RI Striped Bass Meeting

[DZ]

This announcement came in this morning. Waiting for confirmation that this will be RIs public hearing on conservation equivalency proposals.

"A meeting of Rhode Island's ASMFC Commissioners will be held on Thursday, January 29 at 6 pm in the Hazard Room in the Coastal Institute Building at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett. The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss the agenda for the upcoming February 3-5 ASMFC meeting in Alexandria, VA."

[MakoMike]

this is on the agenda for the ASMFC meeting:

February 5
8 AM - Noon

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board

Review and Consider Approval of Addendum IV Conservation Equivalency Proposals and Implementation Plans

[DZ]

Thanks Mike - I'm still trying to determine if RI has in fact made any formal CE requests. No one in DEM wants to talk. I know there was an unannounced meeting in RI before the holidays. We still haven't had a public hearing like the other states. Last i heard was there will be another RI meeting in mid February but this will be after ASMFC. I would think RI would need public comments before. Sounds like this might be our chance.

[DZ]

Some clarifying info from DEM:
"The meeting with the commissioners will be to discuss and provide comments on material the Board will be discussing at the ASMFC Winter meeting. The Striped Bass Board will be meeting on 2/5/15 and the Board will be discussing conservation equivalency proposals and Addendum IV implementation plans. All of the conservation equivalency proposals are included in the state implementation plans. Those should all be available in the Boards materials prior to the meeting on 1/29 so yes the proposals should be available for you to review and provide comment on at the 1/29 meeting.

If interested in making any new proposals regarding 2015 striped bass management, the public workshop/public hearing in February would be the best time to do that. I believe the notice for that will be going out by tomorrow. Along with that notice will be annotated regulations for the potential options as proposed thus far. Those options will include the conservation equivalency options so you will be able them as soon as that notice goes out as well. In short there is one proposal for the fish traps to take a small quota reduction in order to maintain their reduced minimum size of 26” and there is another proposal for the recreational fishery to go to 1 fish @ 28” with the party/charter vessels going to 2 fish @ 32”. There will also be a RIMFC meeting subsequent to the public hearing where you could provide comments as well regarding 2015 striped bass management."

[JohnR]

"and there is another proposal for the recreational fishery to go to 1 fish @ 28” with the party/charter vessels going to 2 fish @ 32”. There will also be a RIMFC meeting subsequent to the public hearing where you could provide comments as well regarding 2015 striped bass management.""



WTF???? What part of CONSERVATION do people not understand.

[ivanputski]

this part : $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Shame on the ASMFC

[Headhunter]

Everyone should have the same option then to take 2 @ a minimum of 32" or 1 between 28" and 31.999999999"? Why do the charter guys get special treatment. I know I spend 10 times what they do per fish kept every year!!!!!!! We all have exspenses and have to make adjustments in our lifestyles to fish.

[BasicPatrick]

Words leaking from behind the curtain is that in RI there is a heavyweight recreational fight going on with RISAA (1@ 28 for all) on one side and the RI Party Charter Association (2 fish for Party.Charter). RI Residents should flood all of these meetings until they keep RI at 1 @ 28" for all.

[Nebe]

Striper wars 2.0
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[DZ]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

Words leaking from behind the curtain is that in RI there is a heavyweight recreational fight going on with RISAA (1@ 28 for all) on one side and the RI Party Charter Association (2 fish for Party.Charter). RI Residents should flood all of these meetings until they keep RI at 1 @ 28" for all.

Correct Patrick - RI could be very key in this debate. RI territorial waters within 3 miles of Block holds some of the last remaining consistent fishing for large striped bass. If RI stays at one fish it will force some of the other states like NY/Ct who may have a two fish bag into a single fish in possession per person if fishing within 3 miles of Block. This will help protect this body of bass but will become an enforcement nightmare.

[Nebe]

I hope they do what's right
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[BasicPatrick]

MA anglers have been bringing the heat. Even NC & VA are going with one fish. ITs really on RI anglers to do their part. If recs don't overwhelm those hearings then it is on our sector for not making this issue too hot to handle.

If RI went with one fish I think you will see a very different ASMFC debate. time see if RI anglers can step up.

[JoeG@Breezy]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

MA anglers have been bringing the heat. Even NC & VA are going with one fish. ITs really on RI anglers to do their part. If recs don't overwhelm those hearings then it is on our sector for not making this issue too hot to handle.

If RI went with one fish I think you will see a very different ASMFC debate. time see if RI anglers can step up.

I'm more than a little bothered by NY ( I live in NY) taking this BS position of considering 2 fish which looks like it will happen. We are by far the largest bass killing state on the east coast by ASMFC / DEC numbers, and should have taken the leadership position. So here's to hoping little Rhody can show everyone the way. For my part I will make a point of travelling to fish the RI surf this coming year and spend some money when I do. Good luck guys.

[Clammer]

I believe NJ really has gotten the tide turned . for the 2 fish B/S

[Cool Beans]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Striper wars 2.0
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I think it's a good idea for a t.v. show:

Striped Bass Wars:

the Boob Parker and Cleavage Erwin and their crews made up of strippers set out to distract RI charter boat captains, in a battle to prevent them from keeping more than 1 @ 28.

I would watch this show....

[thefishingfreak]

The Gloucester hearing was an even mix of 1@28" supporters and option 3- 2 fish (1@28"-34" slot with a 40+trophy) supporters.
Nobody really wanted option 2. 2@32" for charter boats (myself included, I was in support of option 3- 40+trophy for charter boats.

