As of 2020 striped bass has been removed as a target species for the Martha’s Vineyard derby.

Congrats to Sauerkraut who cares enough to speak up

Now On The Water needs to step up
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That group will continue cutting off their noses and exploiting the resource.
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Chris is right. OTW will just keep supporting killing for their own gain.

Good decision for the Derby. Sad this was not addressed almost a decade ago when the warning signs were coming in

Regarding the MV Derby and local culture: More advocacy and re education will probably be needed. What about the so-called "Private Derbies" run by tackle shops? Specific to the Vineyard, there has been a decades long Island extension of the MV Derby called October Fish.

Cudos to my MV friend Tommy Taylor who spent the last two MV Derbies trying to help is grandson win the junior boat bass division. They didn't. Despite the initial objections of said grandson, they never killed a single bass because they never caught the winner. No, they didn't kill a bass so Junior could win the Daily; or the Weekly; or worse yet... kill a bass so Junior could be eligible for winning the daily "Mystery Prize".

That kid has learned a lesson from a Guardian who knows how to teach it... by example.

Regarding the MV Derby and local culture: More advocacy and re education will probably be needed. What about the so-called "Private Derbies" run by tackle shops? Specific to the Vineyard, there has been a decades long Island extension of the MV Derby called October Fish.

Cudos to my MV friend Tommy Taylor who spent the last two MV Derbies trying to help is grandson win the junior boat bass division. They didn't. Despite the initial objections of said grandson, they never killed a single bass because they never caught the winner. No, they didn't kill a bass so Junior could win the Daily; or the Weekly; or worse yet... kill a bass so Junior could be eligible for winning the daily "Mystery Prize".

That kid has learned a lesson from a Guardian who knows how to teach it... by example.

I am not sure the lesson of killing a prize winner is noble. Kudos to you Alan.
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How many people would support a Striper License with a specified number of Tags similar to the way the State manages the Whitetail Deer Hunting. Lets say you pay $100.00 for the License and 10 tags. If you land and retain a fish you report it on line with dimensions and weight.
You could also report all the landed fish you catch and subsequently release. There could also be a Trophy Tag provision similar to Florida's Tarpon Tag program where for in the case of Florida its $50 bucks, you could keep a trophy Striper. All the funds generated from this would go to enforcement and administration of this program.You already need a Saltwater License so maybe it could be in the form of a Stamp like it is for Archery, Primitive Weapons and Waterfowl.Also how many support local Law Enforcement being mandated to assist in upholding the game laws? The State could also train and empower certain individuals to help in reporting and enforcing the regulations on a limited basis. The State needs to step up and record the Recreational Catch in order to have a Viable management plan going forward. At present its no more than by guess and by golly lets wing it

I cant believe there isn't a mandatory reporting system in place already. I've mentioned it here and had guys laugh at me. the comms already have mandatory reporting using SAFIS. why cant recs do it. make it a simple and guys will use it. even if you only get 60% compliance that's better then the guesses that they make now. just figure out the compliance rate via a survey on the rec license application and extrapolate the numbers from there. I personally don't want a 100 dollar fee but there are so many rec striper anglers you could do it with a small endorsement fee. I've always liked the idea of no take every other year, solves a lot of problems pretty quickly but no one seems to like the idea. i'm cool with giving out X amount of tags per angler and when ur done, ur done.

I am not sure the lesson of killing a prize winner is noble. Kudos to you Alan.
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Totally agree about this, Mr. SD.... privately thinking. However, my zealot Abolitionist mindset cannot totally ignore the realities of basic human nature (Or, should I say base human nature).

Even I compete in the MV Derby!! : In my head: I follow the Shore Striped Bass and Shore Bluefish daily, and closely. I fish my own spots and beaches, mostly not on the Vineyard. I compare how I stack up against the "competition". So, last Derby, 2019, I "won" one Daily SSB; one 2nd place Daily SSB; AND I "won" the entire Shore Bluefish (SBF) for the Derby.

So why not eliminate the bluefish entries also??

The bluefish have been in even more of a decline cycle than bass. But the whole mystique of the bass is higher than bluefish for some reason.

Make it a bsb and scup event.
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Maybe you should just be allowed to keep a fish 28" to 34" over 48" and or 50 lbs (you would have to carry a Boga If you are trophy hunting) It would be made clear that the fish must weigh 50 or more pounds at any point it is in your possession, that eliminates "It was 50 when I caught it" scenario. It makes the holy grail of fishing attainable and protects the other 99.9% of breeders that are 15 to 49 pounds. Keeps tournaments alive and makes the charter captains happy. Personally I believe boats should not be allowed a trophy fish because it is rather easy to break 50 from a boat, no disrespect intended to anyone. From the surf it is an entirely different scenario, even at the canal. People will find a way to mount a 50 if they stick it and want to keep it. Maybe make the boat limit 60lbs and that would even things up with the shore guys somewhat.

