Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - 2011 Striper Cup Team S-B

wrikerjr · 04-05-2011, 02:33 PM

There seems to be a good amount of conversation on whether or not the Striper Cup and On-The-Water are doing the appropriate thing for the striped bass fishery.

In my opinion, as recreational anglers we do not have the right to criticize anyone for keeping a legal fish and entering that fish into a tournament. If you feel the need to complain about that, your argument is not with the angler or the tournament organizer as they are organizing an event that is within the applicable regulations and their rights. Fishing tournaments were around when we were born and will be here when we die. The recreational angler should complain and apply pressure to the individuals responsible for the fishery management (or their bosses), which is another story for another day.

What I feel the recreational community has the right to complain about with the tournament organizer concerning conservation is:
- the absensce of technology in avoiding overkill, and
- the absence of catch and release participation.

Since this topic is about the Striper Cup, I will say that the Striper Cup does not use technology to avoide overkill. This is the 2011 fishing season, technology to avoid overkill is here and at worst it would be a daily update of up-to-date standings to avoid overkill because there are weekly, monthly, team and angler of the year prizes. Additionally, on the catch and release front their is zero participation in the Striper Cup. Allowing someone to win a pin when you are literally handing out prizes worth in excess of $50K is not participation. Those are the facts as I see them. I work for a marketing/advertising company and I know that you can spin anything the way you want it to be seen, but every now and then someone will state the simple facts and you can't argue the facts. These are the facts, and to me it doesn't appear that On the Water takes conservation seriously.

I am often asked what is the answer. Obviously, the answer is to do the right thing in your mind. In my opinion, we as recreational anglers support the vast majority of the fishing industry, we purchase the magazines, we pay the tournament entry fees, etc.. If you agree with the conservation practices of On The Water than you should support them by purchasing their magazine and entering the tournament. If you do not agree with the conservation policies of On The Water and the Striper Cup than you should boycott their magazine and their tournaments until they change their policies to align with your personal beliefs. I do not believe as the recreational angler we should rationalize a reason to support a magazine or tournament that doesn't align with your personal beliefs. Their is no reason to justify that a tournament will do less harm than a party boat or another tournament. This is rationalization and people rationalize thier actions when they feel they are improper or unethical.

This is just how I feel. We are discussing On The Water and the Stripercup. This could be talked about with many other tournaments as well, but I look at them all individually and determine from there what tournaments and sponsors I would like to support and participate in. Do not get me started on fisheries management because that is just a crazy topic that I could go on forever about.

04-05-2011, 02:33 PM	#43
wrikerjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the Dirty Jerz Posts: 276	There seems to be a good amount of conversation on whether or not the Striper Cup and On-The-Water are doing the appropriate thing for the striped bass fishery. In my opinion, as recreational anglers we do not have the right to criticize anyone for keeping a legal fish and entering that fish into a tournament. If you feel the need to complain about that, your argument is not with the angler or the tournament organizer as they are organizing an event that is within the applicable regulations and their rights. Fishing tournaments were around when we were born and will be here when we die. The recreational angler should complain and apply pressure to the individuals responsible for the fishery management (or their bosses), which is another story for another day. What I feel the recreational community has the right to complain about with the tournament organizer concerning conservation is: - the absensce of technology in avoiding overkill, and - the absence of catch and release participation. Since this topic is about the Striper Cup, I will say that the Striper Cup does not use technology to avoide overkill. This is the 2011 fishing season, technology to avoid overkill is here and at worst it would be a daily update of up-to-date standings to avoid overkill because there are weekly, monthly, team and angler of the year prizes. Additionally, on the catch and release front their is zero participation in the Striper Cup. Allowing someone to win a pin when you are literally handing out prizes worth in excess of $50K is not participation. Those are the facts as I see them. I work for a marketing/advertising company and I know that you can spin anything the way you want it to be seen, but every now and then someone will state the simple facts and you can't argue the facts. These are the facts, and to me it doesn't appear that On the Water takes conservation seriously. I am often asked what is the answer. Obviously, the answer is to do the right thing in your mind. In my opinion, we as recreational anglers support the vast majority of the fishing industry, we purchase the magazines, we pay the tournament entry fees, etc.. If you agree with the conservation practices of On The Water than you should support them by purchasing their magazine and entering the tournament. If you do not agree with the conservation policies of On The Water and the Striper Cup than you should boycott their magazine and their tournaments until they change their policies to align with your personal beliefs. I do not believe as the recreational angler we should rationalize a reason to support a magazine or tournament that doesn't align with your personal beliefs. Their is no reason to justify that a tournament will do less harm than a party boat or another tournament. This is rationalization and people rationalize thier actions when they feel they are improper or unethical. This is just how I feel. We are discussing On The Water and the Stripercup. This could be talked about with many other tournaments as well, but I look at them all individually and determine from there what tournaments and sponsors I would like to support and participate in. Do not get me started on fisheries management because that is just a crazy topic that I could go on forever about.