all these big fish being caught-

[Nebe]

Imagine if fish like this were more plentiful. I keep thinking about how successful the redfish fishery is down south- you can keep one small one, or a huge one and everything inbetween goes back, plus there is no comercial sales of them.. Huge ones are not uncommon because there are so many fish in the 'must release' stocks that they can breed, and grow to be trophies..


Just a thought-

[JFigliuolo]

I lived down south before the rebound. It's been amazing since. I'd like to see the same regs for bass up here. I'm a big fan of a slot limit.

[JohnR]

Just a thought, IMO there should be a reduction in both recreational and commercial fish takes and an emphasis on protecting the bait. That last part is somewhat being done (herring and menhaden) and hopefully the forage will come back.

The next step is to see where the current regs on Bass go. If that biomas drops, the triggers should kick in with a reduction on the fisheries.

I'm most concerned with missing year classes. How many schoolie range sizes seem to be missing?

[Nebe]

I saadlly think that 2 at 28 is going to be very hard to change- lets face it.. the rec fishery is corrupt, as there are so many recreational fishermen who are making money off of these fish.. How do we convince charter captians that a dead fish is worth less than a fish that is alive?? For example a charter of 4, plus a captian and 2 mates goes out and the boat comes back with 14 fish.. the extra fish gets sold at market, the paying people take home their fish.. its a system not of enjoyment, but of paybacks, be it food or money..

the definition of recreation should be looked up by anyone who profits off of this fishery- lure makers, lecturers, writers,charter captains, tackleshop owners.. These are the people who should realize the most that the overall health of the stocks should not be taken for granted.
Sadly when there is a run of large fish like what seems to be happening now, there is a gold rush of sorts to seek and destroy the largest one. jealousy, greed, insecurity all play great rolls when big fish are around, but in rare #'s....

again just a thought. I do not view the killing of the 75 from block island as a bad thing, but what I do view it as is a warning sign, and would only hope that more people grasp the reality of the fact that there could be more of these fish if the regs were changed in the bass's favor...

I agree with you john, protect the bait.. but I dont agree with the way RISAA tried to protect it.. if your going to protect it, protect it... no 'fish grabs'....

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Nebe

I saadlly think that 2 at 28 is going to be very hard to change- lets face it.. the rec fishery is corrupt, as there are so many recreational fishermen who are making money off of these fish.. How do we convince charter captians that a dead fish is worth less than a fish that is alive?? For example a charter of 4, plus a captian and 2 mates goes out and the boat comes back with 14 fish.. the extra fish gets sold at market, the paying people take home their fish.. its a system not of enjoyment, but of paybacks, be it food or money..

You don't.
They have their minds set.

I'm sure at least one comm will come on this thread and blow up about how everything is fine and dandy.

The world needs more charter captains like Terry who embrace catch and release for the most part.

[Nebe]

There is a saying I like- 'A penny wise and a Pound foolish' Its British, so the translation is 'a penny wise and a dollar foolish'.. The recreational and commercial fishermen who are making $$ from killing bass now are only fooling themselves...

[likwid]

Blinders.

[PaulS]

The way I look at it is that I have a $1,000 of gear with me. I'd rather spend $20 for some fish in the store, release what I have at the end of my line and catch it again. It wouldn't bother me if they banned ANY keeping of SB.

[ThrowingTimber]

Gamefish status and just take the price tag off the fishes head. Theyre worth more alive than they are in a market be it a fair or black market.


I think Maine's slot is the best thing going. BUT it would have to be enforced, with all the double dipping on catches etc and taking of small fish and guys who want to play commercial fisherman because they think they look cute in bibs enforcement would be key.

The new enforcement guy in southern maine hands out his card with 6 contact #'s to the good guys and he says if you see anything I dont care when it is call me. Hit every number until you get me I'll be there in 20minutes.

Enforecement with the type of dedication is what we would need in RI to enforce a slot such as maine currently has in effect.