If the charter boats do get the option 2. 2fish@32" they would be locked into 32 inch keepers all year long (no 28" keepers) even while out recreationally fishing with uncle bob

[thefishingfreak]

Paul Diodoti also stated that he would not be persuaded in the least of what the neighboring states are going to do. It will be a Massachusetts issue

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

Paul Diodoti also stated that he would not be persuaded in the least of what the neighboring states are going to do. It will be a Massachusetts issue

GOOD

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

Paul Diodoti also stated that he would not be persuaded in the least of what the neighboring states are going to do. It will be a Massachusetts issue

Pure BS.

[DZ]

Meeting is tonight - anyone else coming?

"A meeting of Rhode Island's ASMFC Commissioners will be held on Thursday, January 29 at 6 pm in the Hazard Room in the Coastal Institute Building at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett. The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss the agenda for the upcoming February 3-5 ASMFC meeting in Alexandria, VA."

[striperswiper75]

The ASMFC technical committee put out recommendations on Jan 16th. Their report is on he ASMFC website onnthe calendar for the February meeting. See the supplemental information for their recommendations. Pages 211 onward.
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[JoeG@Breezy]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

The Gloucester hearing was an even mix of 1@28" supporters and option 3- 2 fish (1@28"-34" slot with a 40+trophy) supporters.
Nobody really wanted option 2. 2@32" for charter boats (myself included, I was in support of option 3- 40+trophy for charter boats.

If the charter boats do get the option 2. 2fish@32" they would be locked into 32 inch keepers all year long (no 28" keepers) even while out recreationally fishing with uncle bob

Sorry but I'm a NY guy interested in the whole picture. I gave up on my charter opps last year (2013) because they tended to take the legal limit and when we came dockside no one wanted the fish most of the time. I had a free ride, no pay, charter ride, because my buddy payed and when he had cancellations I got the call. Hard to beat. On this 28 or 32 size I'm puzzled. In five or six years of 2 trips per I never saw a fish smaller than 34-35 come over the rail. The whole two fish thing in any state trying to justify it is pure BS and the scientists should be ashamed of themselves. Because they are now in the sludge with the ASMFC. I have a thick skin so go ahead and take your shots but I'll be there saying "I told you so" when we go to a moratorium.

[scottw]

The RI meeting was interesting tonight...Dennis can provide more but I'd like to say that he made a very impassioned plea facing a committee that appeared quite content with their recommendation of 1@28 for recs and 2@32 for for-hires going forward. They appeared ready to sail through with this recommendation offering only a passing mention of the loud call for 1@28 for ALL recs while offering repeated justification for their recommendation...Peter Jenkins from the SWE and Dennis spoke eloquently and intelligently for the majority of the rec anglers who will fish under the 1@28 regardless and will be, in my opinion, relegated to second class citizen status as for-hires and their clients(most of whom are not RI residents by their own admission) will fish side by side or "boat by boat" with their recreational clients under an entirely different set of rules and regulations......not only will we have the spectacle of RI recreational residents fishing 1@ limits as RI for-hires with their out of state clients fishing 2@ but we will also see RI residents fishing 1@ at as out of state for-hires cross the borders and fish our waters at at 2 @......there is something wrong here.....particularly when two of the board members cited reasons for recommending the mode split to A) keep things uniform so that boats won't be fishing side by side with different regulations....and B) keep regulations uniform to make enforcement easier..............

seems that mode splits create both of these problems....what was clear to me is that these guys don't acknowledge the rec fisherman as the statements above indicate..... need to keep up the pressure

[big jay]

Hey Scott - how many rec guys attended the meeting?
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[Slipknot]

sucks

but THANK you Dennis

and if it goes like that then they will have a hard time enforcing 1@28 for recs, since if caught with 2, they could just state, I was on a charter

maybe a yard sale is in order

[scottw]

don't really know who was who Jay, it was a small venue...don't think they really anticipated much comment, I'd say 6 or 8 shore rec/private...there was a pair that walked in after we arrived that I believe were for-hires, a couple of guys there for Jonah Crabs, shellfish I think as well, and a few from the commercial sector...the most inspiring point of the night was when a commercial guy followed us out and offered quite a few words of encouragement and stressed consistency in the regulations, would like to have spent more time with him.......

they were cruising right through the SB portion and moving on to Jonah Crabs when Jenks interjected and Dennis followed to stress the importance of protecting the BI fishery...don't think they expected that

does seem very Rhode Island doesn't it? we have a declining resource so we'll limit the average RI rec fisherman and hope that slows the decline and at the same time, carve out a special exception for the for-hires so that they, their mate(s) and wealthy out-of-state clients can keep more bass than the average RI rec.....the average RI rec can keep two fish if he/she pays for the privilege by chartering a for-hire..I know a number of for hires that routinely take out club members and friends that I'm confident are not paying full fare...I wonder if these folks will be entitled to two fish and how that will be enforced?...we'll also let for-hire boats from out of state steam in with their clients and fish RI waters and keep two fish per as well....because..."you can't have boats fishing side by side under different regulations"......"that would make enforcement difficult"...like I said....the shore recs/private are invisible to these people...that much was clear

[afterhours]

can't say we didn't see this coming...it's all a dog and pony show with the outcome know well in advance. the system is broke- needs to be replaced. too much "science, too little regard for avg recs, too much fish killing, and too much absolute bs.

[iamskippy]

Sorry for my ignorance here but who puts these guys into the Role, are they elected, or is this a interview and hire positions
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[scottw]

it was a bit depressing but the folks mentioned did a great job reminding the committee of some of their obligations.....I've yet to hear a for-hire 2 fish argument that didn't fall apart under scrutiny....yet they're still twisting to accommodate them with 2 fish...

[big jay]

Kudos to Scott, Dennis and Jenks for showing up and representing their views.

However, this board has a 22 page thread about this issue, with plenty of RI surf and rec fisherman yelling, screaming, saying some pretty nasty stuff about charter guys and the entire situation, yet only 6 or 8 guys show up?

Pathetic.
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