Gamefish Status???

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Bush moving to gamefish status for striped bass, red drum
BY SUSAN WEST | SENTINEL STAFF




Gamefish status could be coming for striped bass and red drum, according to Sean McKeon, president of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, a trade group for the state's commercial fishing industry.

"We received confirmation Friday morning that President Bush plans to either issue an executive order designating the two species gamefish or to direct fishery management councils to do so," said McKeon.

The legal designation would place the species off-limits to commercial fishermen, removing the fish from the marketplace.

"This action would be a total circumvention of the fisheries management process established by Congress," said McKeon.

He said that commercial fishermen have shouldered harvest restrictions for both species and have anticipated sharing in less stringent regulations as the stocks have grown healthier.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission officially declared striped bass recovered in 1995. Recreational fishermen harvested 81 percent of the 36.47 million pound Atlantic harvest in 2006.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries lists the red drum stock as recovering. In 2006, North Carolina anglers harvested 216,115 pounds and commercial fishermen landed 168,489 pounds.


"There's no doubt that the President intends to take this action at the request of the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association)," said McKeon.

The CCA, an organization of sportfishermen and associated industries, began in Texas in 1977 with a campaign to make red drum, more commonly called redfish along the Gulf of Mexico, and speckled trout gamefish.

The group has secured gamefish designations in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and other states.

Josh Bowlen, legislative director for Rep. Walter B. Jones, told the Sentinel Monday that Jones believes the President plans to send a strong statement in support of strict conservation actions to the regional management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and state fishery agencies as early as next week.

"Congressman Jones has asked folks within the administration to keep in mind that more than one sector depends on access to these species and that livelihoods are at stake," said Bowlen.

Katie Hallaway, communications director for Senator Elizabeth Dole, said Dole has expressed concern to the White House about the negative impact to North Carolina's commercial fishermen and small businesses.

"We must work to ensure that fish populations, like red drum and striped bass, remain strong. However, our commercial fishermen should not solely bear the responsibility of maintaining healthy fish stocks in the Atlantic," said Senator Richard Burr.

Outer Banks commercial fishermen said gamefish designations don't impact just commercial fishermen.

"Gamefish status will deny access to this public trust resource to people who want to eat striped bass or red drum but don't have either the time or the money or the desire to go recreational fishing," said Rob West of Buxton.

[DZ]

Wow! That would be some news.

DZ

[JohnR]

Interesting - Not sure how much I support that, being that I'm less concerned about Game fish status than I am about the status of the fish they eat...

[Brother Brian]

Not sure how much I support that, being that I'm less concerned about Game fish status than I am about the status of the fish they eat...

Amen. First should be Game fish status for Bunker.....

[Flaptail]

Thats what happens when you fish in Maine too much, you get that "Stripers Forever" view of life by osmosis.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Thats what happens when you fish in Maine too much, you get that "Stripers Forever" view of life by osmosis.

Yup...

forget gamefish status.
Lets just go back to 1fish 36" coast wide. Enough of this 28" crap.
I'm worried about the stock right now. something ain't right...

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Yup...
...
I'm worried about the stock right now. something ain't right...

I've been quietly singing that song for a year or two now.

[likwid]

Queue comm flip outs.

Marlin: gamefish. can still consume.
Tarpon: gamefish. can still consume.
Hmmm

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Brother Brian

Amen. First should be Game fish status for Bunker.....

ditto .. feed the fish ..

[GonnaCatchABig1]

from the above.. i know agree, wow thats dumb..
but..

what is the importance of the EEZ? other than providing a place for fish to unknowingly relax?

if it's nothing more than a place that fish are.. who cares if it's open to fishing? i could see if it was for mating or something more significant than a fish hang out. but if it's not what would the impact really be?

it's not like the shore guys will be able to get to it. and if ya have a boat, chances are you are filling the 2 fish limits just about every day ya go out any way. they would just be filled there instead of in the areas currently fished.. which in turn would RELIEVE pressure on the fish in the areas that can be fished now. so in fact if it was open, the production of the current areas would go up. cause fishermen would be spread out even further.. the only problem i could see would be policing an even larger area.. and people high-grading. but if they are law breakers they will break the law regardless of where they fish. and probably already fish the EEZ anyway.

like i said, i know nothing about the EEZ. and the above is assuming it's just a productive place for large fish.

of course if it a place for large numbers of huge fish.. then a slot limit should be imposed if it's open. cause if the last statement is true, then i would assume the fear is over fishing of mega bass who produce more eggs.

but please some one correct me and explain the importance of the EEZ to the fish.

