As many of you know, Rhode Island DEM is considering whether to allow RI Charter boats to have 1 fish or 2 fish each for their clients.

I want to create a poll to see what the members here think. The options are:

1 I am a Rhode Island resident and I propose 1 fish per client on RI Charter Boats
2 I am a Rhode Island resident and I propose 2 fish per client on RI Charter Boats
3 I am not a Rhode Island resident and I propose 1 fish per client on RI Charter Boats
4 I am not a Rhode Island resident and I propose 2 fish per client on RI Charter Boats

Haha, why not just say Mike, Mike, Ronnie & Steve take a step to the left :hang:

Is this just for informational purposes or is this going to be provided to RISAA, RI DEM, etc?

Haha, why not just say Mike, Mike, Ronnie & Steve take a step to the left :hang:

Because RI residents have most bearing on RI management folks. When I was going to A6 meetings in Mass I announced that I was from RI.

Is this just for informational purposes or is this going to be provided to RISAA, RI DEM, etc?

I am considering sending to RI DEM. They are accepting correspondence until Feb 26th

As a state with angling reciprocity what's the difference resodent or non?
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Haha, why not just say Mike, Mike, Ronnie & Steve take a step to the left :hang:

Lmao !
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As a state with angling reciprocity what's the difference resodent or non?
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The same as if I sent a letter to the CT DEM people "As a concerned Rho Dyslundah"...

Why are the results hidden?

Why are the results hidden?

Because what if the results aren't as everyone thought! :mushroomcloud:
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Results will be displayed at end of poll in 5 days - one vote per user. Far from scientific but reduces likelihood of someone leaning on a particular button

So correct me if I am wrong..though MA&CT may vote option 1, if RI votes option 2, MA & CT vessels can take their non licensed charters to RI waters and take 2 fish?

and not for nothin', but who that votes here is from RI?

-sorry, re-read non resident option. Apologies.

The charter boats have to buy a permit to licence everyone on board, so stop saying they are "non - licenced".
the customers might not all have individual saltwater licences, but they are all indeed licenced.
where you land, dock or trailer depends your limits
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The charter boats have to buy a permit to licence everyone on board, so stop saying they are "non - licenced".
the customers might not all have individual saltwater licences, but they are all indeed licenced.
where you land, dock or trailer depends your limits
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Not to mention besides the "vessel for hire" salt water fishing lic (Ma.) And that cost on 6x the recipient fee say a charter captain decides to loose his mind and join in on the nonsense that goes on at the canal or any other surf destination we also need a recent salt water lic.
Then say I accept an invite on a rec owners boat for the day, need a rec license also.
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So correct me if I am wrong..though MA&CT may vote option 1, if RI votes option 2, MA & CT vessels can take their non licensed charters to RI waters and take 2 fish?

Only if they have a charter/party license in RI.

So correct me if I am wrong..though MA&CT may vote option 1, if RI votes option 2, MA & CT vessels can take their non licensed charters to RI waters and take 2 fish?

I was told that because of reciprocity they could take 2 but would have to land them in RI (example RI boat ramp/boat slip). Then it becomes a possession limit in the state they are going to. But the odds of getting caught with 2 fish in a 1 fish state would be miniscule.

Bump

I was told that because of reciprocity they could take 2 but would have to land them in RI (example RI boat ramp/boat slip). Then it becomes a possession limit in the state they are going to. But the odds of getting caught with 2 fish in a 1 fish state would be miniscule.

I disagree DZ, all EP would have to do is set up by the 3rd can and patrol BI, that is the area that really needs to be protected. We pay for.licensing now and i would expect a larger presence with more pressure and published fines. I also think stiffer penalties needs to be enforced, for example when your boat and gear is taken its auctioned off not returned after you pay the fines....

EP needs a larger presence in this state Lord knows i have seen way to many this winter on the ocean front...

Off-topic question, down by Monahan there is a boat.parking only, who do you call when surfers are parked there?
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I disagree DZ, all EP would have to do is set up by the 3rd can and patrol BI, that is the area that really needs to be protected. We pay for.licensing now and i would expect a larger presence with more pressure and published fines. I also think stiffer penalties needs to be enforced, for example when your boat and gear is taken its auctioned off not returned after you pay the fines....

