boat without selling stripers then maybe its time to downsize your boat to one you can afford to run or fish from shore. Just remember the eighties and the decline of the striper. If you want to go back to that era then keep increasing quotas for commercial and for limits for recreational. There is no need for more than one fish a day. Or we can just keep your head up your a** and pretend that everything will be fine. Ignorance is bliss!

1 at 36" makes the rec anglers and guides happy.Manage the comm. quota responsibly on a yearly basis. It is a system that would have a huge positive impact on the fishery, and would be virtually unopposed.

I think you're in dream world if you think this would be unopposed. Many recreational fisherman come from the standpoint of why should I be limited to one fish when other can catch many more and sell them. When I talk to people about limiting their catch the first thing I often here is why shouldn't I keep my two when other can keep 30. Plus those keeping 30 quickly become recreational fisherman once the commercial quota is met. Another often stated reason is the stock must be healthy or they wouldn't allow commercial fishing. Even worse, I my as well get them while I still can, if I don't kill them someone else will.

Many people who support game fish status understand that the only way to get recreational fishermen to agree to cuts is to remove the commercial fishing excuse.

If they cut the com quota in half I wouldnt have a problem with it. I do however have a problem with what they do with that quota? Give it to the rec guys like here in nj - bonus tags? Spread it out to the com quota's of other states? IF There is a problem with the Striped Bass Population then there should be cuts all across the board, state to state. Healthy stock mutually benefits everyone.

The proposed MA Bill states that the commercial quota, if eliminated, will be set aside for conservation, not aded to the rec catch or passed along to another state.

It's like history repeating itself. I bet we could go back to the last thread on S-B.com that talked about the last time a bill came before the MA House and it'd be a close carbon copy of this thread.

Highlights from last years thread: Recs saying it's the Comms, Comms saying things are just fine, random mentions of 1 @ 36", Cowhunter talking out of both sides of his mouth while putting words into someone else's mouth, Comms saying that Recs are greedy and are the problem... etc etc.

It's all noise and means nothing unless you head down to the State House or send a letter/email to your representative. This bill is already decided and in the end, the group with the most money will prevail. However, if you support the bill, then you should join up with StripersForever so that they have more money for the next one. I'm sure the Comms have a similar organization that lobbies for their interests.

It's like history repeating itself. I bet we could go back to the last thread on S-B.com that talked about the last time a bill came before the MA House and it'd be a close carbon copy of this thread.

Highlights from last years thread: Recs saying it's the Comms, Comms saying things are just fine, random mentions of 1 @ 36", Cowhunter talking out of both sides of his mouth while putting words into someone else's mouth, Comms saying that Recs are greedy and are the problem... etc etc.

It's all noise and means nothing unless you head down to the State House or send a letter/email to your representative. This bill is already decided and in the end, the group with the most money will prevail. However, if you support the bill, then you should join up with StripersForever so that they have more money for the next one. I'm sure the Comms have a similar organization that lobbies for their interests.

Right, but according to u I can only be a rec or comm.. cant be both? I dont have a com license anymore and dont sell fish so whats it make me? I also dont stand on a rock and wait for striped bass to come to me year after year and complain when they dont. There is some effort involved and curve balls every season. Im sorry it is difficult for some. You can either evolve, adapt or do the same #^&#^&#^&#^& over and over even if it doesnt work. Im not complaining about the lack of bass. Many have been complaining that the collapse is this year than next year its that year and so on. How many seasons have you been complaining? Explain the latest YOY numbers, where that come from??? Theres plenty of Fish to catch out there.....

Lions and tigers are almost extinct, but there are always places to go to kill them.
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I just sent two letters to Pacheco and Gobi asking them to vote against it.

I want to know how much money Stripers Forever is taking from the environmental lobby. Be careful who you sleep with. The chatham hook fisherman's association got in bed with EDF and look what that got them.

I am a commercial license holder who sold zero fish last year. I also purchase fish at my company from local fisherman. I also have a charter boat license.

This thread is getting interesting - like I traveled back in time to the Striper Wars in the 1980s. Only then it was Bob Pond and Stripers Unlimited that were being bashed like SF is now. Same arguments, almost same scenario. Last of the fish offshore. One difference is the technology today to find them. States and Feds couldn't get it together and make everyone one happy. So finally a few congress people took control and probably saved the bass otherwise this site would now be called www.scup-com.

For the sake of those reading and posting it would be nice to know in your profile whether you're a recreational fisherman, a charter boat captain, a commercial R&R pinhooker, or a charter business that also sells bass. I feel that is important in helping others understand your opinions.