[Rockport24]

I totally agree, but is redfish as sought after as the striped bass in the culinary world? as we all know, if the demand is there commerically, it will never end

[RIROCKHOUND]

I still have no problem with some commercial take.
it is vastly smaller than rec.

1 fish 36" is my new mantra.
But your right; a lot of the rec community has a hard time catching 36" fish, so they like 2@28!

John; F- SB stickers, lets get one that says 1 @ 36"

[lurch]

my understanding is that there is a TON of bait around so with the natural order of things that would tell me that there are less predators to keep the bait in check. I am no expert but is this a sign that the SB stock is in decline?

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

I totally agree, but is redfish as sought after as the striped bass in the culinary world? as we all know, if the demand is there commerically, it will never end

more so...

[Clammer]

beginiing of the end :;

exact senerio of the why it went down in the 70<s

believe me >>>

[piemma]

Do you guys realize that one (and only 0ne) of the reasons that these big fish are around is due to the Moritorium that some of us lived thru in the 80s?

No Bass keepers. 1, 36 inches, 1, 34 inches, 1 29 inches, 1, 28 inches and then this stupid 2, 28. Who the hell needs to kill 28" fish and who the hell needs 2, 28s.

Let's get a push to make it 1, 36 and end it at that. You will never get a total catch and release. Make the Striped bass a Game fish so there is no commercial market, legal or black for the fish.

[Nebe]

Amen Paul!!

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

more so...

well in that case we have a lot of work to do to get this fishery to that point

I am for increased regulation, though I don't really buy that we are in a heavy decline, as I understand it, before the moratorium only big fish were around, I gots plenty of schoolies up around me. Schoolies are more the norm around here guys, maybe not in RI, but we have a lot of fish in the 18-30 inch range

[Grapenuts]

Define "gamefish status"...one must be carefull with these two words...you'll have peta joining in ..

I totally agree on the charter boats...no selling of any extra fish period.Back in the water they go.Alive.

I'm on the fence about comm.'s...it's the turd's that don't play by the rules..when caught...they should be stripped of everything/gear/boat/ and no more lisc. for 99 years.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

I totally agree, but is redfish as sought after as the striped bass in the culinary world? as we all know, if the demand is there commerically, it will never end

It's was all the rage in the 80's blackened Redfish. So bad they had to put a moratorium in place for a few eyars.

[1dozenraw]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Gamefish status and just take the price tag off the fishes head. Theyre worth more alive than they are in a market be it a fair or black market.


I think Maine's slot is the best thing going. BUT it would have to be enforced, with all the double dipping on catches etc and taking of small fish and guys who want to play commercial fisherman because they think they look cute in bibs enforcement would be key.

The new enforcement guy in southern maine hands out his card with 6 contact #'s to the good guys and he says if you see anything I dont care when it is call me. Hit every number until you get me I'll be there in 20minutes.

Enforecement with the type of dedication is what we would need in RI to enforce a slot such as maine currently has in effect.

TT... what is the slot up there.... one 26" or less or one 40" or over?? Can't remember. There is one thing about Maine... a game warden is a serious law enforcement component up there. They take the job very seriously and the state relies heavily on their abilities, especially up north on the land owned by the logging companies. I know that when I have been there, it seemed like a good way to go. I'm headed there next week actually.... Kennebunkport area.

Nevermind... did a search and found it... on this site.

STATEWIDE REGULATIONS OPEN SEASON January 1 through December 31, inclusive (except the Kennebec watershed, see below). BAG & SIZE LIMITS A person may take and possess 1 fish per day. The fish may be between 20 and 26 inches total length, inclusive, OR 40 inches or greater in total length. TOTAL LENGTH Total length is a straight line measurement from the lower jaw to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched together. DISPOSITION Personal use only, sale is prohibited. Fish must remain whole and intact. GENERAL GEAR RESTRICTIONS Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped bass.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by 1dozenraw

STATEWIDE REGULATIONS OPEN SEASON January 1 through December 31, inclusive (except the Kennebec watershed, see below). BAG & SIZE LIMITS A person may take and possess 1 fish per day. The fish may be between 20 and 26 inches total length, inclusive, OR 40 inches or greater in total length. TOTAL LENGTH Total length is a straight line measurement from the lower jaw to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched together. DISPOSITION Personal use only, sale is prohibited. Fish must remain whole and intact. GENERAL GEAR RESTRICTIONS Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped bass.

