Are you going to change your focus this year?

[JohnR]

With the (mild) reductions in regulations and the increased influence of Catch & Release / Reduced Pressure on the Stripers - will you change your approach to S-B fishing this year?


If so, how?

[bassballer]

i wont change mine. I dont keep alot of fish anyway so it will be status quo on my end. Try to catch big fish and release them. A 32-36" for the table every once in a while.

[BigFish]

I changed mine last season and will stick to it this season! I will only keep fish between 32 and 38 inches......all smalls and large go back in the water! Last season I only kept 3 fish as opposed to the usual 10 as I switched it up and fished freshwater from my yak 95% of the time! Fished saltwater maybe 20 times total. Figured I would do my part, however small, to give the stripers a break!

[Got Stripers]

I didn't keep any stripers last year and focus more on black sea bass or tog if I want eaters, probably will do the same this year. Might grab a striper in the 32" range if I had a big outing planned and needed to feed a larger crowd.

[Rockfish9]

Nope... no reason to change what I do... I am actually looking foreword to the season...

[JFigliuolo]

pretty much same as previous guys... I might keep 1-2 bass a year for the past couple years. UNLIKE the above I prefer to kill 28-32" fish. IMO they are better eating.

[ivanputski]

just like last year, i plan to keep only the fish that clearly will not swim away (gut hooked, non-responsive, unrevivable)

[Rockport24]

not changing my approach at all, with work and kids and everything its only a once or maybe twice a week thing for me, so I'm not doing much damage! Only keep one or two a season and will prob do the same.

[Sea Flat]

Not going to change at all. I have never kept more than one fish and only keep one to two fish a year anyway. I don't keep the biguns, I keep mid-30" fish only.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Sea Flat

Not going to change at all. I have never kept more than one fish and only keep one to two fish a year anyway. I don't keep the biguns, I keep mid-30" fish only.

X2
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[JamesJet]

I like 28-32 inch fish, and keep maybe tops 5 and probably more like 3 a year. Basically once a month if it works that way striper finds its way onto our table. If I end up with what I think is a fatal hooking I will keep it, however been jigging more from canal and boat and seem to have less of those. My family and I really like bluefish for the grill / smoker and I will keep one or two of those instead of a bass if I get one first. Agree on the seabass, they are great table fare.
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[Liv2Fish]

Tog Fluke Tuna.

[Circlehook]

I think as a whole, most serious striper fisherman really don't keep too many. I keep one or two a year, and usually, they wouldn't make it anyway.

[tattoobob]

I won't be changing anything this year, I only kept one fish in the last three years. looks like another busy summer at work so I probably won't get out as much as I'd like

[thefishingfreak]

Same plan.
Go fishing, have fun.
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[jonserfish]

no reason to change anything up due to my lack of skills and fishing knowledge

[piemma]

Originally Posted by bassballer

i wont change mine. I dont keep alot of fish anyway so it will be status quo on my end. Try to catch big fish and release them. A 32-36" for the table every once in a while.

What Jay said goes for me.

[Guppy]

Same o same o kind da,,, may slow down a bit, this solo launches with one metal knee and the other junk sucks, been wanting to spend more time with feet on the ground and this year looks like good time to start.

[PaulS]

I keep on average less than 1 fish per year so I'm not changing anything.

[Stewie]

After a dismal May at the canal, I changed my plan altogether and started fishing for trash in the daytime. Landed some impressive skate and sea robins,along with some nice scup and choggies. Ended up getting a heck of a lot more sleep too
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[Nebe]

Skate is delicious. I'd eat it over striper any day.
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[puppet]

I am trying not to target striped bass until the end of May.

Picked up the trout rod and are targeting them in place of river
holdovers and spawning fish. I have not made an effort to fish for
trout since I was a teenager. So far it has been holding my attention
because I slipped to the darkside and started flicking flies.

Its been really difficult to give up the early season striper fishing.
Torture....

I also plan to spend more time targeting fluke and weakfish than
fishing for striped bass.

I know my changes will have little impact on the fishery, but at the
same time....considering the fishery.... I really feel that the early
season fish should be protected. There are plenty rules for
protecting other fish during spawn. I sort of feel that the same
should be true for striped bass during both their spawn and
early migration. Give them some opportunity to do their thing.

[Dick Durand]

I didn't keep any bass last year; two the year before, one of which was a bleeder. Actually, I prefer fluke, BSB, and even scup. Tried and enjoyed a sea robin last year; maybe a skate this year.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I usually only keep a couple a year.....so status quo
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[JLH]

Won't change much this season. I kept two small fish last year that weren't going to make it everything else went back.

One thing I'll continue to try to do is avoid catching the really small fish which seem to be around in good numbers this year. The little ones always seem to get torn up pretty good and I never feel good about the damage done to them.

[hardcore from shore]

As usual may keep 1 bass this year (maybe not). Will concentrate on careful release, keep them in the water etc. If I do get a large fish will quickly put it on a wooden ruler (lays straight), snap photo, measure girth and revive her well before I release her. MSBA and Falmouth Fisherman both have Catch, Photograph and release tournaments. If I get into only small fish will not stay on them too long (or switch to bigger lures). Will target blues versus schoolies (and even release blues carefully too).

[shadow]

Depends if it's a hit or miss season last 6 or so years it's been very hit or miss. I always keep a few under 20 # for the table 15# to 18 preferred. Always release anything larger then that. If iam not finding fish I'll do more spot searching looking for new water. Hopefully they will be back where I left them last year.
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[bart]

I keep around 3 fish a year so my focus won't change in that regard. If anything I'm going to limit the amount of trips I make and spend more time just hanging out by the water instead of actually fishing. I'm losing the motivation to put in the necessary time to chase good fish. Most free days I'd rather relax with some good friends on a roof deck bar looking out at the water.

However, if I had a boat, that would all go out the window...

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by bart

If anything I'm going to limit the amount of trips I make and spend more time just hanging out by the water instead of actually fishing. I'm losing the motivation to put in the necessary time to chase good Fish

Translation - BARTS GOT A GIRLFRIEND
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[DZ]

If the striped bass fishery continues to tank I'll probably have a new personal best year trying new craft beers.