EP needs a larger presence in this state Lord knows i have seen way to many this winter on the ocean front...

Off-topic question, down by Monahan there is a boat.parking only, who do you call when surfers are parked there?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile devicethere is only one parking spot for a boat trailer at monahans
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I disagree DZ, all EP would have to do is set up by the 3rd can and patrol BI, that is the area that really needs to be protected. We pay for.licensing now and i would expect a larger presence with more pressure and published fines. I also think stiffer penalties needs to be enforced, for example when your boat and gear is taken its auctioned off not returned after you pay the fines....

EP needs a larger presence in this state Lord knows i have seen way to many this winter on the ocean front...

Off-topic question, down by Monahan there is a boat.parking only, who do you call when surfers are parked there?
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When the 2 fish bag for the for hire industry was discussed at the RISAA BOD hearing they went over this. If RI for hires get a two fish bag for clients - then any out of state for hire boats can legally keep two fish per client WHILE in RI waters because we have license reciprocity with those other states. We all agree more inforcement is needed but DEM funding is a very low priority. Although a separate issue my suggestion is for RI to drop its reciprocity agreement with other states and charge for a non-resident license to fund more enforcement. RI waters are a commodity - everyone wants to fish here and does - RI should take advantage of its resource. Reciprocity sounded good at first but is a bad deal for RI.

When the 2 fish bag for the for hire industry was discussed at the RISAA BOD hearing they went over this. If RI for hires get a two fish bag for clients - then any out of state for hire boats can legally keep two fish per client WHILE in RI waters because we have license reciprocity with those other states. We all agree more inforcement is needed but DEM funding is a very low priority. Although a separate issue my suggestion is for RI to drop its reciprocity agreement with other states and charge for a non-resident license to fund more enforcement. RI waters are a commodity - everyone wants to fish here and does - RI should take advantage of its resource. Reciprocity sounded good at first but is a bad deal for RI.

So again 1 fish bag Limit for charters as well solves the problem. One of the best statements that was made was "your selling the experience not the meat ".

If DEM is underfunded get someone else to run it, just like the Clowns that think its ok to make special rules.

If the RI DEM needs more money, do as i said take the gear and trucks and auction it off problem solved.

These issues are beyond the bag limits but at least its a start. Honestly if things dont change heads At the top should roll.
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When the 2 fish bag for the for hire industry was discussed at the RISAA BOD hearing they went over this. If RI for hires get a two fish bag for clients - then any out of state for hire boats can legally keep two fish per client WHILE in RI waters because we have license reciprocity with those other states. We all agree more inforcement is needed but DEM funding is a very low priority. Although a separate issue my suggestion is for RI to drop its reciprocity agreement with other states and charge for a non-resident license to fund more enforcement. RI waters are a commodity - everyone wants to fish here and does - RI should take advantage of its resource. Reciprocity sounded good at first but is a bad deal for RI.

I don't believe that it true for charter/party licenses, though it is true for the recreational fishing licenses. If you are operating a charter/party boat in RI waters you need a RI charter/party license.

I don't believe that it true for charter/party licenses, though it is true for the recreational fishing licenses. If you are operating a charter/party boat in RI waters you need a RI charter/party license.

What about the NY/CT/MA boats bassing at SW or blackfishing in RI wtaers in the fall?

I don't believe that it true for charter/party licenses, though it is true for the recreational fishing licenses. If you are operating a charter/party boat in RI waters you need a RI charter/party license.

I hope you're correct Mike. I'll have to pose the question to DEM.

I thought when the Saltwater fishing license was instituted that a portion of that money was to go to the DEM to help fund them. Might just be a MA thing but I would have thought RI would use the funds for something similar.

I thought when the Saltwater fishing license was instituted that a portion of that money was to go to the DEM to help fund them. Might just be a MA thing but I would have thought RI would use the funds for something similar.

the keyword here is "portion"

I voted but you can only vote on the pc. Mobile platforms no worky I want a recount! where's Al Gore:laughs:

I don't believe that it true for charter/party licenses, though it is true for the recreational fishing licenses. If you are operating a charter/party boat in RI waters you need a RI charter/party license.

this would never work in a state like NewHampshire with only 13 miles of coastline you would need Maine and Mass licenses also?

this would never work in a state like NewHampshire with only 13 miles of coastline you would need Maine and Mass licenses also?

