OTW "Striper Cup Tourney" Format is Irresponsible to the Fishery
 

It took me a week but I finally got to the Link TLap posted regarding the OTW Striper Cup Tourney.


The tourney rules show a total lack of consideration for conservation of the fishery. Encouraging the taking of two fish (relatively small fish at that) per week to run up a season long poundage total to win the tourney totally ignores the concept of Catch and Release and in fact will result in people keeping many fish , just for the weigh ins.

I am totally opposed to the format that is currently described in the rules and would encourage people to think about the impact their participation , along with thousands of other fisherman will have on the Striped Bass Fishery under the cuurent rules .

I like the fun and excitement that can come from fishing tournaments but for something so potentially large to be put together without any regard for the way in which the tournaments format will impact the fishery is irresponsible.

I'm against this tournamants format and will lobby heavily against it on the sites where I have a presence unless the format is reconsidered

Agree 100%...I'm writing them a letter...

-spence

Agreed
 

I`ve been all over the place in my mind and heart with this thing and as the format stands I cannot in good conscience participate and further more I will write a letter as well to the owner and editor of OTW.

Maybe they will change the format?

Mike

Mike,

I agree as well. I don't think they took into consideration that when the original Schaefer Tournament was around the bass were way more plentiful, and many were commercial fishing at the time. I think rather than focus on quanity, they should focus on quality.

i've only kept fish for food.

never for money and never for glory.




OTW's 2nd major mistake in less than a year.

http://www.surfcasting-rhodeisland.c...mages/trek.jpg
A shame Captain, it would have been glorious.

Give them a chance, maybe they'll change it. At any rate, no fish have died yet..
Tourneys are a Catch 22 for the people who put them on - you can't give away big prizes on the honor-system, especially on the cape.

Here's the problem with the one big fish wins it tourney
http://www.mvgazette.com/features/co...es/girl_lg.jpg
Cape Cod Times, September 22, 2006
10-Year Old Girl Wins OTW Striper Cup!
Happens to be little sister of 13 Year-Old girl who won 2005 Vineyard Tourney!

I agree with Saltheart. This is possibly a disaster waiting to happen to the striper fishery here in the Northeast.

Could we send email to Chris Megan expressing our opposition to the tournament in it's present format? I'm sure a flood of emails protesting the presents rules would give them food for thought. After all, we are their customers. Email would be quicker than snail mail.

Email address is Publisher Chris Megan
cjm@onthewater.com

Do calls, letters, and email....if you really want to get their attention and to let them know we/you`re serious. :call: :cputin:

i kept quiet in the other threads discussing this tournament... Ive killed a few bass for trophy's and i regret it. Heres my 10 cents-Make the minimum Kill and weigh-in 45 lbs, and all fish under that catch and release with a photo- :thanks:

makes me sick
 

otw puts out a good rag but this turny is ridiculous, encourageing such a large fish kill . have we learned nothing , 20 years ago you could not catch a striper , there were none , only through strict conservation were we able to rebound . i cannot believe that people on this board want to field a team . imho i think we should boycott this turny and let otw know we don't approve of such poor judgement . just this mans opinion " history shows agian and agian how nature points out the folly of man" b.o.c.

There should be no negotiation of the rules, eliminate the tournament completely.

S-B can have its own tournament with other clubs with mutual rules. Awards can be given at a end of year ceremony with dinner at a large banquet hall like Venus de Milo and on and on..

If I fished this tournament, I would have to throw a lot of stripers in the dumpster. The health advisories (listed byt he CTEDP) on these fish limit my personal consumption to six meals a year (one every other month), and none for my wife and daughter.

I will not participate under the current rules. I feel there is no "honor or prestige" in killing so many fish, and I am no tree hugger.

