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I agree with this but for a reason you will not like. Looking at this from another stand point why would a recreational fisherman agree to a one fish limit when others individuals are allowed to catch many more and make a profit from it. I agree that we need to reduce the recreational harvest but I think the only way it can actually happen is by either eliminating commercial fishing or greatly reducing the quota.
To say their is a "discrepancy" because recs catch is increasing while commercial is not, is meaningless and should not be part of the management process. Actually the recreational catch has not been increasing over the last five years, it has more or less been stable. Fisheries are to be managed in the best interest of the public. From a dollar standpoint for stripers the big money and jobs comes from recreational fishing. From the human standpoint millions of people get to enjoy recreational fishing for stripers bring family and friends together, even if only for one day. May sound corny but it's true.
We can keep say the fish are just in other areas or people do not know how to fish but doesn't match the ASMFC numbers. There has been about a 20%decrease in the spawning stock from 2004 to 2008.
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What happens to the general public, who do not fish, but love to eat fish, specifically striped bass? It has been a tradition for generations that specific sectors of the population (be they religious, ethnic, etc), have eaten striped bass. I know the argument always comes up about farm raised HYBRID striped bass....but it just doesn't pass muster compared to the real thing. So by caving in to the demands of the recreational fishery to have the whole fishery to themselves, you eliminate that portion of the population that does not have the means to catch it themselves.
And as you say, recreational fishing is a big cash cow...boats based on striper fishing, tackle based on striper fishing, quasi-commercial aspect of charter boat industry, etc....sounds pretty hypocritical to me that the commercial fisherman is the culprit to the supposed "downfall" of the striped bass....as always, it comes down to what's in it for me....