I am SOTS: MAKE STRIPED BASS A GAMEFISH!

[SAUERKRAUT]

RIGHT NOW...this Sat. evening, the best fish dinner in town (Falmouth) is on the blackboard "Specials" menu at the humble Falmouth Grille (the former Hearth and Kettle). It is fresh caught this morning, local waters, striped bass. I sent the waitress back, twice, to make sure that the fish wasn't black sea bass, and then again to make sure that the fish wasn't farm raised striped bass, or otherwise imported. My brother ordered it, $19.95.

I called Jim Young at Eastman's to make sure my emotioal investment in this avocation of mine wasn't otherwise clouding my judgment. Then I called the DNR, 800-632-8075, and spoke to a Boston area official on the recorded line. His response was underwhelming. He lectured me that it is perfectly legal for a restaurant establishment to misrepresent their product (as "local waters and wild caught, not pen raised"); and it is perfecty legal for a restaurant to sell striped bass, unless it was harvested from local (meaning MA state) waters. I told him that a Green Uniform should show up at this restaurant at a very minimum. Maybe they will, on Monday or so. So I also called one of our local Falmouth DNR officers whom I know personally.

Here is what I see and hear on the homefront; but first, here is what I "feel": First cast, WH, 11:30 last night. Perfect tide; about 1.2 hrs. Nobody home. Then a long snotty boatride to another venue...perfect bottom of the low tide conditions. I think, but I'm not sure, some mini fish slapping at microscopic sized sand eels; but I hooked nothing on my adult sized tackle. Result: nobody home. Back just in time to drive up to the Canal for a 4:15 AM start, skinplugging 150 yards of bank at dead slack perfect conditions water to full daylight, and then doing the standard "canal thing" like the considerable number of everybody else that was there this morning. Nothing. The five fishermen to the right of me in my view: nothing. The four to the left of me, two smalls. Across the canal from me, one lucky fisherman had two fish probably 15-20 lb. class. The myriad of others over there otherwise, pretty awful. And this is by far the HOTTEST canal I have seen in almost two weeks.

Alright, so I have a monkey on my back this season, so I am told by Dave Stiff Tip, my canal guru. But this is what I'm feeling...there just isn't a lot of fish now, for all of us, and all of the geographic water environment.

So Dr. Art C. goes boat fishing Middle Ground. He's a pretty good boat fisherman. He saw one squid jump. Then he daytime plugged a huge swatch of our Elizabeths. He hooked nothing! He and Numby have had several literally sterile boat trips so far this year in Vineyard Sound.

Capt. John C. is now turning down charters because there are no fish.

So how many of YOU, my fellow friends, are having a great season this year-- honestly?

The point I want to state after this long rant is: MAKE STRIPED BASS A GAMEFISH! TAKE THE $$$ DOLLARS OFF THE HEAD OF THIS PUBLIC RESOURCE. ELIMINAATE ENTIRELY THE COMMERCIAL STRIPED BASS FISHERY INDUSTRY, THE EXISTENCE OF WHICH DENIES AND DEFIES ANY ATTEMPT AT MEANINGFUL, RESTRICTIVE FISH HARVEST LAWS OR QUOTAS, AND MAKES IRONCLAD ENFORCEMENT OF PRESENT STRIPED BASS REGULATIONS IMPOSSIBLE. GAMEFISH!