Before we get our panties in a bunch let's not OVERreact.The tourney has not yet begun.Harpoon is a VERY good friend of mine and is always close by.They seem to have genuinely good intent here but perhaps lack a grasp on the pulse of the fishing community.My first suggestion is to bring back their pilsner!!! It's gone but not forgotten.
Second some reasonable suggestions and ammendments to the rules will work fine for me.To weigh in only 45# fish is level headed thinking right:smash: ?Let's get serious here,it's a FISHING contest.Every entrant is eligible to win great prizes(SUV,BOAT),not the cup but WTF.We are gonna party at the brewery,shoot the breeze,drink and talk fishing:yak6: .Sounds like fun to me.
Let's communicate with the sponsor and create a format that's acceptable to MOST of us and win some friggen' pins for goodness sake.But before we shout this down before it gets off the ground let's work towards creating a fair event(I say screw the club thing because that trophy would look great on my mantle).
DANGLES:nopain:

WTF are they thinking ////
DID they do there home work of tournaments of the past ========== did they see the fish that were killed in the name of a tournament ;;;;

They can,t be so blind not to see the opening of all the cheating ,lies, & any other illegal means for some one to have a chance at money , prizes & the biggest cuprit / bragging rights =============[man will go to no end in ways to[[[ WIN};;;

I feel [felt ] this was a good maganizine [sp] with there openess on catch & release //ON TV]]

THe 40# that Steve Mc Kenna caught on camera on sluggo,s //they busted his BALLS because he wanted to keep it ========================= to enter into his club,s tournment ========================^ months ago they felt that was wrong // now they are starting one that implies, expects , & will [NOW{ condone ] the killing of bass =========================== how can OTW do such a bout face //in such a short time /// COULD there be some help in the form of harpoon //

IT Is FLAT OUT F #$%^&*( WRONG }} & THE WAY THEY HAVE THE RULES WRITTEN ?? IS A F $%^&*() SIN ;;;;;;;;;;;

THey CAN TAKE OTW & F $%^&*( SHOVE IT AS FAR UP THE A SS THERE KISSIN >><>><>

& FOR THE GUYS ON THIS SITE THAT WRITE ARTICLES FOR THEM //// THEY WELL KNOW THE PRESSURE THAT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO GET THEM TO WRITE ABOUT SPOTS ///

IT SELL<S COPIES & SO WILL THE TOURNAMENT {{WITH}} THE MONTHLY STANDINGS ::::


F#$%^& THEM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NO BETTER THAN THE GUY WHO KEEPS EVERYFISH HE CATCHES OF ANT SIZE +++++++++++++++++

WAIT & SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE= SEEN IT BEFORE /// F#$%^&*() A SSHOLES :smash: :smash:

What Clammer (& others!) said!! :smash:

This is far beyond a badly- conceived Tournament: this is an admission by OTW of their "good for us $- wise... then screw the fish!" attitude! (OR screw the hard- core Fishermen who are their target audience with obvious spot- burning! GBI piece was unconscionable considering the un-friendliness of the place already)

Someone at OTW should acknowledge & apologize for this terrible idea ASAP... before they lose their reader (who does love the Striper & cares about the future) forever! :yak6:

wooooooow clammer if you dont want "in "just say so ..the concept the derby is to have a good time and catch a few fish???i dont think anybody in the otw office ,or any of the sponsers want to kill the striped bass fishies ...these people who put this clam bake together are people fish and love the sport..you got to love your job??to do it right ,,and otw is a quality rag with good inten ,the derby is set up for the FISHERMAN best intress...w/o you readers ,no rag give the derby a chance ..rules can get changed for the good ,,we need people like you for help and advice first,,than your criticism,, if nothing good happens then criticize to start....'' i like ONE fish a week ''and for me its 30lbs or better .. clammer thanks for your humble opinion ???? dave laporte ........p.s. this was not ment to be a WARbut a fishin derby ,be a fisherman and give it a chance.......:ss:

Contest+Hobby=sport

sport+Money=cheaters

cheaters+contestants=lawyers

lawyers+hobby=catastrophy!

I agree with Clammer (I think from what I can read in there :laugha:

This type of tourney is just wrong. We have a shortage of herring - so they close the herring season. We have a shortage of eels - so they are talking about closing the use of eels. There are no more big bunker around any more. The fish in the Chesapeake are all diseased. On and On. Now we want to kill more bass.

Keep it up an we'll be back to the 80's with no bass to catch...:smash:

Good response Dave
 

Lets see what develops and what positive changes can be made.

Mike

I don't think anyone at OTW is thinking about killing bass...

