Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 09:21 AM

The same goes for recreational fishermen. Like it or not, we have no "right" to catch and keep striped bass. As a migratory species their utilization is by law controlled by the Federal government. If we don't like it it is Federal not State law that has to change. That isn't likely (you want NC deciding how many fish they can keep?).

Seeing schools of bass killed like that is upsetting, but the fish in that picture are only a fraction of what got killed in the canal this past memorial day.

(Post sound familiar) - Above Posted by numbskull

Numbskull, am I so twisted??
Is it different than me wanting stripersforever making a decision on whats best for Mass Com guys? Giving everybody 20" slot limits? I dont know anybody that wants 20" slot limits, dont see that as being part of a solution.
And its all comm guys killing the fish in the canal too!

Im not disagreeing with everything you said, I posted alot of my Observations from experience up and down the coast. My problem is the blame is just going on the comms when they in no way kill as many fish as the rec guys. Just look at all the info on NOAA. I dont agree with that 100% because I know that the numbers are much higher. At least the comms hit their number and shut it down.

Alot of those areas you mentioned were dead, most of the time, in July and August. I also did have some of my biggest numbers EVER in areas you mention while people were at home on the internet complaining about no fish.

There are more variables that you are overlooking. There are Way more people fishing for bass then ever. Weather patterns, bait patterns all have changed, all contributing circumstances to what striped bass do. Migration has changed. The EEZ zone protects bass.You may not like the fact that the fish arent holding to their summer patterns, plain and simple. They come through in May and June and dont stop and stay. All those areas you mentioned had a great spring, just the fish didnt stay. For whatever reason there was nothing to hold em there. I guess scup wasnt enough. All the surf guys were happy as could be on Cutty in the Spring remember. Unfortunately surf guys cant go everywhere the fish go, I know because Ive done it since I can remember and its what I love most. So the fish dont hold in the areas you mention in July and August after you had a spectacular run in buzzards bay and vineyard sound in the spring. I know those fish didnt get wiped out. September and October the fish came back through, maybe all not the same route. (In Nj we get the monsters in the spring and miles of rats in the fall. Those fish get wiped out? because they do seem to come through in the spring). Funny I didnt see as many people fishing their in the fall but I can tell you it was not a barren wasteland. Fishing a tourney on a few rockpiles in vinyard sound and nomans I had more fish than I wanted to count, they may not have been monsters but really good number to fish to 25lbs....

I may not have fished 40 years ago so I cant say from experience as to what happened then when the fish were stacked everywhere you went....

Everything I wrote and posted I wrote from my own experiences and observations and not other peoples complaints. I can sit home and complain or go fishing. Your very fortunate to have fishing theraputic for you and something you can selfishly enjoy, been there, done that. Unfortunately I dont always share the same, its not always enjoyable for me when its work. Im forced to go when I dont really want to when its work. Blowin 30, rain, cold, snotty. I will say that I have found it rewarding when I put smiles on many of my clients faces and given em' once in a lifetime trophies along with trips they will never forget.

Im really gonna stop rambling. People want change and change is a coming anyway, maybe do with bass like the fluke, closed zones like the red snapper fishery in the south, divers help make that decision so they can enjoy watching fish swim. There is alot on the table. Me Ill just roll with the punches, no need to complain...

On a side note, They do have pay to fish fish farms where you can catch fish on every cast if it ever came down to it...

12-07-2009, 09:21 AM	#5
CowHunter Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Union,NJ Posts: 989	The same goes for recreational fishermen. Like it or not, we have no "right" to catch and keep striped bass. As a migratory species their utilization is by law controlled by the Federal government. If we don't like it it is Federal not State law that has to change. That isn't likely (you want NC deciding how many fish they can keep?). Seeing schools of bass killed like that is upsetting, but the fish in that picture are only a fraction of what got killed in the canal this past memorial day. (Post sound familiar) - Above Posted by numbskull Numbskull, am I so twisted?? Is it different than me wanting stripersforever making a decision on whats best for Mass Com guys? Giving everybody 20" slot limits? I dont know anybody that wants 20" slot limits, dont see that as being part of a solution. And its all comm guys killing the fish in the canal too! Im not disagreeing with everything you said, I posted alot of my Observations from experience up and down the coast. My problem is the blame is just going on the comms when they in no way kill as many fish as the rec guys. Just look at all the info on NOAA. I dont agree with that 100% because I know that the numbers are much higher. At least the comms hit their number and shut it down. Alot of those areas you mentioned were dead, most of the time, in July and August. I also did have some of my biggest numbers EVER in areas you mention while people were at home on the internet complaining about no fish. There are more variables that you are overlooking. There are Way more people fishing for bass then ever. Weather patterns, bait patterns all have changed, all contributing circumstances to what striped bass do. Migration has changed. The EEZ zone protects bass.You may not like the fact that the fish arent holding to their summer patterns, plain and simple. They come through in May and June and dont stop and stay. All those areas you mentioned had a great spring, just the fish didnt stay. For whatever reason there was nothing to hold em there. I guess scup wasnt enough. All the surf guys were happy as could be on Cutty in the Spring remember. Unfortunately surf guys cant go everywhere the fish go, I know because Ive done it since I can remember and its what I love most. So the fish dont hold in the areas you mention in July and August after you had a spectacular run in buzzards bay and vineyard sound in the spring. I know those fish didnt get wiped out. September and October the fish came back through, maybe all not the same route. (In Nj we get the monsters in the spring and miles of rats in the fall. Those fish get wiped out? because they do seem to come through in the spring). Funny I didnt see as many people fishing their in the fall but I can tell you it was not a barren wasteland. Fishing a tourney on a few rockpiles in vinyard sound and nomans I had more fish than I wanted to count, they may not have been monsters but really good number to fish to 25lbs.... I may not have fished 40 years ago so I cant say from experience as to what happened then when the fish were stacked everywhere you went.... Everything I wrote and posted I wrote from my own experiences and observations and not other peoples complaints. I can sit home and complain or go fishing. Your very fortunate to have fishing theraputic for you and something you can selfishly enjoy, been there, done that. Unfortunately I dont always share the same, its not always enjoyable for me when its work. Im forced to go when I dont really want to when its work. Blowin 30, rain, cold, snotty. I will say that I have found it rewarding when I put smiles on many of my clients faces and given em' once in a lifetime trophies along with trips they will never forget. Im really gonna stop rambling. People want change and change is a coming anyway, maybe do with bass like the fluke, closed zones like the red snapper fishery in the south, divers help make that decision so they can enjoy watching fish swim. There is alot on the table. Me Ill just roll with the punches, no need to complain... On a side note, They do have pay to fish fish farms where you can catch fish on every cast if it ever came down to it... Last edited by CowHunter; 12-07-2009 at 10:10 AM..