poaching and the striper cup

[Swimmer]

This is the scenario that Mr. Sandman brought up the other day in another post. Catch your two fish allowed under state law an continue fishing and culling using the legal commercial license to smoke us all. I think that no fish should be allowed to be weighed in for the OTW tourney while the commercial season is open.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

I think that no fish should be allowed to be weighed in for the OTW tourney while the commercial season is open.

That would work for a Mass-only tournament. But the OTW stretches from Maine to New Jersey. Would it be fair to close it for them?

I know this is a pipe dream, but what Mass really ought to consider is a commercial slot limit, like NY's. I think the NY commercial slot is 26" to 34", or maybe 36".

And maybe allocate tags among the existing license holders and limit new licensees. You get allocated tags based on what you reported on your annual catch report, and have to tag every fish when it's landed. DMF comes aboard, no tags, that automatically becomes a rec fish and if there are more than 2 per man, you're screwed. Use up your tags, you're done for the season. That's how NY operates. If people overstate their catches to get more tags, then the tax folks can compare what they reported on their catch reports against what was reported on their state tax return. And it will stop guys from low balling their catches.

[Gloucester2]

This guy should do the right thing and ASK to be removed from the Tournament for the good of all participants, including himself.

Sometimes ya just gotta admit ya made a mistake and take your lumps like a man.