We're screwed on Sea bass!

[MakoMike]

These are the three proposals for recreation sea bass fishing for 2011:

1) maintain the current minimum fish size and adjust the possession limit and season;
regulations would include a 12.5 inch TL minimum fish size, 2 fish possession limit (-23 fish),
and an open season from June 1 through July 31 and November 1 through December 31;
[0.2622+0.2410-0.0632] = total reduction* = 44.0 percent

2) maintain the current minimum fish size adjust the possession limit and season; regulations
would include a 12.5 inch TL minimum fish size, 5 fish possession limit (-20 fish), and an open
season from July 1 through September 18 and November 1 through December 31;
[0.3864+0.0787-0.304] = total reduction* = 43.5 percent

3) adjust the minimum fish size and possession limit, maintain season; regulations would
include a 13.0 inch TL minimum fish size (+ 0.5 inch TL), 1 fish possession limit (-24 fish), and
an open season from May 22 through October 11 and November 1 through December 31;

[MakoMike]

So the best we can hope for is to be cut from 25 fish per day to 5 fish perday!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

So the best we can hope for is to be cut from 25 fish per day to 5 fish perday!

Is the reduction in quota warranted? Why or why not?

[robc22]

We get most of our fish in buzzards bay in may.......no season in may!!!!

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Is the reduction in quota warranted? Why or why not?

The current stock assessment has the biomass above the level required for maximum sustainable yield. Close to 150% of the MSY required biomass. Evidently the "scientists" don't believe their own numbers. The commercials are getting hit just as bad, its not a fish grab, unless you consider the NMFS to be grabbing the fish. MA was the only state at 20 fish per day, all the other states were at the permitted 25 fish per day. These are often small fish guys, 25 three pound fish doesn't produce a ton of filets, and who goes fishing for them every day. Yes you MA guys are screwed double, because the big fish are up in Buzzards bay in May.

[Clammer]

Commercially in RI last year was horrible because of the dates they had for commercial season .
even late . commercial was shut all of August /was suppose to open 9/1 ,, 3 days before / they sent out a notice that it wasn,t going to open til 11/1 >3 days after that they extended the rec. ;;

Rumor was [is] that MA. sea bass both rec & commercial in 2010 ,,,,was a slam /blam than you maam season ><><><


as a good friend & a very knowledgeable fisherman has said over & over ........ what ever they purpose or actually put into effect ............just figure that fisherie is in the complete opposite of what they say/do ;

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Wow, that is a hell of a drop. I dont target them at all but i read the fisherman every week. Seems that regardless of the open season they are biting every where. If the reduction is warranted because of some good scientific evidence im all for. If its just a grab for commercial fisherman than they really need to look more closely at the issue.

[tattoobob]

Who needs to keep 25 fish a day? that's 1500 fish per 2 month period per person

[niko]

these fish are very abundant and the stocks are in great shape as far as i can tell. i can catch a limit of them, if i wanted that many, in an hour, or two if it's "slow". this is a rediculous reduction. a 1 fish limit - you've got to be kidding me. i'd be fine with a 10 fish limit

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

Who needs to keep 25 fish a day? that's 1500 fish per 2 month period per person

what bob said...

[MAKAI]

Draconian measures , fish "Science" is far from perfect.

[robc22]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

Who needs to keep 25 fish a day? that's 1500 fish per 2 month period per person

What?? you work for nmfs's?......that how they add things up.....lottsa rec. folks sea bass 3 or 4 times a year tops and TRY to fill the freezer, whats wrong with that?......and since sea bass are boat caught fish.....not cheap to run a boat these days.....most guys try to get the most out of the day they run there boat.......again, what's wrong with that?

[tattoobob]

I don't have a problem with what you state, I'm just saying my example is excessive IMO

[afterhours]

instead of the usual "let's kill 'em 'till there gone"...i think it's good to be proactive for once. sure wish they'd treat stripers the same way.

[surfkaster]

the daily possession limited is not 25 fish per day, it is 20...

[InTheHole]

I agree if there is a problem, adjust the limit, size, season.... but how in the world do you go from 20 fish a day in Mass to the possibility of 1 fish a day over the course of the winter? What is the basis for such a drastic reduction ?

