[Fish_Eye]

There are more stripers around now then most anglers have ever had an opportunity to fish for -- at least statistically speaking.

2004:
Stock Size: The estimate of total abundance for January 1, 2004 is 56.7 million age-1 and older fish due to the strong 2003 year-class. This estimate is about 11 million fish higher than the average stock size for the previous five years and 23.8% higher than the 2003 abundance.

However, there are real concerns with the health of the population, the quality of their most important prey item -- menhaden, and the population of the females spawning -- too many big breeders getting culled.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER?

Are you active in lobbying for change?

Do you support groups that are fighting to control the overfishing of menhaden?

Are you vocal about the need to keep the EEZ closed?

Are you concerned that an estimated 2.5 million pounds of stripers are being tossed back into the water DEAD, just as a bykill by draggers?

Over the years I've observed a lot of people bitching and complaining about fishery mismanagement issues, yet they reserve their comments for forums, or for gripe sessions at the local tackle shop, or among fellow anglers. What good does it do to just complain? You need to get active. Make a difference.

People who don't vote have no right to complain about the government.

People who only gripe about the situation with stripers and don't do anything about it are only wasting their breath.

Join and support organizations like RISAA and especially the RFA.