2 BETWEEN 28 AND 34

[Headhunter]

I think we can discuss this at length?

[Headhunter]

Don't worrie.............about 2 more weeks and you won't hear from me again till next christmas. : )

[ivanputski]

I think its safe to say we're all "discussed-out" for a while... Its been a long road. Hahaha
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[Nebe]

I'm going to take 1 or 2 fish total this year. Last year I took zero.
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[MakoMike]

I don't even fish for them, so no worries there.

[iamskippy]

[Linesider82]

Slots are for casinos not fish, at least not right now for SB.

It places all the pressure on fish in one small age segment. Maybe, let's say if the population were at its peak again, it might help deter the trophy killing attitude inherent of the east coast SB fishermen.

Right now, at the current population levels it's a bad idea. The 2011 yoy may save fishing in general for SB at least for awhile in the years to come. A 2@28-whatever slot limit is a sure fire way to knock that year class out of the water. At least more quickly, because it would be targeting what is remaining.

A discussion like this one is worth having because solutions may present themselves or at the very least, ways in which stock depletion is less severe.

For example would the fishery be where it is now had it stayed at one fish? Maybe not but it may have placed additional pressure on prey species that the bass depend on and based on the harvest levels of prey species by large scale netters such as Omega groups, the bass might have been in the same situation by a catastrophic drop in population due to lack of forage.

Looking backwards is ok to see what has been done wrong but looking forward to solutions for long term sustainability is more important.

I have fished a lake that has slot limits for a few years now and I either catch dinks or a few monster fish but I wouldn't call it good. The title of the fishery is a trophy bass lake and that is how it's managed. The slot caters to the trophies. The very few that "make it" become protected, and just as difficult to catch as they ever were. It's just as high pressured as the ocean is these days.
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[zimmy]

1@18-27 slot for red drum is working well in nc and md. VA allows 3 @18-26, which seems like way too much, but the drum population in the chesapeake is quite healthy. A lot of anecdotal evidence against the slot comes up, but there is some strong evidence for it too. You may be right about the current state of stripersto some degree, but a 24-38 would probably be broad enough to protect breeders, reduce harvest, and prevent one year class from getting hammered. In any case, 1@28 is better than 2@28.

[Linesider82]

Originally Posted by zimmy

You may be right about the current state of stripersto some degree

Yes, maybe, maybe not.

I am not a fisheries biologist, and I also do not know how much pressure red drum see elsewhere. Florida comes to mind but I feel like there are many species of interest there. It is unfortunate that SB is our kingpin.

I wish we had tarpon, drum, snook, bones, etc to target. Could probably throw a few other species in the mix in Fla. to make it a poor comparison. I also do not know the dynamics of how many people fish from shore or boat in Fla. or the states you mentioned.

In regards to the window of opportunity here in the NEast, we all go all out during the time we have to fish. There are more good to great fishermen, and the average angler is better than they used to be. There is simply better gear, electronics, magazines, and constant information on where to catch fish to make it really bad for the fish to stand a chance.

Where is the balance in all of this? I don't know.

I'd like for it all to return to the way it was for everyone, but I think we all need to pick some key battles moving forward. At the very least for the sake of our kids to mess it up again ,