Never change..
 

Some people will never change their position so be it. I wish all of you a safe and productive season and for god sakes if you fish the surf get a PFD please!!! I almost went under about 10 years ago and promised my wife I would always wear a PFD and have since that day.. PlEASE get a PFD if you don't have one...godspeed..:uhuh:

Come fish where we do and see how you like it.Maby you could explain to me how to change my tactics to catch a bigger fish.[/QUOTE]

I am sorry. I do not get your point. If there are no 36" fish where you fish, then go somewhere else where there are. It is really simple.

Just because you are obviously, fishing in a a striper nursery, doesn't mean we have to keep the size limit down.

BTW, it is not about YOU! It is about developing and keeping a sustainable fishery.

Little snore, bigger snore, godawful wake up the entire dorm SNORE!

I am sorry. I do not get your point. If there are no 36" fish where you fish, then go somewhere else where there are. It is really simple.

Just because you are obviously, fishing in a a striper nursery, doesn't mean we have to keep the size limit down.

BTW, it is not about YOU! It is about developing and keeping a sustainable fishery.[/QUOTE]

Your right it's not about me it's about the fish.My point was to let people know what's happened to the fish that used to be abundent in these rivers.Maby now you could call it a nursery.I like the back rivers and small stripers are also fun to catch on ultra lite tackle.The thing that bothers me is not being able to feed my friend who is in failing health due to serving our country years ago.I don't have much opportunity to get around to different spots to fish.So ok 36" it is.Who is going to help me with my mission to keep a fillet or two in my freezer to help someone that in a short while you can say gave his life for his country and fellow man.I only take to feed them as it is an ultimate reward for my soul to sit and eat with him something he loves.It's an honor and a privlege to be in his company.You can tell me tough chit all you want,i guess it is.

:wall:

Even tho female striped bass can reproduce at the age of four years, many do not spawn at that age. Normally they do not start to spawn till the age of six years and at this age they average a length of twenty eight inches and therefore you have the regs mostly set at a legal minimum catch size of 28 inches, giving the striper at least one spawning year before being caught. Maybe they should raise the keeper size limit so that the female can get two or three seasons to spawn. Remember that when they re-opened the catching of striped bass the size was about 34 inches to keep and the fish rebounded to great numbers which gave them six spawning years before going on the dinner table. Some striper's do not spawn every year.

And for anyone to blame the Striper Club for the reduction of the striped bass population is absurd. You have bait and tackle shops, clubs and bar rooms up and down the coast holding tournaments.

The Striper Cup is but one minuscule cog in all of this discussion. You can come up with 100 more effective methods from the logical to the absurd.

We need to conserve more, we need to do better, but for anything of any substance to happen, fisheries REGULATIONS must change.

Maybe I saw you at some of the meetings, maybe I didn't, but there have not been mush by way of meetings that will have a real IMPACT. The only meeting in recent memories was the fall's coastal meeting schedule to further INCREASE the commercial take, which was fortunately well attended by people to thwart that effort. Discussing the Striper Cup doesn't even equate to any meaningful reductions. It might not be right, but its what we have to work with.

The significant majority here practice considerable C&R.

Conservation starts at home, well, if gas prices are any indication, practicing full C&R will have even less impact if factoring 8% C&R mortality against less trips due to $$

Dont normally get involved in discussions but I have had my best years in the last 4, although the numbers are slightly down, the fish are still there year after year, large,medium,small. I have seen a decline in huge schools of 16"-24" fish but seems like there are still a ton of larger fish,say in the 32-46" range. I think the location of the schools of small fish vary by locale year after year (storms,bait,water conditions,etc). The larger fish,well they just keep coming back and have there favorite spots. I have seen a huge decline in the bluefish fishing in my area. I think out of 75+ outing last year my log says I caught 5 bluefish. 10 years ago it would have been 50+. Some in different areas say its the opposite.

Who knows? I think we are all guessing at something we know very little about and understand....after all we are all "human".

- Fireman