Maybe you should just be allowed to keep a fish 28" to 34" over 48" and or 50 lbs (you would have to carry a Boga If you are trophy hunting) It would be made clear that the fish must weigh 50 or more pounds at any point it is in your possession, that eliminates "It was 50 when I caught it" scenario. It makes the holy grail of fishing attainable and protects the other 99.9% of breeders that are 15 to 49 pounds. Keeps tournaments alive and makes the charter captains happy. Personally I believe boats should not be allowed a trophy fish because it is rather easy to break 50 from a boat, no disrespect intended to anyone. From the surf it is an entirely different scenario, even at the canal. People will find a way to mount a 50 if they stick it and want to keep it. Maybe make the boat limit 60lbs and that would even things up with the shore guys somewhat.

Just makes too much sense...….:jump::jump:

hEADHunter /WTF are you trying to put me back in treatment ………………… 50# rather easy by boat :wid:

hEADHunter /WTF are you trying to put me back in treatment ………………… 50# rather easy by boat :wid:
It's simple mike... you know that. Remember all those 50's we've caught!!!

WTF
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made me laugh too but if you fish the block at night. And especially if ur willing to ignore that pesky 3 mile line. Lot of boat lights way out there
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Again, no disrespect intended,
My boat 50's did not come from block and were daytime fish.
My 2'cd season with my 24 cc Albermarle I O, 14 over 40, 2 over 50 and more than 100 over 30. Sold the boat, No challenge in my opinion. Strictly surf for me. Boat= Go where the fish are, employ the correct techniques, catch big fish, not every time but it is only a matter of time. Good Comm guys do it every year, year in and year out, I would fish hard no doubt, put in 17 hours one outing as I remember.

All the good comm guys couldn’t even fill the quota in Mass this year. I wonder what happened
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ya beat me to it Chris ><><

But no worries. after the meeting tomorrow …..with options for REC & the 3rd category / the poor charter boats that have their own set of rules ><.

you,ll be able to catch bass of approx. 10 to 25# &&& all the fish over & under that will have to be thrown back ...LOL
.. &&&&&&&&&& who catching 50,s & releasing them .

watch the [OTHER} market .kick in high gear . & depending what Ma does .it could be a massive xluster F U ck :as:

Don,t go to the meeting & voice your opinion / that way ya all can continue to bitch on how things are working out …….. you can raise new option of a realistic one .BUT some of us have already been told by someone representing the state / what,s it going to be :fishslap::fishslap::sspam:

Joey Fu ck it …..why should you worry ……..you have your own special way of measuring fish ><>.

will eels live in a saltwater swimming pool :tm:


><>< O U C H ><

If one really thinks about why the Derby committee eliminated striped bass as an eligible species, it might not sound as honorable as some (myself initially) were making it out to be. It was already known prior to last week's ASMFC meeting that MA did not submit any conservation equivalency measures which meant going into Tuesday's meeting they only had one option: 28 - >35 slot. Did the Derby committee "do the right thing" by eliminating striped bass or did they make an announcement that was almost inevitable being that no one will be able to keep a fish over 35 inches in Massachusetts beginning this year... :read:

Maybe you should just be allowed to keep a fish 28" to 34" over 48" and or 50 lbs (you would have to carry a Boga If you are trophy hunting)

I had a conversation with one of the ASMFC reps and asked about a trophy tag. Essentially there are two problems with such an option. First off, by giving a trophy tag, which would result in additional harvest, you need to make it up elsewhere meaning a smaller slot range, for example. Second, calculating how much harvest would need to be reduced elsewhere with the tag is very difficult. Supposedly it was discussed between the reps but was quickly shot down.

All the good comm guys couldn’t even fill the quota in Mass this year. I wonder what happened
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I believe RI did not get filled either. I am not saying all the commercial guys are good. There are seasoned surf guys that did not even break 20 pounds this past year. Not looking for an argument, just sharing my point of view from 30 years in the surf.

