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The report say there has been a 26% on average decrease in the recreational harvest since 2006. But 4 states have actually seen increases above the 2006 number so the other states have seen a decrease of 45%. I think you will actually find the decrease number much higher in Maine and NH.
How good the assessment data is I really can't say, but no matter what it is at least a year old by the time they put it out. To me the real issue is are the threahold numbers the ones we really want. These numbers are based on the over all fishery management but factors of other demands play in. Reduce the harvest of bunker, mackerel and other bait fish and you can increase the numbers of fish like stripers and blues.
Up here in NH we have seen not only a major decrease in the numbers of stripers but the blue fish numbers are even worse. Without these two fish there really is no surf fishing up here.
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