Quote:
Originally Posted by deputydog
I can't speak for the CCA but Stripers Forever has no position on bag limits and never has. Many members favor a slot limit in the 20-26" range or a trophy fish, but the organization's only official goal is game fish status (no commercial harvest)
As for the assertion that CCA has supported the opening of the EEZ, that's also incorrect. CCA pushed hard to keep it closed for all fishermen, recs and comms. So did Stripers Forever.
The notion that this move is a sneaky way of getting the EEZ open for recs after shutting it permanently for commercial fishing is just that, a notion. The comments received by NMFS regarding the reopening of the EEZ were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping it closed, and I mean 90% territory
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Right there is my BIGGEST problem with these org's.
No reduction in bag for stripers (for recs) but a complete clousre for commercials
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Why do commercials take the only hit?
If changes need to be made, do it on both sides of the ball. Bycatch and others are issues, but like flap mentioned, let's get it back to full-time commercial guys. Their catch is still remarkably lower than rec take. We need to tighten up the commercial regs (I sat in a meeting last year next to DZ and we were both amazed that a CT guys can still hold a RI commercial striper license... something aint right there.) AND drop the bag and up the size to1 fish @ 36". Unless the biology shows me otherwise (and I'm not smart enough to understand detailed fish biology) a slot limit is tougher to enforce, encourages more small fish poaching and is probably only supported by the light-tackle schoolie crowd who couldnt catch a 36" fish...
rant over
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