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Thanks, Piemma, for your thoughts.....I think most boat/surf fishermen don't realize that when the numbers mentioned by ASMFC for recreational catches are mentioned, that the charter industry is probaly the major factor for that increase. When you look up and down the Coast, and tabulate the number of charter boats chasing bass, it becomes pretty clear where the fish are going. In Connecticut, New York, RI, for instance, even head boats fish for stripers (probaly NJ, also)....a lot of 6-pack captains do double trips (AM, late afteroon, evenings). There is nothing wrong with what they are doing-they are making a living, and I don't begrudge them. As an R&R commercial fisherman, it bothers me to hear the same old rant, that it is the commercial fisherman that is ruining the striped bass fishery. It simply is not true....there is a coast wide quota limit that is set for each state that allows it-the quota hasn't changed in several years....
I think because other fisheries (cod, tautog, fluke, flounder, tunoids) have stringent quotas, or aren't as prevalent as before, that there is a lot of pressure on the bass, because of their abundance.....Back in the bass crash of the late 70's, very few charter boats fished for bass (it was hard work then)...bluefish and tuna got most of the pressure.
Anyways, hope my comments add a little food for thought....
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