[Fishoholic]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

These are the three proposals for recreation sea bass fishing for 2011:

1) maintain the current minimum fish size and adjust the possession limit and season;
regulations would include a 12.5 inch TL minimum fish size, 2 fish possession limit (-23 fish),
and an open season from June 1 through July 31 and November 1 through December 31;
[0.2622+0.2410-0.0632] = total reduction* = 44.0 percent

2) maintain the current minimum fish size adjust the possession limit and season; regulations
would include a 12.5 inch TL minimum fish size, 5 fish possession limit (-20 fish), and an open
season from July 1 through September 18 and November 1 through December 31;
[0.3864+0.0787-0.304] = total reduction* = 43.5 percent

3) adjust the minimum fish size and possession limit, maintain season; regulations would
include a 13.0 inch TL minimum fish size (+ 0.5 inch TL), 1 fish possession limit (-24 fish), and
an open season from May 22 through October 11 and November 1 through December 31;

what a crock of %$%$%$%$! Sure wish these guys would pull their heads out of their asses.. maybe actually try fishing for them.. then they will see the true condition of the stocks..

[missing link]

I'll go for the 5 fish limit for REC ,I don't put fish in the freezer, I catch so many shorts , and I will hold out for a big one and toss a just legal one back,
such a tasty fish the colors of a male with the big hump just a pic of a fish like that makes me happy
LINK ,
Happy Thanksgiving everyone

[robc22]

Originally Posted by missing link

I'll go for the 5 fish limit for REC ,I don't put fish in the freezer, I catch so many shorts , and I will hold out for a big one and toss a just legal one back,
such a tasty fish the colors of a male with the big hump just a pic of a fish like that makes me happy
LINK ,
Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Not enough fish.......it's starting to cost big buck to run the boat for the day.....10 fish minimum........

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by robc22

Not enough fish.......it's starting to cost big buck to run the boat for the day.....10 fish minimum........

Right because limits should be based on how much it costs fishermen to go after the species. How about this? If regulators feel that the limits need to be reduced below what's "worth it", they just close the season?

Does anyone have any actual science behind these proposals - good or bad?

[robc22]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Right because limits should be based on how much it costs fishermen to go after the species. How about this? If regulators feel that the limits need to be reduced below what's "worth it", they just close the season?

Does anyone have any actual science behind these proposals - good or bad?

Ya.....those fishermen and boat owners also happen to be voters,taxpayers and citizens.........so the question I put to you johhny boy is do we manage the fish stocks for the good of the people and the commonwealth or just for the health of the fish stocks unto it's self?

[big jay]

NMFS is now run by the Pew Foundation and they're very simple goal is to stop all fishing.
Get used to it.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by big jay

NMFS is now run by the Pew Foundation and they're very simple goal is to stop all fishing.
Get used to it.

A bit simplistic I think, but worthy of some discussion.

Actually, the Pew Trusts (at least as I understand it and that is not all that well) exist to create a counterbalance to the economic interests that favor over-exploitation of environmental resources. It funds many groups. Some are indeed radically anti-use, but others....and I think the CLF is one.....are more balanced. Their interest seems to be in restoring fish populations closer to pre-industrial fishing levels. Fishing is not an issue for them if it can be done responsibly, but preserving someone's "right" to fish or make a living fishing is not their priority......restoring fish populations is.

From a recreational (or consumer) standpoint it is hard to see how more abundant fish would be a bad thing. The issue is access to those fish. MPA's are coming in the areas we fish (just ask the guys in California). If fishermen, both recreational and commercial, had been able to control their greed and fish more responsibly MPA's would not be necessary. We can't....so we will get screwed.......and we have only ourselves (not the Pew Trust) to blame.

[Sea Dangles]

MPA?

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

MPA?

Marine protection area. A huge block of water that no one is allowed to fish in. It's like a bird sanctuary.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[niko]

it's amazing to see what a mpa does for an area. the way life bounces back is truely amazing. one of the problems with them though is that other areas get hammered with all the fishing pressure that gets shifted to them. as an angler it would be very sad to see stellwagen as an mpa - which is what they want. there's got to be a happy medium

[robc22]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

MPA?

MPA=Maximum Protection from Anglers.......

[Adam_777]

They start small and eventually they'll take it all.Only thing everyone in their fancy boats will be able to do in a few years is have lunch and pull water skis.Sell the boats, the cost per trip/slip to try and pay for the amount of fish means nothing to these people in charge.NOTHING.Boat yards will see less $$ shops at the boat yards see less $$$.The bait guy gets less $$$.We are losing it all little by little.Seems like there's not much we can do about it.....

[JohnR]

I agree we're losing little by little, death by 1,000 cuts. However, we have also from time to time been the excessive ones impacting too much. Unfortunately, fisheries management is far from a well oiled (and accurate) machine.