I believe RI did not get filled either. I am not saying all the commercial guys are good. There are seasoned surf guys that did not even break 20 pounds this past year. Not looking for an argument, just sharing my point of view from 30 years in the surf.
I would have agreed with your original statement if the year were 2005. There are still isolated concentrations of quality fish available for competent boat anglers. These pockets of fish are becoming more of a rarity. Newport had a good year and they also did well outside Boston harbor. Block Island is essentially the OK corral. Twenty years ago you could do damage just about anywhere on the coast. The standard of what constitutes a trophy striped bass is about to change significantly.
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" The standard of what constitutes a trophy striped bass is about to change significantly."

sadly, I agree big time. last season I was truly appreciating fish that wouldnt even raise my heart rate 5 years ago.

If one really thinks about why the Derby committee eliminated striped bass as an eligible species, it might not sound as honorable as some (myself initially) were making it out to be. It was already known prior to last week's ASMFC meeting that MA did not submit any conservation equivalency measures which meant going into Tuesday's meeting they only had one option: 28 - >35 slot. Did the Derby committee "do the right thing" by eliminating striped bass or did they make an announcement that was almost inevitable being that no one will be able to keep a fish over 35 inches in Massachusetts beginning this year... :read:



My initial thought was that their hand was forced.

" The standard of what constitutes a trophy striped bass is about to change significantly."

sadly, I agree big time. last season I was truly appreciating fish that wouldnt even raise my heart rate 5 years ago.
I think it wasn't until sept that I finally broke 20# from shore this past year and I was depressed. Way too many long hard nites of a lot of water covered by me and frank town with ideal conditions and absolutely nothing. And I mean not even flip flops or tiny blues. That is turf from canal to Newport. Felt like we were fishing in February. Ghost town. Seems fish have changed their patterns to more of the south shore and points north. Why? No idea. There was plenty of bait around. Just no fish. I think it is a combination of too many sea bass eating everything, seals, and sharks. Even canal was very sporadic other than 3 locations of about 100 feet of shore line that were a shat show. Witnessed what a joke law enforcement was in those 3 areas on several occasions as I watched English as a second language folks blatantly smuggling loads of fish out of those areas on non commercial nites on several occasions. It is a bad situation we are in both as recreational and commercial fisherman.
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Things are down rite bad as far as big fish are concerned. The shore line was littered with fish up to 24" or so from july thru the end of October. No news flash that the breeding population is in trouble. I am going to submit my recommendation for option 3, 28 to 35" NO SPLIT MODE. If we do not address this now the stripe bass fishery could be pushed to a point o no return. We need to suck it up for at least 3 years but prob more like 5 years. With that being said how do we keep the interest of all the surf, boat and people that book charters.
Allow fish 50 pounds and over to be harvested from the surf and fish 60 pounds and over harvested by boat. Everyone still has a shot and is motivated to spend the same money they have been spending every year for a shot at "The Holy Grail" of stripe bass fishing!! It evens the playing field for boat and surf fishermen also.

The experienced know that Stripe Bass over 16, or so, pounds do not taste as good and are not as good or you as the fish under 16 pounds. 28 t0 35" is just about perfect?
Educate the younger people and the boat clients to that fact.
We can change the mentality pretty quickly and we all will be better off for it.

I did not get the address last night to send my response to RIDEM. I am sure someone will have it here. I urge every surf person here and everyone you know to support option 3 if you want to be able to catch any stripe bass at all. I have a feeling a moratorium might be coming, it might be too late for this or any other option to work.

Allow fish 50 pounds and over to be harvested from the surf and fish 60 pounds and over harvested by boat. Everyone still has a shot and is motivated to spend the same money they have been spending every year for a shot at "The Holy Grail" of stripe bass fishing!! It evens the playing field for boat and surf fishermen also.

See my above quote to you about why a trophy tag/fish was not brought into the discussion by the ASMFC.

The harvest of 50 and 60 pound fish would be negligible. The trophy tag considerations were probably more like 44" and above which would have a big impact. 50 and 60 pound fish would add what? Perhaps no doubt less than 100 fish in total to the harvest?

Game fish status or a moratorium. Everything else is a band aid and when you pull a band aid off a cut they just bleed and get infected. That's exactly what will happen with all the current offering. JMO:hang:

The thought of making a certain weight into a trophy fish is also an irresponsible joke of an idea. You can also never mind with a tape measure for all of my concerns. How a large fish constitutes a trophy is beyond me at this stage.
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H H try & get everyone to do it .even RISSA went with no 3 & Steve never bucks his meal ticker on the charter boats .