[BasicPatrick]

The reality of this pending announcement is that this is a "feeel good" Executive Order at best and in the end, may end up being a very bad thing.

For those interested in the question, What does this mean, think about the following.

The definition of "game fish staus" being used in this order is "no sale". The Presidential order will will make S-B & Red Drum "game fish" in federal waters effectively prohibiting "commercial" fishing for S-B in federal waters. Considering that there is already a "regulation" that prohibits all fishing for S-B in federal waters, the executive Order alone will change nothing.

However, I predict the "real agenda" of this Executive Order will turn into a very bad thing. Executive Orders carry a lot of weight in the Federal Government. This will most likely be read by fisheries managers as a buffer, ending the arguement that if the EEZ is open for Recs it should be open for commercials. That will allow managers to open Federal Waters (EEZ) to recreational fishing for S-B. If the EEZ is opened for S-B recreational fishing, the recreational harvest will increase and we will be on our way to overfishing.

I see this as yet another move by those revisionist historians that blame the collapse of S-B on the commercials to make an allocation grab for recreational fishing and forget that we were a part of the collapse. The recreational fishery for S-B must retain the major protection of a closed EEZ so that we may be protected from ourselves. I hope that this does not happen but I am told the Executive Order is a done deal. S-B are successfully rebuilt and to eliminate the largest tool we have to protect the stock makes no sense. I agree we should concentrate of increasing forage, but this has nothing to do with that other and more major issue.

[Clogston29]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

However, I predict the "real agenda" of this Executive Order will turn into a very bad thing. Executive Orders carry a lot of weight in the Federal Government. This will most likely be read by fisheries managers as a buffer, ending the arguement that if the EEZ is open for Recs it should be open for commercials. That will allow them to open Federal Waters (EEZ) to recreational fishing for S-B. If the EEZ is opened for S-B recreational fishing, the recreational harvest will increase and we will be on our way to overfishing.

How will opening the EEZ to recs increase the harvest? Won't the same amount of people continue to harvest the same number of fish, now just over a larger area? If size and creel limits remain the same, it seams to me that the harvest should remain the same (decrease when the fact that there will be no more commercial harvest is considered). Am I missing something

[BasicPatrick]

A boat (private or charter) goes to Stellwagen Bank for tuna or cod...after they get their fish they now can take a S-B limit as well.

There is currently no legal commercial fishiing in the EEZ.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

How will opening the EEZ to recs increase the harvest? Won't the same amount of people continue to harvest the same number of fish, now just over a larger area? If size and creel limits remain the same, it seams to me that the harvest should remain the same (decrease when the fact that there will be no more commercial harvest is considered). Am I missing something

or the comms. quota of the catch could become available to recs (I know there is some concern that that is the agenda of those pushing for game fish status) . I don't care who is catching, just how many are getting taken. Ending the commercial harvest wouldn't have near as big an effect on the stocks as going to 1 fish for recs would.

Anyone have a scientific basis for 36"'s? Not arguing, I am just curious where that number originally came from. Why not 40"? Why not 1 between 18 and 27" like they do from drum in NC. I think I am gonna find a fisheries course that looks at these issues cause I know that I really don't have any scientific basis for my opinions...

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by zimmy

or the comms. quota of the catch could become available to recs (I know there is some concern that that is the agenda of those pushing for game fish status) . I don't care who is catching, just how many are getting taken. Ending the commercial harvest wouldn't have near as big an effect on the stocks as going to 1 fish for recs would.

The Executive Order will have NO IMPACT on how many S-B are caught in the commercial catch as there is already a "regulation" that stops commercial fishing for S-B in the EEZ. It would strengthen that regulation.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

The Executive Order will have NO IMPACT on how many S-B are caught in the commercial catch as there is already a "regulation" that stops commercial fishing for S-B in the EEZ. It would strengthen that regulation.

That's not at all true. While it may not have an effect on the EZZ, what about the Coast, Narragansett Bay, the Cape Cod Canal, the Outer beaches, Cape Cod Bay, buzzards bay, etc. It's all open to commercial rod and reel S-B fishing. If the quota is 3 million pounds in Mass and S-B get game status, then that's 3 million pounds that don't get caught and sold in the commercial market.

Am I missing something here????

[Nebe]

this would be great!! take the friggin price of the fish's head please.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by Nebe

this would be great!! take the friggin price of the fish's head please.

BINGO! We have a winner!!!

This, along with sensible rec, forage fish and indiscriminate comm fishing management

There is a huge black market, this is ignored.

Recs are not doing near the damage that we are led to believe.