DZ

It should also be said the bill proposes reducing recreational limits to one a day and imposing a slot. This is an extremely contentious issue it makes friends turn on each other. But everyone in their heart of hearts has to see the fishery is being destroyed and history is repeating itself. When the commercial fishery was re opened the asmfc used striped bass as a poster child of fisheries management. Then the rec limits were loosened. It is sad to see a species that will be brought to the brink twice in less than 30 years. A species that was once so abundant it was used as fertilizer. People talk about weather patterns, fish moving off shore, lack of forage, meanwhile we continue as if nothing were happening. The only piece of this puzzle we have any sort of control over is our selves. We as fishermen are the control in this study. Regardless of what happens around us we can only control What we do. We can't even do that.
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I think you're in dream world if you think this would be unopposed. Many recreational fisherman come from the standpoint of why should I be limited to one fish when other can catch many more and sell them. When I talk to people about limiting their catch the first thing I often here is why shouldn't I keep my two when other can keep 30. Plus those keeping 30 quickly become recreational fisherman once the commercial quota is met. Another often stated reason is the stock must be healthy or they wouldn't allow commercial fishing. Even worse, I my as well get them while I still can, if I don't kill them someone else will.

Many people who support game fish status understand that the only way to get recreational fishermen to agree to cuts is to remove the commercial fishing excuse.

You want 30,get a license. Otherwise it is 1 which is a lot of food and fun to catch.

The way I look at it is if one state does this it won't make a difference it needs to be coast wide or it will just be pointless

The way I look at it is if one state does this it won't make a difference it needs to be coast wide or it will just be pointless
gotta start somewhere right? all of the states collaborating at once? pointless to think so...

bass are being depleted, it's obvious. anywhere but south. and all I hear comm guys saying is me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, take, take, take. this shiet's gotta stop

This thread is getting interesting - like I traveled back in time to the Striper Wars in the 1980s. Only then it was Bob Pond and Stripers Unlimited that were being bashed like SF is now. Same arguments, almost same scenario. Last of the fish offshore. One difference is the technology today to find them. States and Feds couldn't get it together and make everyone one happy. So finally a few congress people took control and probably saved the bass otherwise this site would now be called www.scup-com.

For the sake of those reading and posting it would be nice to know in your profile whether you're a recreational fisherman, a charter boat captain, a commercial R&R pinhooker, or a charter business that also sells bass. I feel that is important in helping others understand your opinions.

DZ


DZ, the same technologies, and even more sophisticated technologies are used to manage the species. We also have an eez zone protecting stripers beyond 3 miles... Was that the case back then? How many states in New england have draggers, netters, etc targeting the species? This time around if there is ever a collapse you will still be blaming the coms? I am a rec, and a charter captain, I take guys out, they kill their limit, its a rec catch, as it is their catch. Those bites we had on the cape exist and are elsewhere on the shoreline. On the boat it gets to be very common.....

gotta start somewhere right? all of the states collaborating at once? pointless to think so...

bass are being depleted, it's obvious. anywhere but south. and all I hear comm guys saying is me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, take, take, take. this shiet's gotta stop

What did the Ma Comms say when they actually wanted to raise the Striped Bass quota in 2010????

This is for those that believe that the sb are not declining.
The Man In The Mirror

The Man In The Mirror

If you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say

For it isn't a man's father, mother or wife
Whose judgement upon him must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in his life
Is the man staring back from the glass

He's the fellow to please, never mind the rest
For he's with you clear up to the end
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend


You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward wil be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass
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the Doors said it pretty well also

This is the end, My Striped One
Beautiful friend, My Striped One
This is the end, My Striped One
My only friend, the end, My striped One
Of our elaborate plans, the end, My Striped One
Of everything that stands, the end, My Striped One
No safety or surprise, the end, My Striped One
I'll never look into your eyes...again, My Striped One
Can you picture what will be, My Striped One
So limitless and free, My Striped One
Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand, My Striped One
In a...desperate land, My Striped one
Lost in a Roman...wilderness of pain, My Striped One
And all the children are insane, My Striped One
All the children are insane, My Striped One
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah, My Striped One
There's danger on the edge of town, My Striped One
Ride the King's highway, My Striped One
Weird scenes inside the gold mine, My Striped One
Ride the highway west, My Striped One
Ride the snake, ride the snake, My Striped One
To the lake, the ancient lake, My Striped One
The snake is long, seven miles, My Striped One
Ride the snake...he's old, and his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here, and we'll do the rest, My Striped One
The blue bus is callin' us
The blue bus is callin' us
Driver, where you taken' us
The killer awoke before dawn, he put his hooks on, My Striped One
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and...then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door...and he looked inside
Father, yes son, I want to kill you
Mother...I want to...WAAAAAA
C'mon baby,--------- No "take a chance with us"
C'mon baby, take a chance with us
C'mon baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
Doin' a blue rock
On a blue bus
Doin' a blue rock
C'mon, yeah
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill
This is the end, My Striped Bass
Beautiful friend the striped Bass
This is the end, My Striped Bass
My only friend my Striped Bass the end
It HURTS to set you FREE my Striped Bass
But you'll never follow me, My Striped bass
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end my poor Striped One

Is it just me or does everybody here feel like Cowhunter wants the bass to collapse?? I don't feel it, I know he does!

Stop acting like helmets
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Is it just me or does everybody here feel like Cowhunter wants the bass to collapse?? I don't feel it, I know he does!

This is what My Brother Marine Corp Vets say when I tell them they are doing to much killing! And No hes not wearing his helmet, its a bandana!

gotta start somewhere right? all of the states collaborating at once? pointless to think so...

No I agree we need to take baby steps and any reduction Is a step in the right direction