Quote:
Originally Posted by CowHunter
Numbskull... I have released 50lb fish... How many can say that???
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And I think I've released a few, too..........only I never got to see them
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Hopefully someday releasing large SB will be the norm, just as in freshwater the norm is to release a 10 lb LMB.
That isn't happening, however, as long as large fish have monetary value when dead (be it for commercial sale or charter/recreational purpose).
I agree that the attitude of recreational fishermen causes more harm to SB population than commercial (obviously).......but I think that the commercial take is a major factor in setting the mindset of most fishermen (both recreational and commercial) that SB are something to be exploited. Until the monetary value of dead striped bass becomes insignificant, attitudes are unlikely to change. Eliminating commercial take is a necessary, but not sufficient in itself, step to getting there.
I don't expect you to agree, your perspective is different than mine and neither perspective is more right than the other. Those differences are settled by legislative actions and since professional fishermen are way more organized than amateur fishermen I don't expect to see a change until either the fishery collapses and/or the legal system (under environmental challenge) shuts us all down.