They're just looking for a way to boost readership, without thinking of the masses who will be dragging in two 34" per week over the entire season thinking they just might have a shot.

It's not like this is a weekend event!

Tourney's are not evil, but times have changed since the 1950's OTW is trying to memorialize.

-spence

I had a great talk with Chris Megan at the MSBA Expo and he told me that they are very concerned what there readers think, and want the best for the fisheries, access, and all together a possitive out look, I am sure after this talk we had (he listened to everything I had to say and seemed to care) they only want the best for all. the fishery is strong and I think if they raise the catch to 40" and over and one fish per week get rid of the points/clubs, make it individual contest it will be alot better. I wish we could figure out a catch and release like the Bassmasters tournament with livewells and all. So I believe that they don't want to lose fatefull readers and they always need new readers, it is just business

Ok...................................... so 467 people enter. If 300 of them catch and kill 5 bass each over 35#....1500 dead breeding females.

If 1021 people enter and 751 of them catch and kill 10 bass each over 25# ....7,510 dead breeding females.

(most but not all would necessarily be females)

Maybe if the minimum size limit was 45# and you could only kill and report 3 max.......893 entered 142 accomplished this...thats still 426 dead females who could breed again.

I`m tired and not making any sense....anyone have any ideas how this might work without killing too many Striped Bass?

fish kill
 

spence with all new derbys there is got to be a start ...our own constiatution was written buy men that did,nt all agree but talked an reasoned thinks out ...the otw people want to work with you fisher people,,they did not put up a ton of money ,and drag the sponsors into a pi$$in match ,,,,as for proffit so far i,ve seen more doe go out than come in ...do they sell more mags i hope so ..guys its a good home town mag w/ a good intent,give it a chance stay w/ a open mind ????? p. s. i,ve seen many of 1000 s of pounds of bass throne over board on the gill net boats and dragers ,as useless by -catch off chatham ...now that makes me sick....i like one fish a week ,, the rules can change ..but w/o your imput and patiance it cant happen?????if it aint good e-nuff for you i,m sorryi hurt your feel goods,,,,,dave

thanks bob its people like you that give this derby a chance .. chris megan is a good man """the office staff does NOT need a war over a good intentions and i well hand deliver all your imput to the head dogs for revue and consideration....OK .....i still like one fish a week .... dave

Well can u blame a magazine for tryin to boost readership.I love OTW I can't wait to get it.As i see most do here.It bridges the gap for me from Ne to NJ.I would hate to see it go.They are not unlike any other corporation in today's USA tryin to provide a service an stay afloat.
I think it was a nobel idea for OTW an Harpoon to revisit one of the great old tourney's of the past.I think they where genuine tryin to revive some of the great history behind the trophy.Do i think this tourney needs some tweeking To bring it up to modern times absolutely.It is a different world in striped bass fishing.Our club tourneys in NJ work off a similar format.Participaction is a joke.As some clubs don't even weigh in fish.Last yr I only weighed in a few myself.Some things people hold on to because of the history.Change doesn't always come so easy.Cursing an flaming gets nothing done.Instead of a bashing thread How bout some Real Idea's on how this can be done.Now remember u have to be able to invite back quite a few folks to the brewery for a party.It has to viable for both Harpoon OTW an Their sponsors.So how can they accomplish this.If u think about it it can be difficult.But a dogpile on the rabbit gets nothing done.Perhaps making it a big fish tourney is the only real way to limit great overall kills.Like fish over 30 lbs.It will get u enough in to fill a banquet hall an not absolutley pound the fisherey with 15 lb weighed in fish.The Fisherman Mag runs a very similar format for many species I never see anyone complain about that.The contest is already opened up. So it's gonna be tough to change it while it's under way.
That'll be the real challenge one the lawyers might not wanna touch.

neb thanks
 

NIB.... i could,nt say it better myself ...the other rag does the samething .in i have yet to see PETA at there front door ...some guys refuse to see a good intent ,and only see negativity..i dont think like that .. cause i,m 7 1/2yrs old ,,,and i,m a big boy.......dave...:ss:

What the hell does this mean? :biglaugh:

Did you find that album?