I sat back last night * listened to D/C cry povety .hr fished hard .but them starts with part timer, & etc

well a lot of charter captains either are or retired & became one
&& I don,t have any idea on how many have commercial licenses ><> Just go spend a late day evening on the docks & see who comes with fish .
one dealer posts the names of those that sell there ..WOW .

& can you just see if we co 30 -40 … every boat in New England & then some will be here .
I heard they were going to make a new ramp for the mass commercial for their own private use . so they can get in & out ………………….. 40 apprx 24/25# & throw back over & under >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>catch you personal best & your throwing it back /RIGHT
I can see the belly up floaters now last night in the middle of the bass .a charter captain wanted their exp for tautog increase from 5 to six per man / DEM gut said too late /ask again next year…………………………….. exp 6 guys plus the captain & mate …… that,s 48 tautog were allowed 10 per boat . that,s it …...are we really suppose to believe that they then go out again a seperate trip to catch ten & then sell them ..
they work real hard , but please . sick of hearing all the poor me ……………….& then keep seeing the actual me .not all , but plenty

The thought of making a certain weight into a trophy fish is also an irresponsible joke of an idea. You can also never mind with a tape measure for all of my concerns. How a large fish constitutes a trophy is beyond me at this stage.
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Not going to bite. At least I went to the meeting last night and will submit a response thru the mail. I released about 50 surf fish last year that would be above the option 3 slot, already doing my part.

HH ya could have ssaid HELLO

D/Z & I were talking about freshwater :topic:

HH ya could have ssaid HELLO

D/Z & I were talking about freshwater :topic:

All in all I like to keep a low profile, that is why I choose to submit in writing. If I could find the darn place to send it, lol. I will have to look at the dem site I am sure it is there.

I,m waiting for a e-mail address /if it comes I,ll get it to you

Much appreciated.
Maybe some others will follow suit and we might have a prayer avoiding a moratorium.

Much appreciated.
Maybe some others will follow suit and we might have a prayer avoiding a moratorium.

Bring it. Shut the whole thing down. Save the bass. Anyone opposed to it is obviously selling bass to their favorite restaurant.
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Bring it. Shut the whole thing down. Save the bass. Anyone opposed to it is obviously selling bass to their favorite restaurant.
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This,,, just start er up again before I’m gone... :smash:

Comments for Rhode Island may be submitted as follows:

RI Department of Environmental Management
ATTN: Peter Duhamel
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov

Game fish status

I am not trying to fight or say that I am in any way for or against it, but I haven't been able to figure out how gamefish status alone is the saving grace when 90% of annual harvest is attributed to the recreational sector. I see this fix thrown around a lot, but unless I am missing something the math simply doesn't add up.

Bring it. Shut the whole thing down. Save the bass. Anyone opposed to it is obviously selling bass to their favorite restaurant.
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If you need to sell bass to fish you need a different job my man unless you are a licensed commercial. The commercial guys are not the problem either.

Thousands of charter boats x 3 to 5 people, multiply that times 2 times a day. I think that could be contributing to the problem. 28 to 35 will hopefully give the stocks a chance to replenish. We all need to do our share.

Comments for Rhode Island may be submitted as follows:

RI Department of Environmental Management
ATTN: Peter Duhamel
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov

Thanks my good man!!

last night we turned in a 5 page petation [sp]

& ones that missed will follow with e- mails .some of us do both & go to the meetings :wid:

Bring it. Shut the whole thing down. Save the bass. Anyone opposed to it is obviously selling bass to their favorite restaurant.
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God I have been saying this since 2009. Moratorium or Game Fish status. And Eben, you're right, anyone who doesn't agree is selling.

God I have been saying this since 2009. Moratorium or Game Fish status. And Eben, you're right, anyone who doesn't agree is selling.

A HUGE issue is lack of enforcement. Make all the rules you want. If they are not enforced only the people who care will follow them and for the most part they are NOT the problem.

Toby/Mike/HH,

What were the options discussed? I'd like to email comment, but I am guilty of not being in attendance (ever).

Toby/Mike/HH,

What were the options discussed? I'd like to email comment, but I am guilty of not being in attendance (ever).

RI currently has three options as follows:

1 fish, 28 - <35, OR
1 fish, 32 - <40 for all, OR
Split mode 1 fish, 32 - <40 private/shore and 1 fish, 30 - <40 for-hire


Here is a write-up I did on where each states stands, recreaitonally, from ME to VA: http://www.thefisherman.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=2553&ParentCat=19.

