With regard to the slips, they could be numbered and accounted for. Say a shop gets slips #1-50, and fills one out upon a weigh in, with one of the cc's going back to otw to match the original. Kind of like a p.o. What you suggested is that a guy would have a bunch of slips for the week, send the biggest in, and throw the rest away, right? Put the onus on the weigh station to account for each one of their numbered slips that are issued. When the tourney ends, OTW could call that shop and say, "what happened to slips 22-30?,they weren't returned to us but you used them." This wouldn't add any additional hassle, because the slips need to be returned anyways. They would just be numbered and accounted for.

[QUOTE=Mike P;450258]You beat me to it, lightning boy.

Great minds think alike and at the same time ;)

I suppose that would work but what IF a slip was lost? This is a tackle shop you are dealing with not Arthur Anderson. IMO this entire thing it is fret with complications. I would hate being the guy having to make up the rules.

BTW, thanks for all the quotes guys.. :rollem: I need to have a cup of Goose's favorite drink now and again.

Sandman,

I read you posted before you edited and agreed with some of what you stated but not all.

My thoughts......

For fairness to stop all the bickering they should just say no comm fish allowed. Though that won't stop the cheating of icing over etc.

The way I read the rules weather your a rec or comm anyone can enter 1 fish a week. Nothing that I read says you can't "cull" for the week and mail OTW your highest weight. If a rec or comm gets a 50 on Sunday and a 60 on Thursday the 60 slip goes in. Anyone can cull. Is this correct????

The only advantage the comm has over rec is he is spending way more time fishing for that 20 day period than the rec. His motivation is money, which for some or most is more than love. This gets his arse out of bed.....then double dips and weighs fish for the tourney, it is like "bycatch".....

Unfortunately, no matter what the rules, when big prizes or big egos are involved like boats and trucks no matter what the rules there will be dirty play.

The state law for MA & RI indicate the possession of a maximum of two bass over 28" per day either from shore or boat.
The commercial should follow the same rules or have their own seperate tournament and prizes within the Striper Cup.


An aside
OTW has enough subscibers and sponsors to take the lead in attempting to protect the forage of baitfish.

There are ways around everything..
If a shop was sponsering so to say,a team..
They could just write the weights down an tally em up at the end of the week.Sign a blank slip..to be filled out later.??
The only way to really assure is to have the slips be post marked 24 hrs after being weighed..That would have to be the entrants responsibility..
Of course on weekends that might be a problem..

In the Feb 07 OTW magazine, there is an ad for Striper Cup 2007. Notable statements on this ad include;

1. "This years tournament will feature a new surf-casters division!"

2. "NEW FOR 07: Catch & Release Option"

Of course, more details to follow but this sounds promising.

Oooo - Catch & release option? Wonder how that will work out.

I know I must split with many of my brothas (and probably piss a few off) but I think commercial season should somehow disabled for commercial license holders. Some say that there is no motivation or advantage - other than skill - but that is just not true. I'm perfectly fine with getting my ass handed to me by a superior commercial angler based on skill. The whole numerical advantage in how many bass a comm angler can posess during the same amount of time is tremendous....

Kudos for a surf division

I can't worry about those who WILL cheat! I just take care of my own and they are the ones who have to live with themselves! Someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar last yar as I recall! See ya!:wavey:

No pride or self respect in cheating!:doh:

Is anyone surprised that was a single club or an entrant from NY?Considering that the clubs as far as southern NJ participated ,its kind of odd.You cant say people in NY don't read OTW as everyone I know is a reader if not subscribers (granted ,I move in surf and not boat circles)

Funny how many guys are complaining about the Commercial Guys. I dont see what the big deal is, theyve only got a 5 week season?? 4 days a week and most don't bother fishing Sundays... Theres the whole month of May, June, Half of July, Half of August, September, and October where guys can way in one fish a week... Ill have to start my own club for this tournament!

I did have a few clients of mine that were fishing this tournament this past year, I know one of them one biggest fish in August w/ a 50.6lbs, Came down to the last two for the truck key! Some nice fish were wieghed in off my boat in the adult a junior divisions.....I Never entered.

I agree with John about the commercial fisherman advantage from a numbers standpoint. However, I believe thier greatest advantage is from another perspective, and that is the knowledge they have of where the fish are located on a day to day basis, not only as it relates the size of a school of fish that is being fished by the com guys, but the size of the fish taken as well. Very few chat up each other, but thier are certain people who let other certain people know where they are catching, because they are buddies on and off the water. Some boats while they dont share profit do fish in tandem, and watch out for each other in many many other ways.
Some of the guys I know that fish commercially could care less about a tournament, and do not enter any.

I really don't understand the why guys in boats do not want to fish against the com guys..
Look at it this way u still have a 2 fish per day limit..
u know to even get a mention ur gonna have to get one in the mid forties..
So u get one 46 lbs it goes in the cooler.an u fish for a bigger one..
U should all be ashamed of urselves as MEN..
I hear these cry's of time on the water an amount of fish it all means crap.'
Do u wanna beat the best to be the best or do u wanna play on some kinda fishing for the time impaired/skill level impaired curve..
.