Now those are regulations. Here in RI, its just 2@28.. because of this, people say that they are perfectly legal keeping 2 fish a day, because that is the law... however, none of that fish ever makes it into thier kitchen... but I digress..

Personally i dont think we are on a brink of a collapse, but we as a whole should have learned the lessons of the late 70's -early 80's....

[Fishpart]

Based on how few schoolies I have caught the last two years, the end is well on it's way...

[BassDawg]

Slot Limits are great and have been proven to work
for many different species, both N and S of the Mason-Dixon.

the biggest problem is with enforcement.

FL has a Zero Tolerance hammer they can throw down on
fishery offenders that allows them to take EVERYTHING attached
to the poached fish, plus fine the offender. still, when i fished there i heard of some of the "crackers" taking as many as ten reds per person in the late 80's. these guys where oblivious to the status of the fishery, grew up with the rangers, and the rest is the seeds of corruption.

none of that goes on in RI or MA, right?

hell we can't even stop the various foreign contingents from
raping the scup, fluke, and striped bass ~yes stripers~ fisheries from NJ to NH, now!!!

perhaps a liscense and stamp system to go with a slot and gamefish status would be the FIXES we need to legislate in order insure the future health of our beloved prey. although it seems like over regulation and steep prices to pay by some of us, what is the price of telling our grandkids that they'll have to wait until they're in their 30's to catch the poundage we caught in the mid 2000's??

i also agree with JohnR, in that, by protecting the forage we will serve to protect the fishery AND ~i will add~ begin to assist the bays and estuaries in their recoveries. you can cite global warming, mass population/pollution, and the cyclical nature of our seas/earth; however, a moratorium on menhaden for 3 to 5 years would do wonders for the Atlantic food chain and could significantly impact the biostatus of our precious estaurine systems. how could it not have a more positive effect than the staus quo??

does anyone think that we'll ever see the Great Silver Balls again??
i choose to believe that it's NEVER too late, and realize that it is up to our generation to take a proactive stance towards the preservation of both the fishery and the mighty Atlantic.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Gamefish status and just take the price tag off the fishes head. Theyre worth more alive than they are in a market be it a fair or black market.


I think Maine's slot is the best thing going. BUT it would have to be enforced, with all the double dipping on catches etc and taking of small fish and guys who want to play commercial fisherman because they think they look cute in bibs enforcement would be key.

The new enforcement guy in southern maine hands out his card with 6 contact #'s to the good guys and he says if you see anything I dont care when it is call me. Hit every number until you get me I'll be there in 20minutes.

Enforecement with the type of dedication is what we would need in RI to enforce a slot such as maine currently has in effect.

Gamefish status without a slot limit, or something better than 2 at 28" is elevating symbolism ahead of substance.

Commercials kill 6 million pounds coastwide, per year. Recs are estimated to kill about 28-30 million. No one really knows how much is really harvested by recs. All gamefish will do is save those 6 million pounds from being recorded as dead--it won't do a damn thing to save them from being dead.

It also won't do a damn thing about by-catch.

We have to change people's attitudes about keeping fish "just because they can".

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Mike P

We have to change people's attitudes about keeping fish "just because they can".

Exactly.

[Brian L]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

Based on how few schoolies I have caught the last two years, the end is well on it's way...

This is a little over the top and alarmist, I think. I've seen quite a few schoolies around this year. I'm curious as to where you're at? Southern RI has had plenty of packs of different size fish working their way through all summer.

If I'm just lucky as to what I've seen and there truly is a shortage of schoolies around, we'd have to look somewhere else other than the Comm. and Rec. takes on bigger fish to try and understand what the future of the fishery is.