Boats from NH would also have to have MA or ME licenses, Just like the guys from Montauk that fish around BI have to get RI licenses.

One fish would be great. How ever for charters, I wouldn't mind 2 fish per paid angler. Leaving Captains and Mate out.

Haha, why not just say Mike, Mike, Ronnie & Steve take a step to the left :hang:




Thanks for starting my morning off with a good laugh Mike.
Almost spit my coffee on laptop.
Funny chit !

One fish would be great. How ever for charters, I wouldn't mind 2 fish per paid angler. Leaving Captains and Mate out.



This is where I stand.
Me, striper taste like crap.
It's about us being able to sell charters.

This is where I stand.
Me, striper taste like crap.
It's about us being able to sell charters.

So you sell crap?
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So what's the difference between a guy who fishes as a guest on a for hire or me from the beach ? Please don't tell me it's because he pays so much. Let's all remember who kills the most fish, rec boats and for hires according to the numbers. If we are going to stabilize the biomass then thaving the largest group of participants still killing two fish what do we expect to happen. The 1@28 was supposed to be only a 50% chance. Now where are we ? Every state is mixed up in this BS "got to have 2 fish thing because of the other guy (adjacent states )", all because some boneheads fell for conservation equivalency as if there really is such a thing. Maybe we should manage Plovers with that concept. As long as we always have the same number of nests somewhere on the coast that's OK. ?

If all states in the New England region go 1 fish bag then the common argument that any NE state will have an advantage over the other becomes mute. Right now RI seems to be the only wild card left.

The 25% reduction of striped bass from the recs have a 100% chance of success (1 bass from 2 bass) and the for hire 25% reduction has a 0% probability of success (2 bass before 2 bass proposed) and Collectively the probability would be 50% ( 100% probability recs + 0% probability "for hires" divide by 2 is 50% probability
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The 25% reduction of striped bass from the recs have a 100% chance of success (1 bass from 2 bass) and the for hire 25% reduction has a 0% probability of success (2 bass before 2 bass proposed) and Collectively the probability would be 50% ( 100% probability recs + 0% probability "for hires" divide by 2 is 50% probability
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If it was 2 @ 28 inches your theory might hold water. Would your probability of catching one from shore stay the same if it was 1 @ 33 inches?
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In RI the charter fleet has no problem finding fish over 32 inches at the Block. Business as usual, no reduction in fish taken
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It is a weak a$$ excuse to use the we will lose money if our customers can't have a chance to keep 2 fish if the limit goes to one at 28". How about the tackle shops all along the coast (except NJ) who have to accept the fact that THEIR customers will now only be able to keep one fish @ 28" so seeing as how that is now now longer 2 per day, it will impact THEIR business in loss of customers, but for some power struggle driven reason, the Charter businesses who think their business will be hurt want a "special" conservation equivalency for their particular user group. I call horse shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit on that crap. They have no justification.

The fisheries managers need to stop trying to please everyone and realize they need to do the right thing and give the fish a better than 50/50 shot at survival. One at 32" or 34" would be better, or a graduated limit would be fine also to protect the 2011 year class, like 28" this year, then 30" then 32". Their scientists need to grow a set of balls and speak up or find another job.


It has gone beyond ridiculousness long enough

Would your probability of catching one from shore stay the same if it was 1 @ 33 inches?
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Yes it would stay the same.
catching, and keeping are 2 very different things.
The probability of catching a 33" fish is still the same.

Interesting results - more consistent than I thought we would see.

Yes it would stay the same.
catching, and keeping are 2 very different things.
The probability of catching a 33" fish is still the same.

Sounds like you could have a job in fisheries management 😂
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Sounds like you could have a job in fisheries management 😂
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Did you graduate from high school ?
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I guess there are atleast 5 who make $ off SB.

Did you graduate from high school ?
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We catch far more fish in the 28 to 33 slot then fish over 33. Why
Is that so hard to grasp ? Dope maybe ?
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I guess there are atleast 5 who make $ off SB.

