75 - 100 fish !
Dear Got Stripers,
Wait a minute --- hold the bus!!!!! You’re not catching 75-100 fish per outing --- and whining about it!!! If you spend 8 hours of real fishing time per trip that means you catch a fish every 6.4 to 4.8 minutes. Allowing for approximately three minutes to land each fish --- YIKES! --- You really do “Got Stripers” – ha ha ha
Now, I realize that catching stripers for some guys is like shooting fish in a barrel (sorry Frank – I couldn’t resist. And, I know its serious business but, also know you won’t take offense at a bit of good natured ribbing. Hope your lovely bride is ok and that the lawyers don’t get too rich off of you.) And, imagine using all that gasoline to search out the elusive beast! Why that is simply outlandish or is it balderdash, I always get those two confused? Hey, what about those guys on this and other boards who thrill at getting one keeper each season? Do you send them congratulatory notes or sympathy cards? ha ha ha
Seriously, I’m sure you’re an avid advocate for efforts to preserve this valuable resource and not simply sit back and rely on such well intended groups like the RFA.
For example, I’m sure you read the 1999 Striped Bass Circle Hook Study by the MD DNR and found it just as flawed as I did! (The false premises, the lack of any model for statistical analysis; a model accounting for the variance due to: first capture stress, all the other factors of net pen holding stress, the response to different baits – natural or otherwise, the absence of natural interspecies interaction, especially with bait and bluefish; absence of peer review and – on and on and on). And NO – I’m not against MD DNR or any other fishery agency. In fact, I worked with Joe Boone of MD DNR and Bob Pond of Stripers Unlimited more than thirty years ago on the Nanticoke River. I just don’t think that the ‘Circle Hook Study’ provides any sound evidence to warrant incorporation of circle hooks into any management strategy!!! And, I would strongly encourage fishing clubs not to endorse such an initiative. And NO – I’m not against RFA either. They and other organizations such as CCA’s and local fishing clubs form … “should form”… the grass roots basis for all sport fishery management strategies!!!
I also feel confident that as a recreational fisherman who sees this resource on a regular basis and not through a narrowly focused research window you and all your fellow fishers know full well that release mortality has virtually no impact on spawning success, size at maturity or age class recruitment. Moreover, I would suspect that you and many other sportsmen who quest after the beast take a proactive role in attempts at preserving it. I feel confident that you and many others also support lobbying efforts of your local fishing clubs and conservation organizations to:
a)establish striped bass as a game fish and prohibit all commercial fishing efforts,
b)encourage mixed management fishery strategies in keeping with genetic integrity as well as diversity of all striper stocks,
c)work long for much more extensive preservation of striped bass spawning habitat,
d)promote more reasonable access for shore-based fishermen,
e)develop legislative initiatives aimed at 100 percent fund allocation for and from salt water licensing programs --- Arghhhh – I know, I know – calm down though – this does have merit.
f)suggest research efforts more in keeping with uniformity of the species throughout its natural range while also considering culture supplements maintaining that genetic integrity of isolated stocks that contribute to the mixed fishery.
Whewww – I do go on! And, it has just occurred to me that I may have ticked you off --- Please take no offense. My intent if 1st for this resource and 2nd for those sportsmen that utilize it!
john
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