Fishing for Bass should not be made a competitive event.
the Stiper population is no where near the level of the 1950's
or 1960's and early 70's. i like OTW but this is a mistake.

I think we want to stay focused on the impact to the fishery. I don't want this thread turning into a "we hate OTW thread". I think its a fine Magazine that hasn't thought the format through well in terms of being conservation minded.

I would suggest that all the club stuff is fine and the individual stuff is all exciting and both should increase overall interest which is good. . Just figure out a way to keep score without needing people to kill so many fish.

I think something like a max entry of 5 fish per person over the whole tournament. You might even further say 1 per month for a total of five , that would rteduce the kill even further but might be squeezing the fun part too much

I'm sure there are lots of other ideas . Keep the posts about the potential fish kill and what to do about it , and give the magazine people a break.

I will be looking for that one nice fish per month......I catch alot of fish but don't lay claim to being a cow killer/catcher......I will be lucky to catch anything worth weighing in knowing full well it will take a fish over 50 pounds to compete overall anyway....so I don't see my catch and kill habit changing in the least......I only keep 2 or 3 fish anyway all season.....and I won't keep a fish to tally overall points anyway as I don't really care for that type of thing. I will be keeping that one nice fish if I am fortunate enough but otherwise I will keep only a couple for the table. I enjoy the camraderie with my fellow fishermen.....this can be a fun event if we treat it right!:bgi:

well spoken
 

bigfish.... you have learned the true essence of fishing.

Guys, I think you took my statement the wrong way. I'm not blaming OTW for beeing greedy, just perhaps shortsighted...

-spence

????
 

its a dig ...it was late last night ,and i was tired, nothing personal..but it sounds like a lot of crying ,over a good intent, as for otw,s mag ,the intent of the derby was to have a good time bass fishing derby not a petty pi$$ing contest ...the opinions good or bad will make to the office for considration trust me ,,DAVE

I believe there was no ill intent on the part of OTW. They just didn't think the whole thing through. I have written to Chris in the past an gotten replies that may not have agreed with me but were his opinion, which is fine. Send him emails or write or call and let your feeling about the tournament be heard. i think they will respond. They don't want a war with their readers.
Let's let calmer heads prevail.

You mean the ones that stretch a tape measure every which way from Sunday over a 28 -1/1000" fish? And keep two rats a fraction of an inch over the limit?

Look at the bright side--if they enter, they'll at least be keeping two fish that probably already had a chance to spawn once. Maybe they'll actually start releasing anything under 34".

I think the entire C&R thing has gone too far. It is not doing anyone any good not even the fish. It is time to bring back catch and keep. According to many "scientific" articles all the fish you release just die anyany so you may as well keep them.

If we don't takem the comm guys will...take all you can while the going is good.

BTW, the 1980s was the best bass fishing in history!!! More large fish were caught then (including several state and world records) then any time in history.

According to official numbers we have too many bass anyway and nothing is in danger because of the fantastic job that the marine fisher depart's do. Go get em! Worry about any problems later.

Stifftip
 

I`m with you here Dave. I was kidding ya back.
I`ve been reading your stuff for years. Been getting OTW ever since 1997 when I moved close to the ocean and starting surf fishing/salt fishing. I appreciate OTW and all your articles and experiences & knowledge you have shared. Missed your articles in the last few years and got used to seeing Steve mention you in his as one of his fishing buds.

Hope this all works out for you and OTW and the Stripers.

Mike

I have to agree with bigfish. I will sign up for the tourney and my fishing "kill" will not be different from last year. I am looking for big fish, I couldn't care less about a 30# or 40# pin. On the other hand, a 50# or 60# is another story. I think a lot of weekly weighers may be commercial fishers who are taking bass anyway. Anyway, I mentioned my concerns about the yearly #age totals to OTW at the nesaltwater show ( I hope you all did the same ) and look forward to the party.

i can see the concern for the possible ill effects of the tournament on the stiped bass population, but i don't see the contest changing the way people keep fish or release them .the serious fisherman isn't going to keep fish just to weught them in unless it is a large fish. that they would probably keep anyways. the average joe who might weigh in a 34 inch probably won't catch 2 a week anyways and if he did he would keep them anyways.