I happen to be very friendly with a lifelong (40+ years) marine biologist who has done numerous studies on fish stocks. He claims(and it makes sense to me) that there's nothing that affects year classes of fish the way that pollution of spawning grounds does. This includes not only Stripes, but Fluke, Tautog, etc.. and any other fish that spawn in shallow inland waters. He insists the pre-moratorium fishing was more due to a polluted Chesapeake than any other factor. 50 bass dragged up on the beach dead during a blitz certainly doesn't help, of course (fewer fish returning to spawn), but I'm struggling with the notion that modest commercial catches coupled with the average recreational catch and a two fish limit will be responsible for a future destruction of the fishery.

[Brian L]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

I still have no problem with some commercial take.
it is vastly smaller than rec.

1 fish 36" is my new mantra.
But your right; a lot of the rec community has a hard time catching 36" fish, so they like 2@28!

John; F- SB stickers, lets get one that says 1 @ 36"

I like 2 @ 28 much better. I've had no problem getting the 36's, it's just that the 28's have better texture, taste better, and are a nicer eating size than the 36's. I'll release bigger fish to be able to keep smaller ones if I'm fishing solely for the dinner table. So, I can't join you in that campaign, unfortunately. Unless I'm lucky, I get out once, maybe twice a week. I like having two fish in the fridge per week, personally. Some for the grill, some to share with family and friends who enjoy fish, yet don't get the opportunity to go fishing like most of us do.

Agreed completely w-r-t the comm vs. rec take.

[Raider Ronnie]

[QUOTE=Mike P;606618]Gamefish status without a slot limit, or something better than 2 at 28" is elevating symbolism ahead of substance.

Commercials kill 6 million pounds coastwide, per year. Recs are estimated to kill about 28-30 million. No one really knows how much is really harvested by recs. All gamefish will do is save those 6 million pounds from being recorded as dead--it won't do a damn thing to save them from being dead.

It also won't do a damn thing about by-catch.



Go out to the BB bouy in the fall and you will see some (dead) bycatch!
And all those large dead bass are just left floating for shark bait.
Every year the same crap !
Guys on internet boards piss & moan once the commercial season starts,
But more bass are killed in those nets out at the BB in days compared to the whole commercial season quota!

[Brian L]

Bycatch is bad for everyone except the crabs and lobsters. :^)

There's no way anyone can tell me that their recreational success is directly related to commercial takes. There just can't be that big of a dent put in them by hook and line comms to wipe out a population. Looks like some of the numbers that guys have posted supports that.

The real shame in the bycatch is that the killed fish aren't used by anyone.

[Brian L]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Gamefish status and just take the price tag off the fishes head. Theyre worth more alive than they are in a market be it a fair or black market.


I think Maine's slot is the best thing going. BUT it would have to be enforced, with all the double dipping on catches etc and taking of small fish and guys who want to play commercial fisherman because they think they look cute in bibs enforcement would be key.

The new enforcement guy in southern maine hands out his card with 6 contact #'s to the good guys and he says if you see anything I dont care when it is call me. Hit every number until you get me I'll be there in 20minutes.

Enforecement with the type of dedication is what we would need in RI to enforce a slot such as maine currently has in effect.

RI and Maine are such completely different Striped Bass fisheries. I'm not sure you could or would need to apply the same rules and regulations for both states. There are so many more fish for a much longer period of time in RI.

Does anyone here know the prime breeding ages/size of Stripers?

Disagree w/r/t the price tag as well. You'd just be paying for them another way. More taxes, licenses, etc.. for more enforcement, etc.. Maine's got a high focus on attracting vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts. The state derives a lot of income from it, so they'd spend more dollars and time enforcing fishing and hunting regs because the return on the investment is good.(licenses, fines, tax revenue from vacationers/outdoorsmen, dollars brought into ME economy) Money would still be spent on fish that are caught, it would just be distributed into different areas.