that is why there should be an even more strict limit in RI.

I was talking to a comercial fisherman yesterday, and he was saying that the bycatch in a couple of days equals the entire comercial striper season. He went on to add that these floaters are all big breeders.

Stricter even though there's more fish? Because?

Many years ago the first settlers almost wiped out the deer, they brought the #'ers way way down for trade. So they said no deer hunting for a long time. now thanks to sportsman and laws the deer herd is bigger then when settlers first came here. Now they kill some crazy number of deer every year. Thank you Killers. Biologist can't count in the woods or water but they do know that once pressure is put on fish or deer the schools and herds move.

IMO...most of these response aren't worth much because they are made with your hearts and not with your minds. personely I beleive there is a place for comm and as of now we/they(comm) are a big part of keeping a heathy balance just like the deer hunter.

That's why I have a 36 at the end of my handle on this site.
The commercial quota in Mass in 1+ million lbs and exceeded that every year since 2004
, I am not sure there is even 1000 permits sold, alot of fish in a small number of peoples hands.

I did my undergrad thesis on the baymen that haul seined on eastern Long Island. The amount of big fish that were taken in the late 70's and the early 80's, before the collapse seems as if it is repeating itself. Why the hell are we so stupid and unable to learn from past mistakes. Something needs to be done....soon.

greed, ego, ignorance, competitiveness, and a dash of excitement Mr. Krinkle.. thats why.