Paul...I noted social media as often as I did because way back in the day...there were no cell-phones, never-mind social media. By the time you heard the fish were set up somewhere, they could have moved on by the time someone else got there.

Today, people aren't even keeping it between close friends...it goes viral almost immediately. People are more interested in getting "likes", comments of praise or hits to further their online ego or status without concern to consequence (because most didn't do the work themselves nor know the history of the fishery, NOR care). This is happening at every level, from the guy posting on any given social media site for his own personal gain, to the Charter guy looking to fill their boat with patrons. It no longer upsets me as it's become the norm and well outside my control...but it was definitely the turning point for the Canal. One can only imagine the mortality rate at that spot...from the stress the fish endure fighting current and fisherman, to the extended photo-ops when caught, to the poor release with minimal resuscitation. People think that when they release those fish, they all make it because they swim away...when a fish lays on its side or worse, belly-up 20 yards later, 90% die due to lack of bladder control or energy to correct themselves. Boating guys who frequent either end of the canal can vouch to how many fish they see float by belly-up :doh: ...and now with a 3" slot?? Who da fudge thought that would help the fishery??? So a normal guy goes fishing at the canal hoping to catch a striper to take home to eat...how many fish will he injure trying to catch that fish that has to fall within the 3" window?? Then add all the a$$-hats, regardless of ethnicity :whackin: just plain stoopid IMO -

Not for nothing, but I've caught a few fish in my life-time, but rarely post a fish-pic, and even then, I've always tried to be inconspicuous, and yeah, specifically because I don't like giving up spots that I frequent...Sure, I love to see pictures of fish, especially caught by friends, so I'm not bashing guys who post pics, I just shake my head when I can tell where they are...but to each their own.

It was back in the early 2000s that I became familiar with the term "maximum sustainable yield" and it was the mandate that the ASMFC had to follow, and then and there I saw the end of the bass fishery in my lifetime. I interpreted it as managing the fishery on the brink of collapse.

Frankly, I'm surprised that it has taken this long. I saw evidence of a decline starting in 2009.

2009 sounds exactly right.

Yeah, I remember things still being pretty good until around 2011 to 2012. By 2014 or 15 it was clearly starting to decline. I stopped doing trips for stripers alone around 2017; only do it now when I can fish for something else. In the last couple of years I’ve almost stopped bothering at all.

I had to check the date on this thread. Same crap you've all been spouting for 20 years.


Say it with me now, real slow....

"I AM THE PROBLEM, I AM THE 90%"

If that chart was your IRA, you’d be crying a river my friend. ;) :hidin:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

It always puzzled me, just how can anyone determine the recreational release mortality rate. It also matters little what the real percentage is that can be attributed to each sector, it’s the management of the resources that has always been the issue.

PBS reran the two part series on the American Bison earlier this week.

In part two, one of the guys trying to preserve some of the remaining bison had a quote that probably applies here (paraphrase):
"a species targeted by man's commercialization/commoditization will be lucky to survive/exist"... something like that.

I call that chart pure BS. How many rec guys take 15 or more fish a year. Not many.

Compared to Comms 15 fish a day.

Odd how they can claim rec guys catch so many fish when no one’s ever asked

https://asmfc.org/about-us/program-overview. Sound like lobbyists to me