1 @ 28" has been passed.
 

I'm ok with this. I'd prefer one at 36 but this is better than nothing. Also it will be easier for enforcement as most everyone knows 28" is the magic number. Change it to 36" and in sure a lot if 28" fish would be taken by accident.

Well that's my ten cents.

Wait so you are saying is that in what state we can only keep 1 fish that messures exactly 28"?
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Yup Skip no 28 1/8" fish! :)
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What state? And thats bull#^&#^&#^&#^& bunch of cry babies
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Well .. An altered state if you like
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1@28 (or greater). Including rec and party boats. Individual states could vote for something like 1@32, but conservational equivalent to a 25% in harvest. Is that correct?
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Coast wide Skip.
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27 and 7/8's must be released .... makes sense

"conservation equivalency"
That could be the stickler as it enables things to be tweaked by each state I think.
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But limited to 1@?, as a minimum? If a state chooses to be more conservative they can vote the 1@32 or something, but 1 fish per day. This is excellent.
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Works for me
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Maybe i am miss understanding the original post......

Is its 28" or greater or 28" only.

I have no problem with 1 per day as long as it is a slot or a greater than.

We all know i only catch shorts anyways.
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One per day at 28 or bigger! Knucklehead.
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About damn time the recs took the hit too.
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Well thats diff and it wasnt said, my luck i would be the only cracker to get arrested for a 28 1/8" fish as my PB
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Conservational equivalency just means that whatever measure States introduce have to have technical committee sign-off that their alternative to 1@28 produces the same 25% reduction in harvest totals that the 1@28 overarching motion was introduced to create.

Hence the gray area it introduces
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This is good...to clarify, this is a 1 year rule or is it 3 years or indefinitely? I had to get off the call before the vote.
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I'm curious if there was any reduction in commercial Harvest limits.
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I believe it was 25% for the comms as well eben, and the book went out yesterday

I think you right Paul, 25% total harvest including comm.
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PERSONALLY i LIKE 1 @ 28 .IT GIVES THE GUY THAT BUYS FROZEN POGIES @ THE BAITSHOP & FISHES FROM SHORE A FAIR CHANCE OF CATCHING SUPPER . @ 36" THE AVERAGE SHORE FISHERMAN WOULD HAVE A 90% ON NOT GETTING A LEGAL FISH .DISREGUARD THE PLUGGERS /MEAT FISHERMAN , ETC :bounce:

I'm concerned about this as well.
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step in the right direction. 1@ exactly 28" would a been a better choice though :tooth:

Micro slot ;)
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Hoping for 32", but...
 

Like $3.00 a gallon gasoline it could always be better, but you won't hear me bitching about it.

Great news. Its more than i thought they would do honestly. I listened online for a many hours today... It could have gone either way.
Definitely a great step towards preserving bass
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I am happy with it. I would have preferred 32 or 36 but this is a big step in the right direction. When does this become effective, Jan 1 2015?

Definitely a good step in the right direction.

Now if there was only stricter punishments for poachers.
Somehow the existing fines and penalties just don't seem to do the trick.

Agreed, until the fines make it not worth getting caught people will continue to do it. Loss of gear, boats, vehicles, fines that hurt and jail time may do the trick.

A lot of motions were passed today...In my opinion the most important two were...

1) They passed a motion cutting Amendment 6 coastwise commercial quotas by 25%

2) They passed the motion for coastwise recreational catch selecting Option B1 (1@ 28") and setting the conservation equivalency at 25%

Yes, just as is currently allowed, states can submit an alternative measure that meets Technical Committee approval based on a minimum 25% reduction in landings. I am already hearing that RI will consider a conservation equivalency for the for hire fleet...based purely on what I see in the existing analysis Instead of 1 @ 28" (the document credits this as a 31% reduction) A state could choose 2 fish over 33" (the document credits this a 29% reduction).

Bottom line is we will all have to be vigilant in our individual states and participate when local measures are developed

Bottom line is we WON the 1 year reduction, we won a reduction of at least 25% across the board. THIS WAS ALARGE WIN

BIG KUDOS to all that shoed up today including: Craig from Van Stall, Toby from The Fisherman, Jimmy Fee from On The Water, Willy Young and crew from the NY Alliance, Steve Medeiros & crew from RISAA, the guys from MD, the crew from ME that brought and distributed the Save Our Stripers hats, the guy from the 1@ 32 FB page who brought the signs and the crew from MSBA...TOGETHER WE DID IT

They Listened...Yes They DID

Skippy, what the hell are you smokin?????

This is GREAT. I also would have preferred 1 @ 32" but Clammer (Mike) makes a good point about the shore guys who just want a dinner fish.

The 25% reduction for the comms also works for me as long as the Fkers in Maryland and Delaware go along with the whole program.

So, maybe there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. I'll not get excited until I start seeing documented evidence of a turn around as we did starting around 1998...2000.

yup this is ok but the popular vote was 32. That was what was voted from just about every meeting i went to.

Isn't that appealing to a whole different set of lawmakers? :read:

Nothing thats how little faith i have in stupid laws and the people that make them and the people that want them......


I went with they did something stupid as always..... example the seat belt law.
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I thought there was an issue that the comms. didn't come close to hitting the quota in the base line period so while their quota got reduced 25%, they can actually land like 6% more fish. Hope that makes sense.

I agree - yesterday was the first step in the battle. This gray area is something that may very well be the next battle in various states. You can bet the for-hire industry is trying to figure out a conservation equivalency to enable a two fish bag. It could be an increase in size or a shorter season. Keep an eye out for this work around and be ready to battle again.

The Recs have been pushing for a hit for a while. The Mass recs pushed Mass DW to not increase from 1 to 2 fish and the 25% increase in comm quotas back in 2006.

Good writeup - a step forward but not done.

Yes - that is concerning

Yep

I am very happy with the result. I agree with the shore bound fish @ 28 as most fisherman go out to bring something home and those guys keep the bait and tackle shops happy, there is lots of smiling kids faces etc and in many cases that was all of us when we started. I tried for a "keeper" for 2 years and was so pumped as was my family the day I finally brought home a 31 inch fish.
For me the win was changing it in year one with 25%, as there is no time to wait. A 3 year phase in seemed like it wasn't enough. Great job by everyone who wrote in and attended. I wasn't able to make it yesterday, but made it to Viking Lounge a few months ago and said my thoughts/asked my questions. It seems at least to me this was a pretty good process. In the end we all question politics, but the outcome seems generally alligned with the representation by the public and what appears to be well verified science.
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I agree with DZ, it's a grey area for sure.

Since this meeting comes 2 months before 2015 (when the regs go into effect) I'd be surprised to see any public comment on C.E., although they could enact the 1 fish at 28 or greater and float into a C.E. decision say for April or May 2015 and hold a public comment period.