Striper Cup Discussion/Questions

[chefchris401]

I have a few questions about the Striper Cup.

I'm mainly a catch and release guy, might keep 2 fish a season. I broke my pb 3 times last season and all where released.

As a fisherman it's your right to keep any legal fish you want and I have no issues with that.

How do the standings work?

First place had 555.34, 2nd was 501.84 and 3rd was 500.01 which was team sb.

So each fish is multiplied by 1.18 or 1.2?

So to make a fish count wouldn't it need to be over 40 pounds to make it count in the standings?

I'm not joining the cup I just want to know how it works.

Seems like a lot of good sized breeder fish die just to be bumped out of the standings.

Someone shed some light on this for me?

[JackK]

Definitely... It's really not worth weighing in anything less than a high thirty/low forty. Surf fish are have the multiplier attached, but not boat. So a high thirty from the surf is worth more than a low forty from the boat.

But you're always going to have guys trying for the weekly/monthly prizes... Especially with prizes like VS's on the line.

From a purely competitive view, if TRD fishes like they did last year, it's going to be really tough for any team to beat them for the title.

[Mike P]

The only time the multiplier is applied is to a shore caught fish that's entered in the team competition.

Otherwise, shore and boat anglers compete separately for weekly/monthly/Angler of the Year. They also draw separately for the grand prize--ie, all of the monthly boat and shore winners draw for the gold key, or whatever's inside the box they take.

[JohnR]

Chris - I only keep a couple per year too. I don't think a lot more fish are kept due to the tourney that would not otherwise be kept. One day of charter skippers in June probably beats the entire take of the cup.

I think we can fish it responsibly and still be competitive. The camaraderie of our team is pretty cool too.

[chefchris401]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Chris - I only keep a couple per year too. I don't think a lot more fish are kept due to the tourney that would not otherwise be kept. One day of charter skippers in June probably beats the entire take of the cup.

I think we can fish it responsibly and still be competitive. The camaraderie of our team is pretty cool too.

John I agree with pretty much everything that's been said about the cup.

The camaraderie on this site is the best around, lots of great knowledgeable people and a people who go out of their way to help you. And I'm sure the team is the same way.

I started this thread in hopes of not derailing the "who's in thread"

Seems like a lot of people have something to say whether for or against the Cup.

Like I stated before it's your right as an angler to keep any legal fish you want.

I have friends that keep their limit everytime there out fishing, the size are legal and I have no issues with that.

Would just hate to see us go down that road again from the 80s. I don't remember but it seemed like dark times and striped bass fishing is one thing I truly love and want to see continue to thrive.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

I agree, and that's why every year I have had a months long argument with myself on whether or not to field a team . In the beginning we were invited but we did not field a team because the tourney was not conservative enough. Lots of people requested a more conservative rule set. OTW delivered. They have since tightened the rules one more time to further reduce impact.

If the stock assessments come out very poorly this summer, this will probably be our last year fishing the cup until things improve unless there is significant changes to the rules to further conservation.

Everything hinges on that stock assessment this summer.

In the meantime, we try to practice less harmful methods as a team.

Originally Posted by chefchris401

John I agree with pretty much everything that's been said about the cup.

The camaraderie on this site is the best around, lots of great knowledgeable people and a people who go out of their way to help you. And I'm sure the team is the same way.

I started this thread in hopes of not derailing the "who's in thread"

Seems like a lot of people have something to say whether for or against the Cup.

Like I stated before it's your right as an angler to keep any legal fish you want.

I have friends that keep their limit everytime there out fishing, the size are legal and I have no issues with that.

Would just hate to see us go down that road again from the 80s. I don't remember but it seemed like dark times and striped bass fishing is one thing I truly love and want to see continue to thrive.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[chefchris401]

I like the idea of daily postings by shops so people know where they stand and maybe a few fish would be spared.

With all the technology we have I see no reason they can't do it.

I mean I writing this on cell phone so we clearly have the means available.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[MAKAI]

Maybe a minimum entry weight ?
If they have one, maybe it's too low ?

[ThrowingTimber]

imo:

keep in mind that folks running around like chicken little about how "bad/Evil" this tournament is... will be the first ones out there for RI comm. striped bass season Their issue is more with recreational anglers taking dough out of their pockets by keeping their 2 legal, allowable per day fish just sayin' pick a side of the fence Then figure charters 6 pack 2 tides a day all limit out.. etc etc.. I say play by your rules and stick to them

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

Maybe a minimum entry weight ?
If they have one, maybe it's too low ?

As a team we generally shoot for high 30's low 40's. Minimun except me I suck

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

Maybe a minimum entry weight ?
If they have one, maybe it's too low ?

Yeh, we have a recommended minimum team fish weight of 35 pounds. We'll likely have some come in smaller, someone gets a 30# 2nd week of May they'll probably get some prizes.

I've seen some teams start with pretty small fish a few years back but that seems less prevalent these days.

It would be nice if there was an FLW SS style fish containment system but not not too practical for the surfcaster .

[tysdad115]

Will there be an "official" team S-B guideline out at some point? New to the team and want to play by the rules.

[fishbones]

Everyone who fishes the tournament should also keep in mind that there is a C&R division. You can submit a form and be eligible for a "pounder pin", but not any of the prizes. Not bad if you get a 30 lb fish and know that you aren't gonna weigh it for the team and want to release it.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by tysdad115

Will there be an "official" team S-B guideline out at some point? New to the team and want to play by the rules.

Yep - we'll discuss and have something before start.

Originally Posted by fishbones

Everyone who fishes the tournament should also keep in mind that there is a C&R division. You can submit a form and be eligible for a "pounder pin", but not any of the prizes. Not bad if you get a 30 lb fish and know that you aren't gonna weigh it for the team and want to release it.

I have released fish that would qualify without chasing the pin. Maybe I'll do one once this year but I've pretty much released all of them.

[DZ]

Just an observation for discussion:

An interesting fact is that the Schaeffer Fishing Contest, of which the Striper Cup was created to emulate, died a slow death with the crash of striped bass stocks in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Could history be repeating itself?

DZ

[Mr. Sandman]

If the tournament kept fish don't have impact, why would you consider not fielding a team if stock assessments are worse next year?
I would think it would be better to be pro-active and send a message than react to bad news that is almost a sure thing later this summer given what happened this winter off NC:

Coastal Fisheries Reform Group: NC Striper Slaughter; The Untold Numbers and Video!

[wrikerjr]

Originally Posted by JohnR

In the beginning we were invited but we did not field a team because the tourney was not conservative enough. Lots of people requested a more conservative rule set. OTW delivered. They have since tightened the rules one more time to further reduce impact.

John,

Would you happen to know the conservation changes that OTW went through initially and the second time. I personally do not believe they do enough for conservation with the tournament but had no idea they changed things in the past. I think this information would help me determine if OTW is a magazine I would continue to support or one that I should boycott.

Kindest,
Billy

[Saltheart]

If guys are weighing in fish on the way home and its fish they were going to keep to eat anyway then I see no issue at all. If guys are keeping fish just to weigh in for the tourney then ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them in a dumpster , that's wrong on every level and from every angle. If you catch a tourney competitive fish and keep it to weigh in , you have a moral obligation to eat it or mount it. Anyone who thinks its OK to just weigh it in then dump it is not a responsible fisherman.