If you include plug makers its many many more. Maybe they can make hookless plugs and sell the experience 😊 we can all agree that a number of fish die after a release

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And I'll bet that most of the plug makers who voted above voted for 1 fish. I agree that a number of fish die after release. I think we all can also agree that keeping 2 fish kills twice as many fish as keeping 1 fish.

Would your probability of catching one from shore stay the same if it was 1 @ 33 inches?
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OK one more time, I'll try to be a little more clear with my common sense here.

It does not matter whether the limit to keep a bass is 20 inches or 30 inches, the probability stays the same of your chances of catching a 33 inch bass. Just like it is the same to catch a 50 pounder no matter what the legal length is to keep one.

Fisheries management manages to have maximum yeild, I think we would all benefit if they managed for maximum sustainable population at a diverse spread of age and size so that there is not some kind of huge void of let's just say for instance hardly any 20-25 pound fish or not enough 32" fish for example.

I have common sense, not a fisheries management degree, I'll stick to making boxes.

Whatever RI does, it does. We will have to live with it for 3 years.

OK one more time, I'll try to be a little more clear with my common sense here.

It does not matter whether the limit to keep a bass is 20 inches or 30 inches, the probability stays the same of your chances of catching a 33 inch bass. Just like it is the same to catch a 50 pounder no matter what the legal length is to keep one.

Fisheries management manages to have maximum yeild, I think we would all benefit if they managed for maximum sustainable population at a diverse spread of age and size so that there is not some kind of huge void of let's just say for instance hardly any 20-25 pound fish or not enough 32" fish for example.

I have common sense, not a fisheries management degree, I'll stick to making boxes.

Whatever RI does, it does. We will have to live with it for 3 years.

I Agree with what you are saying but that was not my point and I believe you know that.
If you could only keep a fish 33 inches or above your chances of bringing home a fish to eat are a lot less then if you can bring home a fish 28 inches and above. That's just speaking from my experience maybe you guys are better at targeting the big fish.
I hope that is clear.

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I Agree with what you are saying but that was not my point and I believe you know that.
If you could only keep a fish 33 inches or above your chances of bringing home a fish to eat are a lot less then if you can bring home a fish 28 inches and above. That's just speaking from my experience maybe you guys are better at targeting the big fish.
I hope that is clear.

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I would say my chance of catching a 28" fish is a tiny bit better than a 33 but I don't chase those. Probably the same for most here. Coastwide, might make a little more difference but not drastically.

That said different year classes being missing / wiped out will make that more hit or miss as you drill down. The larger you make the minimum size, the more year classes you protect a little longer.

I am guessing I average 10 fish over 33 to 1 over 28

And yeah, Nebe is too dope!
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I would say my chance of catching a 28" fish is a tiny bit better than a 33 but I don't chase those. Probably the same for most here. Coastwide, might make a little more difference but not drastically.

That said different year classes being missing / wiped out will make that more hit or miss as you drill down. The larger you make the minimum size, the more year classes you protect a little longer.

The good news is that in our area there seems to be more fish under 33" I guess that's why the charter boats in my area figure the 2@33 is going to be a significant reduction in fish killed . Sure there will be good days but there will not be full limits on most and in my opinion ( I do own a charter boat ) there could be less fish on some days then there would be with 1@28 being the for hire regulation .
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The good news is that in our area there seems to be more fish under 33" I guess that's why the charter boats in my area figure the 2@33 is going to be a significant reduction in fish killed . Sure there will be good days but there will not be full limits on most and in my opinion ( I do own a charter boat ) there could be less fish on some days then there would be with 1@28 being the for hire regulation .
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Where do you live? I see most Charters getting more than 2, more than 32". To keep one & C&R the rest goes in the right direction.

This is ridiculous. Let's end a species or reduce it to the point that we have to have this argument so that some people can have 2 instead of one. This is the problem with humanity-take take take till there is nothing left to give. There are plenty of other fish in this ocean that fight harder and taste better (never mind the mercury) than striper. You want two stripers instead of one, buy a fishing pole and catch it your damn self tomorrow.

Like I believe someone mentioned, did we get into fishing to make money or memories? What would the person who took you fishing for the first time say?