What about the people that are taking fish to put on the table? Any fish market you go to would love to have stripe bass to sell at 14 to 20.00 a pound because people happen to like it. I think it is a great tasting filet if the fish is 10 to 14 or 16 pounds. On that basis it would sadden me to see a moratorium, unfortunately I think we might damn well end up there. Option 3,1 fish 28 to 35 is the best option being offered. I would still like to see a "holy grail slot" 48" and above with a split mode weight limit. So I guess I don't agree, and like I said before I released in the neighborhood of 50 fish last season that were above 35"

Who ever is selling fish to restaurants is going to keep doing it. It was and will continue to be illegal, no slot limit or moratorium is going to stop them. We need much stronger enforcement and harsher penalties to stop that.

I am not trying to fight or say that I am in any way for or against it, but I haven't been able to figure out how gamefish status alone is the saving grace when 90% of annual harvest is attributed to the recreational sector. I see this fix thrown around a lot, but unless I am missing something the math simply doesn't add up.

^^^ This
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If you need to sell bass to fish you need a different job my man unless you are a licensed commercial. The commercial guys are not the problem either.

Thousands of charter boats x 3 to 5 people, multiply that times 2 times a day. I think that could be contributing to the problem. 28 to 35 will hopefully give the stocks a chance to replenish. We all need to do our share.

^^^ This, too
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I am not trying to fight or say that I am in any way for or against it, but I haven't been able to figure out how gamefish status alone is the saving grace when 90% of annual harvest is attributed to the recreational sector. I see this fix thrown around a lot, but unless I am missing something the math simply doesn't add up.

If game fish status prevents anything other than an illegal harvest, doesn't that in and of itself help protect the breeders and also narrow the focus of enforcement? All you need to do is look at the success FL has had and I can't see a negative to game fish status, other than the commercials who probably can't make a living off stripers at this point anyway.

toby , at the workshop it looked like a charterboat setup … we were told that we had to be in line with NY & cONN & was going to be one of 3 options ..& they were all 3o,s to 40 no options /chance of28 -35 .
then something happened going to the store ,,,,,,, everyone /other state went 28-35 " so we has the 3 options that were posted above ……………………...It basically was the rec & tackle shops going for 28 to 35 & a room full on charter boats saying the world will end if they don,t get the 30-40 ………………………………. which would put every fisherman from the rest of the world that wants a fish bigger then 35 crashing RI /leaving a pile of floaters & if DEM would enforce the another pile of violations ………
not much on ri commercial . we had worked it out at the workshop. it was a 3 way choice on less day s & less or status quo on fish ,,,,,,,,,,,, we settled for 4. day 5 fish with 3 days off ……..its either going to be F,S,S or T,F,S

the rest both commercial were kinda as expected . one rec fisherman asked why they can,t move up the sea bass dates .to earlier in June so they have a chance at them in the bay / which I 100% agree . but that not going to happen …………… pretty much everything else was as expected but rec & commercial ….if I missed anything / please chime in > you see the e-mail above ..voice your option ><> its pretty much common sense .but you have a [for hire ]group that they plead / yet they have exceptions for every species except stripers …………… they want their own rules ……… but also comm rules ….because a large majority of the have commercial licenses ><>< I could see this over [woman] but fish:fishslap:

no matter what changes that are made .the fish are in trouble ………………….. modification can keep up with realty ………………………………………. there are more & more people fishing , newer & better fishing gear & elctronics , F/F GPS ect &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& there never will be enough fish ………………….. are is there really global warming :eyes:

If game fish status prevents anything other than an illegal harvest, doesn't that in and of itself help protect the breeders and also narrow the focus of enforcement? All you need to do is look at the success FL has had and I can't see a negative to game fish status, other than the commercials who probably can't make a living off stripers at this point anyway.

Again, not totally opposed just still not seeing the math here. So you end commercial (which, by the way, I have never been a part of) then you add a full 10% more fish back into the sea. Sure that's great, but are we just 10% off of having an ocean filled with bass? No, not in the least. Keep in mind that poaching is not commercial and it is not recreational as it's not accounted for in any way, shape or form as the ASMFC sates they have no way to calculate it.

As for the Florida comparison, it's like comparing apples to pineapples; sure they're both fruit (or maybe vegetables, I'm not sure what a pineapple really is :) )and both have the word apple in them, but how they grow, reproduce, are harvested and so on is very different.

Didn’t Florida make Tarpon a C&R only ?
Not that any of this matters much anymore, the oceans are kinda FKed anyway.
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You can’t even take tarpon out of the waterz
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I am trying to recall any fishery-- freshwater trout, the Lake O fishery, Atlantic salmon, LMB, FL snook, giant grouper, etc.,-- that have been destroyed, degraded, or not enhanced by ELIMINATING commercial sale, trade, or commercial harvest of the species?

