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....