And if a charter can't catch fish over 28, 33 whatever, either you suck or there aren't any fish, pick one and re-evaluate.

Better yet... What are your grand kids gonna say?
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Better yet... What are your grand kids gonna say?
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"gramps what were striped bass?"

Why take a bass charter in Mass Bay to "fight" 2 fish that weigh 15 lbs each anyhow? If that is an unlikely scenario or considered a good day,then it seems a tough sell Buck.
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Where do you live? I see most Charters getting more than 2, more than 32". To keep one & C&R the rest goes in the right direction.

Boats in green harbor . Live in Brant Rock .
No ground fish for us next year .
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has anyone actually seen or talked to one of these mythical clients who won't go fishing if they can't kill 2 bass....they are sure talked about quite a bit and causing quite a fuss, hell, we're working pretty hard to make special exceptions just for them... but I don't believe ever I've seen one weigh in on the subject anywhere....starting to wonder if they really exist

has anyone actually seen or talked to one of these mythical clients who won't go fishing if they can't kill 2 bass....they are sure talked about quite a bit and causing quite a fuss, hell, we're working pretty hard to make special exceptions just for them... but I don't believe ever I've seen one weigh in on the subject anywhere....starting to wonder if they really exist

Scott there are actually clients like that. A friend of mine is a mate on a boat that runs 225-250 tpy

I asked him that question and he said they have four to eight trips a year where the client wants to go out, limit out, and immediately return to the dock.
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Scott there are actually clients like that. A friend of mine is a mate on a boat that runs 225-250 tpy

I asked him that question and he said they have four to eight trips a year where the client wants to go out, limit out, and immediately return to the dock.
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a bit tongue in cheek as it is the user group that all of this is about and the one that is seemingly absent in body and voice from the debate....that's the first attempt I've seen to quantify them...so we should keep a two fish bag limit for 225-250 trips a year so that approx. 2% who won't fish without the knowledge that they can keep two fish can have their fish?....and complicate the entire process....makes perfect sense....again...if it's so vitally important to this user group....it would be good to actually hear from "them">>> I suspect many of the don't even know the discussions are going on....lot's of data and evidence out there as to the decline....not much of either as to the whereabouts of the 2 bass or bust anglers

a bit tongue in cheek as it is the user group that all of this is about and the one that is seemingly absent in body and voice from the debate....that's the first attempt I've seen to quantify them...so we should keep a two fish bag limit for 225-250 trips a year so that approx. 2% who won't fish without the knowledge that they can keep two fish can have their fish?....and complicate the entire process....makes perfect sense....again...if it's so vitally important to this user group....it would be good to actually hear from them>>> I suspect many of the don't even know the discussions are going on

225 to 250 a year ????? You just make #^&#^&#^&#^& up
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225 to 250 a year ????? You just make #^&#^&#^&#^& up
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just going by what Linesider82 stated..give me a number Buck.........why don't you produce 1 client who won't charter if they can't have 2 bass..that's the guy we're looking for and maybe he can explain why we're going through all of this nonsense so that he can keep his second fish....

225 to 250 a year ????? You just make #^&#^&#^&#^& up
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no, those are actual numbers they run mostly 2 trips per day, and during the height of the year run 3
30 x 2 = 60 trips per month, times 4 = 240

So if you have days like a Monday or Tuesday where you didn't run 2 trips, you run 3 on weekends and make up for it. The math is not that difficult

just going by what Linesider82 stated..give me a number Buck.........why don't you produce 1 client who won't charter if they can't have 2 bass..that's the guy we're looking for and maybe he can explain why we're going through all of this nonsense so that he can keep his second fish....

