Only 1 fish till the 23rd in MA

[Mr. Sandman]

I have seen several people taking 2 back to the vehicle.
IMO the state has done a crappy job of informing fisherman of exactly what the rule is.

[jugstah]

I agree... I thought it was already established that we coudl take two... but now that i know.. good thing i haven't broken the law yet..

[Bob Thomas]

I have to disagree with you guys......here's why.

I had the same questions and being in Law Enforcement, I pulled the law up.

Emergency actions in the state of MA take effect on the date assigned......this case May 3rd. They snuck the 23rd under striped bass which the lawmakers cannot do.

That being said, we ran into an EPO last week......a Lieutenant IN CHARGE OF THE CAPE no less and asked him. He said I was correct in my assumptions. The emergency action as it was written SPECIFICALLY STATES that they will be in place on May 3rd. He said just because they have the 23rd in there makes no difference. He explained it this way. The authorities found it necessary to enact an "Emergency" action which covered a variety of species, one being striped bass. They voted on it and enacted it effective May 3. "Emergency" action takes effect on May 3 and not the 23rd.........a bit confusing.

That being said, He said his people have been instructed that the action is already in place and to disregard the 23rd BS. He said that they are not enforcing the 23rd stuff.

Yes.......I did make sure to take his name for the future but along the way, talking with many people, I heard the same kind of explanation.

Hope that helps a bit........it is, as usual, a confusing law!

[Mr. Sandman]

You may be right. You think they would clear something like this up.

http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dmf/re.../rec_index.htm

This should be crystal clear and without ambiguity

I am probably wrong but I thought the only "emergency" part of the reg change was that part about issuing limits to future SB comm lic's to protect those who already have them.

Like I said...I think the state has done a crappy job of informing the public as to what the reg is and when it is to be enacted. Shouldn't someone review dates like this before it is announced to the general public?

I would like to know exactly how many infractions were there last year for undersize striped bass and what the punishments were ? Do you know where I can find that info out?

[mar t]

sense when should we count on the state to be forthcoming on anything? it's the fisherpersons responsability to know the laws. i've run into severial people that don't even know the rules have change (2 fish instead of 1) let alone any confusion about dates.

ps hey bob are you going to share that EPO LT. name so that if anyone else runs into a problem theres a name to drop.

mar t
marty

[Gloucester2]

Red Top had signs out on Saturday with the 23rd info . . .

But I saw many with two fish on a line in the Canal a few minutes later . . . there were 2 guys in green not takin' any action.

[RRsafety]

Mass. Marine Fisheries website says May 23 is the effective date of new reg.
Read reg summary here

quote:
Striped Bass
28"
all year
2 fish
[effective 5/23/03]

So i guess that means it starts Thursday morning at one minute past midnight.