‘Scary’ Decline In Striper Stocks

[tattoobob]

‘Scary’ Decline In Striper Stocks - 5/6/11 - Vineyard Gazette Online

I found this interesting that everyone is agreeing but nothing will be done this year

[Pete F.]

Just change the 2 a day to 1 a day or learn to like bluefish.

[RIJIMMY]

“As we look ahead to the season we must focus on protecting what is left of the large 2003 class of breeding females and work to avoid another total crash of the striped bass population,” Senator Timilty wrote.
My god...am I agreeing with a DEMOCRAT??????


BTW - Who's in for the striper cup!

[Sea Dangles]

Haha,another genius waiting for the results of the "stock ASSessment".

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

“As we look ahead to the season we must focus on protecting what is left of the large 2003 class of breeding females and work to avoid another total crash of the striped bass population,” Senator Timilty wrote.
My god...am I agreeing with a DEMOCRAT??????


BTW - Who's in for the striper cup!

Seriously, a democrat... I'm telling myself he's a republican in denial. It's easier that way.

(Agree on the SC comment, but that's just

[bucko]

A friend of mine lives on the Vineyard and fishes almost daily. His results are way down. Why the Vineyard in particular is feeling the effects of the decline in Stripers is perplexing.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by bucko

A friend of mine lives on the Vineyard and fishes almost daily. His results are way down. Why the Vineyard in particular is feeling the effects of the decline in Stripers is perplexing.

aint just the vineyard......

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...editorial.html

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

“As we look ahead to the season we must focus on protecting what is left of the large 2003 class of breeding females and work to avoid another total crash of the striped bass population,” Senator Timilty wrote.
My god...am I agreeing with a DEMOCRAT??????

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

Seriously, a democrat... I'm telling myself he's a republican in denial. It's easier that way.

Democrats want to regulate. It just so happens that what he wants to regulate is in line with our self interests.

[piemma]

Interesting that some of us have been saying this was happening for 5 or 6 years. No one listened.

Let's close the barn door now that the horse is stolen.

[striperman36]

And now that we pay for a saltware license, they can jack up the fee
to 'protect' the species.

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by piemma

Interesting that some of us have been saying this was happening for 5 or 6 years. No one listened.

Let's close the barn door now that the horse is stolen.

YUP !

[basenjib123]

..the good times are just about over! Enjoy the big girls now because the crash of 1980's magnitude is likely right around the corner!

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Haha,another genius waiting for the results of the "stock ASSessment".

chris, some people just don't want to accept the writing on the wall...like walking outside and getting wet but not believing it's raining 'till the weatherman tells you it is.

[Haus]

Haven't we known the stocks were dropping for years now?
Just keep on keeping

[djlesco]

I agree may be a little late.. But we can't stop yaking about it we have to get louder and more voices one speaks they call him nuts three speak and its a movement.
Anyone know a way to get this on natgeo or discovery??
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[djlesco]

With the channels of communication email, twitter face book.. Christ this forum.... We can't be ignored... A country can be turned upside down by facebook... Then a fish can be saved....
Should be a way...maybe laptew does a documentary using archived video showing places then and now... Interviews up and down the coast with sharpies... You guys know these people
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[l.i.fish.in.vt]

maybe the problem is having 1500 to 2000 fish anight being weighed in at a tackle shop for a C@R tournament.and then people complain about the commercial fishermen.

[MikeToole]

If he is talking about the rod and gun club flyfishing catch and release tournament they do not weigh them in and it's only one night. They just measure and release. Based on the numbers of fish he talked about it would match the rod and gun club tournament results.

I've heard very few people here just saying to cut the commercial numbers. Most are saying cut the rec limit in half and reduce the commercial. Some like me want rec cut in half and commercial fishing for stripers stopped. Not against commercial fishing just believe that when you have to limit the general public to only one fish a day it's a pretty good indication there aren't enough fish to support a commercial harvest.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

You would think that a bill making stripers a game fish would not have much problem passing. There is a ton of support for it from the recreational sector. And the number of commercial fisherman is tiny compared to the recs. I know stripers unlimited is controversial, there seems to be a divide among recreational guys with SU. IM not sure why that is. They lobbied for game fish status didnt they? Why are they controversial?

[stripermaineiac]

There are way too many recs with a commercial ticket that lie out their A-- to go against gamefish status so they can pay for those nice fancy boats and vacations they go on.Then they scream on here about recs keeping one fish.A dirtbag will always be a dirtbag. It's all about greed.I've sent out over 300 letters to poleticians and have gotten quite a few replies. Many of them quoting recreational FISHERMEN that don't want any change so the money keeps flowing in their pockets.

[spence]

Originally Posted by afterhours

chris, some people just don't want to accept the writing on the wall...like walking outside and getting wet but not believing it's raining 'till the weatherman tells you it is.

This is all to common then the "problem" is manifested in a very complex system. It's far to easy to manipulate the situation or perception of a trend, and often those with the ability to broadcast the loudest message end up winning...