We book maybe 15 to 20 .
At 1 @ 28 we will book half I figure . Cod is another story . Last year we booked 25 or so
This year 0
Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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We book maybe 15 to 20 .
At 1 @ 28 we will book half I figure . Cod is another story . Last year we booked 25 or so
This year 0
Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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if i spent 1200 doing all of that the last thing i'd give a crap about is a couple fillets...you assume the fillets are the deal breaker for these folks, i give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they enjoy the whole trip

1200 per trip + 240 tip ...................... I better be catching shark and tuna for that price

1200 per trip + 240 tip ...................... I better be catching shark and tuna for that price

I agree and it better be a weekend long trip..
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It seems the charter captains in CT now support the 1@28" concept.
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1200 per trip + 240 tip ...................... I better be catching shark and tuna for that price

Good to see you agree with me.
And let's not forget, if you cant catch a 1000 pound tuna every trip you either suck or there's not enough thousand pound tuna in the ocean ;)
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Truly a ridiculous debate to be having...

lets keep Rhode Island regulations so as to be more inviting for a van full of jersey guys, and meat fishermen (who derive little pleasure from the act of fishing and are in it for the fillets) will keep coming to Rhode island...maybe we can have a new state slogan to help drive business:
"FISH RHODE ISLAND: The oasis of striped bass meat, surrounded by a desert of 1-fish common sense states"

Again... its clear as crystal to see... charter captains (at least from what I gather in this thread) don't care about how much meat their clients are going home with, just how much money they themselves are going home with. That seems to be the reoccurring argument.
If a van full of guys stay in Jersey... good.
If a guy who doesnt enjoy fishing enough to even bother going if
he cant keep enough meat stays home... Oh well.

Why keep fighting so hard to protect the ability to kill 2 fish for guys with the least interest in the striped bass fishery? Oh yeah... we're not... the fight is
to protect income for charters, regardless of what it does to the population.

This is getting really old.

We book maybe 15 to 20 .
At 1 @ 28 we will book half I figure . Cod is another story . Last year we booked 25 or so
This year 0
Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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Nope !
I'd head south.
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Good to see you agree with me.
And let's not forget, if you cant catch a 1000 pound tuna every trip you either suck or there's not enough thousand pound tuna in the ocean ;)
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We are not talking about tuna.:deadhorse:

Truly a ridiculous debate to be having...

lets keep Rhode Island regulations so as to be more inviting for a van full of jersey guys, and meat fishermen (who derive little pleasure from the act of fishing and are in it for the fillets) will keep coming to Rhode island...maybe we can have a new state slogan to help drive business:
"FISH RHODE ISLAND: The oasis of striped bass meat, surrounded by a desert of 1-fish common sense states"

Again... its clear as crystal to see... charter captains (at least from what I gather in this thread) don't care about how much meat their clients are going home with, just how much money they themselves are going home with. That seems to be the reoccurring argument.
If a van full of guys stay in Jersey... good.
If a guy who doesnt enjoy fishing enough to even bother going if
he cant keep enough meat stays home... Oh well.

Why keep fighting so hard to protect the ability to kill 2 fish for guys with the least interest in the striped bass fishery? Oh yeah... we're not... the fight is
to protect income for charters, regardless of what it does to the population.

This is getting really old.

I'm done too. If your worried charter boats are going to kill mass amounts of Stripers on every trip then there isn't a population problem. ( flipped your BS there ) There is a whole economy that surrounds these boats.
The selfish ones want the fish to be " game fish status "
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I'm a selfish 1.

"Game Fish Status" is seriously misunderstood.

As a game fish, striped bass would not be commercially fished and not sold in restaurants.

Recreational anglers including charters would still be able to fish for and KEEP striped bass. Game Fish Status only removes commercial fishermen from the equation.

To the commercial fishermen's credit, they are documenting every single bass caught and have remained at a flat-lined level of harvest for quite some time.

In regards to the economy surrounding striped bass, yes there is an entire vertical economy that does not center around any single contingent of fishermen. Commercial boats pay for slips, gas, maintainance, create jobs, and supply restaurants / markets with a food commodity. For-Hires offer people the opportunity to go fishing and experience the ocean and the fish without having to own or lug around any fishing gear. The average recreational angler is hands-down the largest factor in the fishing economy, they own boats just like charter capts. do, but there are a lot more of them... then you think of the lowly shore anglers... with their rod, reel and plug bag, and at the surface yes they don't appear to spend much money. Then you go to their house and realize their garage or basements are nearly complete tackle shops. I'm not trying to say that every angler spends un-godly amounts of money on fishing, but I am trying to say that every component of those that make up this fishery, comm, rec, for-hire, make up equal parts. So to give one segment special treatment because their business model is to kill two fish, I sorry but that is absurd.

