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People are keeping teh fish becasue they're big (to everyone except BassDawg), plentiful and free. Its like a sale at stop and shop, you buy a ton of stuff you dont need or want and get caught up in the moment. Its less complicated than your example. Most of these guys that Paul is talking about are not serious fisherman, but are guys that get up early to fish at 9am, a cooler of bud and go to have fun. There is nothing wrong with that, but put them in a position ot catch decent (big???) bass, they can do a lot of damage. Its human nature. I've kept 2 bass this year, 18 and 24 and only becasue I gut hooked them . I switched to circles to avoid any further guy hooks. Its about education and conservation. The issue as Paul pointed out is that the concentration of the fish is making it easy for anyone to catch them. The same thing, can, will and did happen in other spots.
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A spot I've been fishing lately that has been producing 20# fish consistently, has had more people fishing it day after day after day. I stopped the count at 40 people on Saturday night. - I have NEVER seen that many people at that spot.NEVER-EVER-NEVER. ...and I drive by that spot on a daily basis, the pogies are easy to spot, and once one person see's how the other person is catching them, it's history. It's like Jimmy said, easy fishing attracts more people. When the combination of
easy access and
easy to catch come together, it's called "Stupid" fishing. Unfortunately, it always seems to attract "Stupid" fishermen. People who do not know HOW nor CARE about properly releasing a fish.
What can we do about it?
When it's done legally - There isn't much we can do. The best thing we can do is talk amongst the people fishing, share what knowledge we have in speaking about why we think the Striper has rebounded, and what we can do to keep it strong. (While at the same time, properly releasing a Striper without sounding or seeming like a "know-it-all") If you become friends with the enemy without them knowing, they will listen to reason. When you come off sounding like a "know-it-all ...I'm going to call the D.E.M." type of person, you will not get any cooperation. ...and by the time an officer shows up (if they do at all)...the guilty party will be gone. Use your senses when fishing at night amongst strangers.
When it's done ILLEGALLY ? - - - >
