Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Mr. Sandman · 10-01-2002, 11:22 AM

you are doing the right thing to call in a violation. The problem with the regulations is there is not enough enforcement. I for one have NEVER been checked EVER and I have been fishing hard for 40 years is 5 states.

What is the penelty for an undersize fish? Has ANYONE EVER been prosecuted for this?

Rules without enforcement are worthless.

I am proud to say that I came across just the reverse the other night. There was a guy who never caught a bass before and had never gone night fishing. He saw me unhooking and releasing a sizable keeper and asked me if I had a tape measure. (he was very excited...he had just caught his first bass from shore at night and was beaming) I measured his fish...29.5 in and he replied "its a keeper right?" and I said yep its a keeper but it has to be 32" to weigh it in for the derby....He said that this was his first fish and wanted to keep it. I said thats great, congrats. A few casts later, he hooked into a bigger fish. (about 34 ") He came to me and asked what should I do? You can only keep one right? I said, yep, this bass fishing is kind of a crap shoot you really don't know which one to keep until you done fishing. And he then released the bigger fish. ..."I should have released the 1st fish but with it being my 1st and all I wanted to bring it home to eat...OH I can't believe I released this big fish...OH this it GREAT out here!, This is really fantastic!!!" We both caught several more and each went home with a single fish.
Some people do follow the law..

I know what you mean when you see someone take a short...It makes me sad when I see a short cleaned on the beach...I wish the law was enforced. But it never will be.

I would like to see some sanity and common sence brought into the law. Have you ever released a bass you know was going to die?

10-01-2002, 11:22 AM	#4
Mr. Sandman Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 7,649	you are doing the right thing to call in a violation. The problem with the regulations is there is not enough enforcement. I for one have NEVER been checked EVER and I have been fishing hard for 40 years is 5 states. What is the penelty for an undersize fish? Has ANYONE EVER been prosecuted for this? Rules without enforcement are worthless. I am proud to say that I came across just the reverse the other night. There was a guy who never caught a bass before and had never gone night fishing. He saw me unhooking and releasing a sizable keeper and asked me if I had a tape measure. (he was very excited...he had just caught his first bass from shore at night and was beaming) I measured his fish...29.5 in and he replied "its a keeper right?" and I said yep its a keeper but it has to be 32" to weigh it in for the derby....He said that this was his first fish and wanted to keep it. I said thats great, congrats. A few casts later, he hooked into a bigger fish. (about 34 ") He came to me and asked what should I do? You can only keep one right? I said, yep, this bass fishing is kind of a crap shoot you really don't know which one to keep until you done fishing. And he then released the bigger fish. ..."I should have released the 1st fish but with it being my 1st and all I wanted to bring it home to eat...OH I can't believe I released this big fish...OH this it GREAT out here!, This is really fantastic!!!" We both caught several more and each went home with a single fish. Some people do follow the law.. I know what you mean when you see someone take a short...It makes me sad when I see a short cleaned on the beach...I wish the law was enforced. But it never will be. I would like to see some sanity and common sence brought into the law. Have you ever released a bass you know was going to die?