Take the money off the table. If this is done, fisheries management of the so-called "recreational sector" individuals will tolerate and indeed even self enforce just about any level of restriction right up to, and even including, no harvest, or moratorium if necessary. We did exactly this once before.

There should be no special carve outs for any individual angler. Effective fishery management must speak to the individual-- and not to groups-- commercial, charter boat, etc. The carve-out special interests do all the bickering.

Who said the recreationals are the reason for the striper downfall, and the commercial industry is faultless? Not by my definition.

If you need to sell bass to fish you need a different job my man unless you are a licensed commercial. The commercial guys are not the problem either.

Thousands of charter boats x 3 to 5 people, multiply that times 2 times a day. I think that could be contributing to the problem. 28 to 35 will hopefully give the stocks a chance to replenish. We all need to do our share.
I’m pretty sure most mates and even captains are keeping one a day to sell. Plus all those charter guests are taking them to either eat, give away or sell. Heck.looking back 10 or so years ago, a top dog charter captain/guide would let his son take his boat out every night and load her up to sell...
I was so disgusted I just quit surfcasting... corruption is not just a government problem. It’s also a problem when the people who are most vocal, published and making endorsements are also selling their catch. When a dude is stacking 6 20 pound bass in the bushes to sell every day, that is a pretty high paying job, don’t you think ??

Sorry for the rant.
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High profile poaching must be dealt with in a more forceful and finite manner. Gear, boats, and vehicles should be confiscated. Not that it is rite but an extra fish here and there is one thing and the fine should be stiff enough to make someone think twice, outrite pouching is a whole different story.

RI currently has three options as follows:

1 fish, 28 - <35, OR
1 fish, 32 - <40 for all, OR
Split mode 1 fish, 32 - <40 private/shore and 1 fish, 30 - <40 for-hire


Here is a write-up I did on where each states stands, recreaitonally, from ME to VA: http://www.thefisherman.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=2553&ParentCat=19.

Just for clarification 28" to 35" no split mode is option 3. It is listed first above. Option 2 was the split mode option I believe, and option 1 was 32 to 40 for all.

You can email your choice to

RI Department of Environmental Management
ATTN: Peter Duhamel
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov

Again if you want to keep the fishery open 28" to 35" is our best shot.

Do what ever is needed to protect the bass but just catch limits wont work alone. bass food sources like pogies and herring and mackerel also need attention
And climate change

They all have small effects on stocks , but combined are a huge threat

And the current Administration actions of interfering in sentencing off a felon and removing regulations just for mythical short term economic gains is also a real danger . To fish stocks

on the topic of poaching and enforcement,

I realize that they are short staffed with officers, but I have seen them in very common poaching areas, while its happening, and doing nothing. If an officer working in RI doesn't know WHERE poaching often occurs, and how to spot the signs of it, then what good are they?
I have said this before... If I had a badge and a ticket book, you give me one day per week and I will write up so many LEGIT violations you could balance the state budget by the end of the summer. I have given up calling in violations, because the response time is counted in hours (if at all). They should hire a single designated "poaching/regulation violation" officer...I mean a real pit bull that hands out real violations, and word will spread fast. Lets be honest, we all know what parts of the highway you definitely cant speed on...tell me why that is?

Sent an email this morning (1 fish 28"-35"). If a lazy SOB like me can do it, well... anyone can.

do what JOe F did .send a e/mail t=it will really help ..they do read them // if the 30 -40 gets & RI is the only state that has it …………………… everyone , rec, charters, commercial from al;l the states will turn RI into a larger cluster F uck than before ………&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& there will be more floaters then in a rubber duck race ,.<>

They do read them and respond. Heard from them today

there you go …….now what is everyones excuse ???????

you saw how many charter captains were there <><

I’d say most comments came from charter guys here tonight..

https://www.mass.gov/doc/010820-scoping-hearings-for-summer-flounder-scup-and-black-sea-bass-commercialrecreational/download

Someone has to come up with a reliable system to collect data both com and rec,,, especially rec. me thinks....

What is a real joke is they tried to base some things on the data of outings for surf and boat. It is almost impossible to get skunked by boat. In the surf it is common to get skunked and even more common when you do get into fish to not get a legal fish. If you can not get a legal fish by boat you are just not trying hard enough in my very humble opinion.

Things should be based on a catch report, not an outing report.