"If your worried charter boats are going to kill mass amounts of Stripers on every trip then there isn't a population problem. "

Im not worried about "mass amounts every trip" as you stated.

The concern comes from giving hundreds of charter boats, making many trips per season, the option to keep double the fish. The end result of hundreds of charter boats keeping double = mass amounts over the course of a season

little things, done consistently, over time, have the greatest effect when seeking lasting change.
That holds true for anything in life... weight loss, diets, rebuilding a fish population, or contributing to the reduction of it.

has anyone actually seen or talked to one of these mythical clients who won't go fishing if they can't kill 2 bass....they are sure talked about quite a bit and causing quite a fuss, hell, we're working pretty hard to make special exceptions just for them... but I don't believe ever I've seen one weigh in on the subject anywhere....starting to wonder if they really exist

Some RI Charter boats take out groups with mass commercial fishing licenses who will then turn around and sell the fish commercially in mass which pays for the trip and on a good day provides some extra cash for the group of anglers. It's a win win for the Charter boat who gets paid for the charter and for the guys with commercial licenses who get a free trip and some pocket money out of it.

Some RI Charter boats take out groups with mass commercial fishing licenses who will then turn around and sell the fish commercially in mass which pays for the trip and on a good day provides some extra cash for the group of anglers. It's a win win for the Charter boat who gets paid for the charter and for the guys with commercial licenses who get a free trip and some pocket money out of it.

I believe that would be illegal. Commercial fishing in RI with the expressed purpose of selling those fish in Mass.

So is speeding, or texting while driving...

but many play the odds, especially when profitable to do so.

So is speeding, or texting while driving...

but many play the odds, especially when profitable to do so.

True, but while government is known to look the other way when convenient, doesn't make it right.

Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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NJ (and NY) already have adopted a two fish limit for all anglers.

I believe that would be illegal. Commercial fishing in RI with the expressed purpose of selling those fish in Mass.

Yes it is illegal but with little or no chance of getting caught it happens quite often. I would wager that a good number of the fish caught and kept in RI waters off of Block end up being sold commercially or on the black market in MA or NY.

I'm sure there is a person or two who catches fish in RI and trucks them to mass to sell (obviously illegal), but the idea that anyone with a mass commercial license pays to charter a RI boat to bring fish back to sell is absolutely ludicrous.
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I'm sure there is a person or two who catches fish in RI and trucks them to mass to sell (obviously illegal), but the idea that anyone with a mass commercial license pays to charter a RI boat to bring fish back to sell is absolutely ludicrous.
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Why is it ludicrous? Even if they aren't making much money at it its going to pay for the trip and who wouldn't want to be able to go fishing for free? What's the commercial value of 300+ pounds of bass compared to the price of a charter?

A complaint I hear often is that most "commercial" fisherman aren't really making a living at it they just use it to pay for boat, slip, gas etc... No difference with this scenario and whether you want to believe it or not it happens.
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I'm sure there is a person or two who catches fish in RI and trucks them to mass to sell (obviously illegal)
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Thinking it is 1 or 2 is absolutely ludicrous... check the state tags of the trucks at Great Island bridge when Comm season is open in MA...

The RISAA survey results were in favor of 1fish, and they have sent a letter reversing their position
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The RISAA survey results were in favor of 1fish, and they have sent a letter reversing their position
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Of course they did, they just wanted to look like heros.....
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Thinking it is 1 or 2 is absolutely ludicrous... check the state tags of the trucks at Great Island bridge when Comm season is open in MA...
Or they blast over from Westport.

Some block island charter boats witnessed some guys who were pretty much living on their boat on block island and were fishing SW ledge every day that the mass comm season was open and had a runner boat come and pick up their mass limit and sell it in mass. Poaching to the extreme.
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Thinking it is 1 or 2 is absolutely ludicrous... check the state tags of the trucks at Great Island bridge when Comm season is open in MA...

No sh*t Bryan.

I was being facetious.
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Or they blast over from Westport.

Some block island charter boats witnessed some guys who were pretty much living on their boat on block island and were fishing SW ledge every day that the mass comm season was open and had a runner boat come and pick up their mass limit and sell it in mass. Poaching to the extreme.
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This validates my point of the EPA putting a boat out there.
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There are not a lot of boats blasting over from Westport,70 mile round trip.