Be it the environment, economy, herring etc...

-spence

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Rob Rockcrawler

I know stripers unlimited is controversial, there seems to be a divide among recreational guys with SU. IM not sure why that is. They lobbied for game fish status didnt they? Why are they controversial?

Do you mean Stripers Unlimited or Stripers Forever?

Either way it is an interesting and complex question.

I think there are 3 fishing groups that use striped bass (and several non-fishing groups such as environmentalists and consumers).

There is commercial fishing.
There is catch and keep (C&K) as a priority recreational fishing.
There is catch and release (C&R) as a priority recreational fishing.

Stripers Forever is dominated by the latter group, which many C&K recreational fisherman dislike because of assumptions of elitism, and distrust because SF doesn't share their priorities. Can you imagine SF having a club get together centered around grilling striped bass to eat?

In truth, recreational C&K views the resource more in line with commercial interests than C&R interests. Both have catch and kill as a necessary (and obviously valid) utilization step. A commercial fishery that intentionally kills fish, makes a recreational fishery that also intentionally kills fish easier to justify.

THAT, I think, is the real problem with commercial fishing. It sets the standard that the only good fish is a dead fish. When striped bass are more valuable dead than alive, inevitably too many end up dead.
Changing that would greatly help the fishery.

[stripermaineiac]

You know speaking of Stripers Unlimited. Bob Pond hit the nail on the head a long time ago. As long as the buck is part of the equation the greedy will never stop trying to make it no matter what damage they do. It all come down to removing the buck from the equation. Ron

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by stripermaineiac

You know speaking of Stripers Unlimited. Bob Pond hit the nail on the head a long time ago. As long as the buck is part of the equation the greedy will never stop trying to make it no matter what damage they do. It all come down to removing the buck from the equation. Ron

Plenty of damage gets done by those who never sell a bass. And keeping bass to eat, weigh, compete, or giveaway are certainly as valid a reason to fish as catching and releasing fish.

The analogy with freshwater LMB (or muskies) is worth considering. That sport seems very healthy, primarily because the fish are considered more valuable alive than dead. Killing them is looked down upon enough so that very few do it (as far as I know). Once killing and displaying them is no longer admirable behavior, the fishing improves in leaps and bounds, more people take part, and the resource generates huge amounts of economic activity. Nobody seems all broken up that they feel guilty keeping and eating them. Quite the contrary, the sport has grown in leaps and bounds as people discover the joys of releasing fish.

Northeast saltwater fishermen deserve a gamefish that is valued for the sport it provides, not for its food or monetary value. Striped Bass should be that fish. Fishing for the table can be directed for other species, just like "panfish" in freshwater.

[stripermaineiac]

Well the arguement will always have to have a blame point. Easy solution is a moratorium.Shut it down close the tackle shops and the charter industry.Keep it shut down for at least 5 yrs.Chase scup an mackeral with maybe a blue in the mix from time to time. get caught wih a striper on the hook $1000 fine an loss of all gear in possession.No one to blame then. Always easier to blame rather than take any steps to fix the problem.
You hear most angler tell about landing very few fish from shore and the same from boats. Cut backs have already been done by most to the point that most don't catch or keep many fish.The only cut back left is to just shut it all down.As far as I can see it's about the only way to get those with a commercial ticket to cut back too.Greed is what it is.Yup the guy without a paycheck keeps more than most to feed his family.with gas bein what it is even he won't land many fish this yr. So just shut it down that way everyone has to cut back not just us hardcores that release most of what we land. The feds had to do it last time hopefully they do it soon to make sure the fish do survive.Ron

[Nomad]

1 @ 36 for recs.

Only commercials that keep their ticket are those that prove that is their ONLY income (commercial fishing for clams/worms/eels, etc) and then step back the commercial quota each year and offer college tuition reimbursement.

I know that you fish commercially cause you love it and not because you don't have a degree but maybe it is just not sustainable and this way at least you still feed the family with a post-college career.

Just my .02 which is prolly worth about just that

[Jackbass]

Until all use groups can agree to disagree and find a common ground that everyone can live with the fish will be doomed. The people who utilize the resource need to be part of the solution they are all part of the problem. Recs, Captains, Comms alike need to come up with a plan and police themselves.

Any singular portion of the utilization group that abuses the resource needs to have suitable punishment. Regardless of who it is.

The managers bow to public opinion they have to. Until all groups get together and are realistic about what to expect from the fishery we will continue this cycle. It is obvious managers are reactive as opposed to pro active. That is the nature of the game for them. They will not implement changes until certain check points are met. At those points it is generally too late.

[StriperZ]

I have been noticing the 'worry' over the declining striper population. My personal contribution has been to limit what I take. What I do take is for my own or friend's consumption. We could all agree to only take one@36"/day.

[Bronx68]

With declines like this why is CT giving out vouchers to take small stripers on the CT River?

[djlesco]

I think its so they take them in that slot and go homep
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