Bycatch kill will be a continued nightmare, this should put a spotlight on the issue and might have an impact on dragging.

The EEZ is NOT patrolled anyway. Most anglers don't even know what the EEZ is or where it is. Making it a game fish is a smart idea and will ease the enforcement issue.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

There is a huge black market, this is ignored.

The only way to stop this is to shut down all comm fishery for striped bass period.

Nobody able to sell = easy to catch the black market sales.

[RIJIMMY]

I'm just impressed we got this many replies without any Bush bashing!

I'm with Piemma on this, sounds like a good thing to me, but I am not up to speed on these issues as much as some, I dont even know what the EEZ is?

[JoeP]

Excellent! I think we need this mostly to stop the mid-atlantic states' slaughter. Bryan & I've been saying since last year that something's wrong with the stock.

See - all you Bush bashers can finally give him some credit.


However - as Bryan said we do need to go back to the 36"/1 fish limit as well. Recreational fishermen need to share in the conservation effort.

[Clammer]

I,ve been saying for the last few years that the stock is in trouble >>>>>>>>>> just stopping commercial fishing is not the answer / in the total take / the largest percentage of fish caught /taken >.out by rec.

I,d love to see a no size/ no keep status / that way /basically catch & release & that would knock a ton of pressure off the bass / never mind us ;;;

make it simple // no keep >>>>>>>> soooooooo if charlie S/h gets caught with a bass >>>>>>> he has no defense ;;;;


unfortuneitly /they will find a way to f$%^&*( this up //


For some this has been a great exceptional year // but in all total >>> it is much less than last & last was less than the year before ;;;

we.ll see ><><><

[Nebe]

recreational catch/mortality rates dwarf commercial catches. WE are overfishing the striped bass. End commercial fishing, install a 1 fish slot plus a 50 plus trophy fish and protect the bunker and herring. While they're t it, lift the protection of the dogfish..

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by Nebe

, install a 1 fish slot plus a 50 plus trophy fish

i was gonna suggest this yesterday but figured it was to weird of a regulation. i was thinkin 26 to 32 and then 50 plus. i would like 20 to 28. but fear that would be to low and people would be almost guaranteed a take home every day. at least 26 to 32 is on the higher end of smaller fish.

[Sweetwater]

I agree with the sentiments that the problem is certainly not the biomass of striped bass but the biomass of forage species such as menhaden and herring (especially river herring). Protect that forage and keep reasonable limits (like the ones we have now) on the take of striped-bass. Also, they need to open the EEZ to the recreational take of striped bass.

[riverrat55]

This is a ploy by Bush to show that he cares about the environment!!!
EEZ zones are already non-fishing zones for striped bass, so by making striped bass a gamefish(no Comm allows) changes nothing in the Zones, because there is no fishing allowed there now anyways!!!
The Federal Govt can mandate laws outside the 3 mile zone!!! Inside that area,States and only States can mandate the laws they want!!! That is why every State has different rules about fishing!!!
You can bet if there were huge oir reserves in the EEZ Zones, that Bush and his oil buddies would be pushing Congress to open it for drilling!!!
Don't Be Fooled!!!

[Finaddict]

Politcal actions aside ... I agree with Patrick's assesment and I agree that fishing was better with one fish at 36 inches ...

[piemma]

1 fish a day, 36" minimum. You that are old enough remember the Bass Moritorium. We had 1 fish 36" then 1 fish 34" and the stocks came back strong.

There are those of us that don't keep fish under 36" anyway, but I see guys even in the boats keeping 28" fish all the time. I think it's a waste.

Like Nebe and some others said, protect the forage fish so the Bass grow big and strong and up the size and drop the daily bag limit. If we can figure this out why the hell do the bureaucrats have such a hard time with it?

[zimmy]

[QUOTE=piemma;533397]1 fish a day, 36" minimum. You that are old enough remember the Bass Moritorium. We had 1 fish 36" then 1 fish 34" and the stocks came back strong.

There are those of us that don't keep fish under 36" anyway, but I see guys even in the boats keeping 28" fish all the time. I think it's a waste.

QUOTE]

I sincerely would like to know why is better to take over 36"? My instinct is that it is better to keep the breeders in the stock.

Is it because less people catch em that size so the overall take would be reduced? Is it that they have at least had a chance to spawn? Actually, i'll move this to a new thread...

[RIROCKHOUND]

QUOTE]
Is it because less people catch em that size so the overall take would be reduced?

Is it that they have at least had a chance to spawn? Actually, i'll move this to a new thread...[/QUOTE]

Yes and Yes IMHO