Except me on good tides
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No sh*t Bryan.

I was being facetious.
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Sorry...

Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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I and thousands of others pay that to go to Hatteras every year to, if we are lucky, catch and release a big drum. Many pay much more than that to go to the tropics to catch and release bonefish or tarpon. For most of us, it isn't about the fillets and there is really not much better use of valuable vacation time. Maybe your customers have different priorities or maybe it is your economic interests that skew your perceptions of why people fish.

I and thousands of others pay that to go to Hatteras every year to, if we are lucky, catch and release a big drum. Many pay much more than that to go to the tropics to catch and release bonefish or tarpon. For most of us, it isn't about the fillets and there is really not much better use of valuable vacation time. Maybe your customers have different priorities or maybe it is your economic interests that skew your perceptions of why people fish.

Im done . Live in your world Zimmy
Enjoy
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Never mind Hatteras,Florida has tarpon,people go all over the world for bones,GT's, down to South America for sails. Alaska...the list goes on. These are not meat trips.
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Im done . Live in your world Zimmy
Enjoy
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You imply that my world is not reality. That means that what I and Sea Dangles said is not true. Since it is, I am not sure where that leaves you.

I think it is more of a learning thing for Striper charters the customers have been able to keep fish in the past so why not now. That said I go bear hunting to New Foundland pay $2300.00 don't get a bear but still a great trip. Go to Maine for moose $5600. No guarantee of a moose but a great trip all around. So a Striper charter for $1200.00 with lots of fish caught but none or one for table sounds great also. It's all in how it's packaged as an experience. I own a $50,000.00 boat to go fishing for 3 tautog,1 Striper, and a few fluke,if it was about the eating of the fish I would say I am nuts. :-).

Just another way of looking at it.
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We book maybe 15 to 20 .
At 1 @ 28 we will book half I figure . Cod is another story . Last year we booked 25 or so
This year 0
Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?
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No, I would stay in NJ...book a cheaper charter, save on expenses and get my fillets there. If I was just in it for the fillets.

If I was just in it for the filets, Id go to the fish market. ;)

A complaint I hear often is that most "commercial" fisherman aren't really making a living at it they just use it to pay for boat, slip, gas etc...
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If you sell fish, then you are a commercial fisherman. There is no grey area or income percentage requirement.
You either are, or you are not.
Sorta like being gay
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If you sell fish, then you are a commercial fisherman. There is no grey area or income percentage requirement.
You either are, or you are not.
Sorta like being gay
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The guy who holds the mass comm liscence to pay for his new simrad and slip is more like kinda sorta...
Sorta like being bisexual ;)
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Closet com
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You either are, or you are not.
Sorta like being gay
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Thats freaking funny right there.
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[QUOTE=buckman;1065799]We book maybe 15 to 20 .
Would you pay 1200 dollars , drive up from jersey with your buddies , book a room , spend a couple hundred dining out , use up some valuable vaca time knowing you could only take home a couple fillets ?

Having grown up in Highlands NJ and still fish down there in May and October I would say anyone coming up from NJ willing to pay 1200 plus cost for a striper charter are not concerned about bring home fish. They are coming up for the fun and desire to catch bigger fish. If the were just interested in meat they would stay home and spend the money on a trip to fish the canyons. They would come home with far more fish and much better eating fish. If they want stripers for eating they would be far better to fish for them at home since they have not seen quite the same decrease in numbers as New England has seen, plus they could find a six hour trip for about 600 for six.. When NJ people come up in the winter and spring for cod that is a different story, then they are more interested in meat.

Maybe already mentioned, but think of a state like florida. Tarpon are a no kill fish and that doesn't stop people like myself from visiting and booking fishing charters. Hell, you're not even allowed to take the damned things out of the water! Granted, they have no food value, but people obviously don't care about taking somethin back with them. There is no reason to believe that keeping only one fish per person will harm the striper charter industry. I worked on a charter boat for years, and to be honest the customers would almost always exchange puzzled glances at the dock, wondering who would take the last few fillets home. Killing a bass is every angler's right, but killing your limit because you can is a waste, and I think it's important to educate people on the value of catch and release.
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