Here is a god example for u cry baby's look at kenny Cow Hunter..
Surf guy for a few yrs has lots of drive gets a boat spends lots of time honin his craft an the guy consistantly gets big fish..
All in the time frame of a few yrs really..
He's from NJ.Thats why he's good..:D
It ain't a spot thing it's technique..
He can fish with most anyone in the waters that stripers swim..
Suck it up..

I didn't think those dudes could read..

:hihi:

So what R u saying.
Why didn't they enter..
Them LI surf contest's get plenty of play..

Catch an Release is a joke in a tourney worth anything..
Nice concept but fisherman are liars to begin with.
Giving out prizes for fish tales won't cut it in NIB's world..

I'm not and would never be interested in participating in or supporting any tournament or organization that encourages fish kills.

I think it's irresponsible and hypocritical of On The Water magazine to stage or support this tournament at all.

Agreed 100%.In Back Beach's world its the same "weigh", pun intended.

I think the fairy tale division would bring more people in, which is good because it is a sportsmanship event, after all. Lots of good, honest anglers out there that catch and release too.:uhoh: I would presume the awards would have to be lesser for unoffically weighed fish, though.No trucks or boats, maybe a plaque,boga grip, and some barbless hooks.:hee: Its good in theory and a conservation minded gesture.The potential abuses are exponentially greater than the non catch and release divisions though if large prizes are offered.If the C&R is its own divison though, there is no reason to oppose it. Its a good idea.

I am thinking this over and I may just join the end of year party was fun I saw alot of people there that I didn't see all year, and I am not in it for the win just the fun. I only keep what I am going to feed the family. That is probably 3 or 4 in the 15 to 20 pound range

Is S-B Sponsoring a team this year?

Catch and release is just a token for those who catch and release. Read between the lines, more people to enter/more subscriptions, and happy tree huggers. C&R can only be for a pounder pin. No catch and release fish is going to win a prize. IMO If OTW got rid of every fishermen with a commercial license that tourney would never make it!

Doh!... Treat this fairly... No fish shall be weighed in during the commercial season...

there is one solution...

and i'm far from being a rocket scientist...

I don't think it's right or fair to tell a commercal you can't weigh in a fish now because it's in season or because you hold a license... whats good for one is good for all... let this be a rule and not a punishment because of profession...

I believe that no fish should qualify while one is engaged in commercial fishing. Two reasons 1) the temptation to cull is too great (we've already seen some abuse here) and 2) it disadvantages recreational fishermen who can only possess 2 fish.

To a broader point, I dislike this whole idea of many fishermen killing fish only so one person can win a prize. I only keep fish that will go on the table. In this day and age, these types of tournaments are anachronistic. They may have been okay in earlier times but now the ecosystem just can't support it any longer. If fishermen desire to "compete," surely there is a more environmentally friendly way to do so.

New rules are up. Looks like some good changes were made. No mention of commercial fishing ban. They did limit the number of fish an individual can count towards the team totals(2 per man), and you must declare either surf or boat diviison when you sign up. Also, surf fish will get 1.3 points per pound towards the team totals, and all fish must measure 36" or larger to be eligible for entry.

Keep in mind--this is a coast-wide tournament. You can't make everyone dance to the tune of the Mass commercial season. Last year fishermen from Maine to NJ entered. How fair is it to guys in Maine to in effect suspend this tournament for what might well be the most productive part of their season for big fish (mid-July to mid August)?

I'm a shore guy. I'll take my chances against the shorebound commercial pinhookers ;) If there are guys on the Cape puting thirty 34"+ fish on the sand or rocks every night, my hat's off to them :D

If you're a boat guy and you think a commercial boater has a leg up--just don't enter :huh:

Ya, some new rules, but it ends on Sept. 16th :rollem:
that may count me out

I'll probably enter just so I can attend the end of tourney bash. Saw lots of friends there last year.

The new rules are up and I think they look very fair. I think a shore fish will win the biggest fish of the year, 45# will get you almost 60 points

Here's the link..
http://ww.onthewater.com/stripercuprules.html

Already being misunderstood as the rule states for club entrants only.
A shore caught fish will be multiplyed by a factor of 1.3

Some interesting changes one would have effected me was only 2 fish per angler can be counted towards the team's total of ten fish.
I had three fish last yr..I think.
Catch an release is for pins only...
There will be five different key holders this yr
(in each division shore an boat).as a individual can only win one monthly prize.After that it goes to the next biggest fish..

I'm in...but really just for the comraderie and the party at the end.....will only weigh my biggest fish (40+ pounders)....

The contest took quite a few of my jersey bretheran last yr off guard.They are putting together quite a team for this yr..
If the fishing holds up like it has in past yrs an with the new format of 1.3 per lb for surf fish.I don't see any problem of a team total of over 500 lbs. It should be interesting..
I have committed to them.Not really sure what I am doing yet.
Like I said I didin't really like killin all the fish i did last yr..
Still have a bad taste in my mouth about it...
Somones gonna kill em though.
It's really gonna be insane this yr as the cat is not only out of the bag but it has spawned..
There's experts doin seminars an how to's..
It's one thing to be on the end of a crowded jetty with guys who know what they are doing..
U add one bad apple an it can be really dangerous with the big hooks flyin all over the place.
Not sure I wanna get all up it..
There will be rumblin on the rocks..
Time to find another way to skin this feline....