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

Mr. Sandman · 01-31-2003, 03:27 PM

Interesting....I have been thinking about this issue now for some time. Anyone who knows me knows in the last 25 or so years I have only taken a few table fish per year (something like 3 - 5) Which were consumed by me and my family/friends. I have taken a few big fish home as trophys as well. Like you I released most everything for the sake of "the fishery". But I think it is time to do something more.

I feel exactly the same way you about each point you mention. But as you say the quota's will be reached if you fish or not...so by you not taking fish commercially your actually NOT really helping (because the tonnage will be taken anyway)...Moreover you're actually making the situation worse....by putting MORE money in the pockets of the few guys who DO fish comercially, thus creating some reward for this act of reducing fish stocks.

How about all us rec's run down and get a commerical SB lic. and DILUTE the earnings of these guys to the point they give it up?

Since the "season" is based on tonnage...everyday that the quota is reached sooner...the LESS any one fishermen can earn.
As you say...the quota is going to be taken and these few guys are doing it only for the money, so...lets dilute them.

The commercial SB lic is a complete joke and everyone knows it. These guys are taking up to 40/fish per day for the measly cost of lic that cost less then a crappy fishing reel. And there is not much inforcement either.

I voted to be considering doing it . I really do not want to be a commercial fisherman but for 4-6 weeks in July....what the hell. You can pay for the license fees with a few fish ! 130 bucks for the boat 65 bucks for the indiv. lic. And for that you can get a free shellfish sea and bay scallop endorsement as well! With each fish I sell, I will be taking money out of the pockets out of the people doing the real damage...

Think about doing it...by commerical fishing for sb you could actually help wipe-out the sb commerical fishing industry buy realizing the quota in a very short period of time, flooding the market with bass therby dropping the price to squat. If no one is making any money these guys will be pissed and will give it up.

Like you said, they are going to take the quota anyway...lets take it in a few days!

I am a rec fisherman at heart and love to fish just like you and would rather see a COMPLETE CLOSURE of the SB fishing then allow ANY type of commerical fishing for sb. And I think most true recs feel that way too. Catch and relase was and is fine by me.

But since these guys are hell bent on squeezing what they can from the fishery...I want to do what I can to squeeze back a little.

Take a few buds out and load the boat with 40 bass! you will
A) enjoy yourself
B) Help flood the market (reduce the price)
C) meet quota sooner (shorten the season)
D) make a few bucks off the back of a stupid industry. (pay for gas)
E) All of the above will act to reduce the $ made by any one fishermen fishing for bass.

Go fish.

01-31-2003, 03:27 PM	#6
Mr. Sandman Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 7,649	Interesting....I have been thinking about this issue now for some time. Anyone who knows me knows in the last 25 or so years I have only taken a few table fish per year (something like 3 - 5) Which were consumed by me and my family/friends. I have taken a few big fish home as trophys as well. Like you I released most everything for the sake of "the fishery". But I think it is time to do something more. I feel exactly the same way you about each point you mention. But as you say the quota's will be reached if you fish or not...so by you not taking fish commercially your actually NOT really helping (because the tonnage will be taken anyway)...Moreover you're actually making the situation worse....by putting MORE money in the pockets of the few guys who DO fish comercially, thus creating some reward for this act of reducing fish stocks. How about all us rec's run down and get a commerical SB lic. and DILUTE the earnings of these guys to the point they give it up? Since the "season" is based on tonnage...everyday that the quota is reached sooner...the LESS any one fishermen can earn. As you say...the quota is going to be taken and these few guys are doing it only for the money, so...lets dilute them. The commercial SB lic is a complete joke and everyone knows it. These guys are taking up to 40/fish per day for the measly cost of lic that cost less then a crappy fishing reel. And there is not much inforcement either. I voted to be considering doing it . I really do not want to be a commercial fisherman but for 4-6 weeks in July....what the hell. You can pay for the license fees with a few fish ! 130 bucks for the boat 65 bucks for the indiv. lic. And for that you can get a free shellfish sea and bay scallop endorsement as well! With each fish I sell, I will be taking money out of the pockets out of the people doing the real damage... Think about doing it...by commerical fishing for sb you could actually help wipe-out the sb commerical fishing industry buy realizing the quota in a very short period of time, flooding the market with bass therby dropping the price to squat. If no one is making any money these guys will be pissed and will give it up. Like you said, they are going to take the quota anyway...lets take it in a few days! I am a rec fisherman at heart and love to fish just like you and would rather see a COMPLETE CLOSURE of the SB fishing then allow ANY type of commerical fishing for sb. And I think most true recs feel that way too. Catch and relase was and is fine by me. But since these guys are hell bent on squeezing what they can from the fishery...I want to do what I can to squeeze back a little. Take a few buds out and load the boat with 40 bass! you will A) enjoy yourself B) Help flood the market (reduce the price) C) meet quota sooner (shorten the season) D) make a few bucks off the back of a stupid industry. (pay for gas) E) All of the above will act to reduce the $ made by any one fishermen fishing for bass. Go fish. Last edited by Mr. Sandman; 01-31-2003 at 03:32 PM..