[QUOTE=JohnR;787869][QUOTE=CowHunter;787846]Why do you think that is John???? Its because that there are Way More people on this board selling bass both boat and surf during the com season. [quote]
I'd be shocked if 10% here were selling commercially - and I don't have a problem with it - within reason. I have a lot of friends and fellow anglers that are licensed commercial shore and boat, different states. If the stocks were in better shape, I'd consider getting a license myself.
What's at stake:
So while Rec fishing might be up since 2003 the general consensus is that it has long since peaked and is in decline. With Commercial harvests off slightly over that same time period, why would we want to
INCREASE the take?
Personally, I'm for reduction on both Rec & Commercial harvest - not elimination.
[QUOTE=CowHunter;787846]I dont think many on here get it, the real damage to striped bass is done well south of Mass and its not by Comms. 1.1 million pounds is probably killed on a weekly basis in some of these areas, kind of a joke. Cut the Rec catch to 1 fish at 34-36" coastwide and it WILL make a difference. The Black Market for striped bass Im sure is well over 1.1 million pounds in some states during a season... Who is killing those fish, just Comm Guys??? Common....
Quote:
So because the real damage is being done down south we should ignore it? Or allow it to do even more real damage? Because the black market is for say 1.1 million pounds we should ignore it?
Sheeit, we might as well open the EEZ while we're at ignoring the other things.
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I dont think anybody is here ignoring the issues, hell Ive been pretty outspoken about alot of the issues especially protecting the EEZ... It is in all our best interest to protect the fishery as best we can. I may not do 360 days a year but I do about 150 trips a season for striped bass in several states from Mass to NC and have seen change of migrational patterns, water temp changes YOY, fish setting up in different areas, and most important the bait situation. I'm sorry if the fish dont show up in the same areas as they did in past years but they do need the right conditions. And Im sorry that the fish arent stacked on the beach in every spot that people surfcast.... Guys on here that bitch and whine that there are no striped bass around honestly dont have a clue about the fishery and its just a waste of time discussing the issue with them, if only they knew the potential out there....(By the way I am really glad they dont know) I Do not think the fishery is on the verge of collapse if guys are running out there doing 30, 40, 50, 200 + fish a trip, Sorry.... You know there does have to be a balance of Bass and bait... The big bodies of fish are going to where the bait is to sustain them, plain and simple... Best of luck in the 2010 season! As for me, been the best year for big fish with 5 50's and a 67.4 boated on my boat. By the way Team Reel Deal Got another board fish yesterday... Not bitchin' just fishin....
As far as just 10 % on here with com license, I really dont know what the numbers are, but nearly all that I talk to on this board sell bass...