Is It Time for Conservation

[Clammer]

B/B

as the [old days ]

people are stating ==this is the best they have seen === well ><>< In the eyes of the beholder ;;;

Do you have any idea how many fish were caught [[BEFORE}
think about it === the gear .both fishing & electronic.s were primitive compared todays ;;;

we fished for years with no depth/fish finder == GPS didn,t exist =ranges were the way /or the nit wits dropped markers // & yes we were screwed when we couldn,t see the ranges ;;;

back then there was no closed commercial season & every state had a 16" limit except Maryland which was 12"

Now we have all different size limits / & slots /no slots . commercial /no commercial /closed // open
special sizes for special fishing // I believe & may be mistaking that the trap commercial size is smaller than R&R & Maryland still has a smaller size ;;;

We are just toooooooooooo tuned in to the fish // alot more people , boats , equipment , alot less enforcement // both rec & commercial ;;

back in the days // you had to know how to fish /or you didn,t get [ANY} ::: Now a yahoo trolls a straight bike tube on wire & catches a 60# /marks the spot with GPS & he,s a hi-liner

if it wasn,t for the electronic,s , internet , articles & ego.s ============= the majority would be yanking their chains >>>> & we have more FISH><><><

ya wanna know when it was the best =================== just before they open striper fishing up to keeping fish again // dates I can,t remember / but I do remember schools coming with the tide ,on top in the bay , not on the spring nor the fall run -==just coming ;;
I remember seeing school;s larger than any bluefish school I,ve ever seen ;;
Going to work ;;stop at this point , take a couple . run to the next ,same thing , again & again ;;coming home after work /usually between noon & one // bright sun // different tide / same results ;;; I had to leave the rods at home because I never got to work ><>><><
I know for a fact that you could get two dozen pogies /after work run down the bay // & use them up on 20-40 pound fish ;;;
I also now two guys that ran to a spot at night // & caught more 50,s & 60,s than you thought existed ..

BTW ===== .15 for bulls ,50 for bass under 6 lbs =========== some dealers wouldn,t even buy large ///

This year $3.00 P/P for any fish over 34" ================ I wonder what a 16" bass is worth ...

I guess I,m done ///just a fat ass [Belly]Clammer

[DZ]

Backbeach,
My statement "dropping the ball" was in reference to the great comeback that those past conservation measures produced. I'm just concerned that we've stopped doing what helped restore the fishery. We're resorting back to the good old days. Your point is well taken.

Clamma - what can I add - you said it all - ranges? What are they?

It's so easy now...

DZ

[Backbeach Jake]

When I first started fishing it was for dinner and freezer fillers. I was married, had a job that didn't pay squat, and Sunday dinner came from Nature. Nature also got me through the Winters. Conservation? Another word for Duty or Responsibility. Otherwise you're stealing from the planet. This rebound in stocks has been amazing, if you were trying to catch during the crash. In the OTW Cup, the cry of outrage at a two fish per week limit, the fishermen demanding it be one instead, has encouraged me that the direction of management in the striped bass is positive. Don't get me wrong there was a time when I would keep every fish in the Ocean, now ,though, I just keep what I need. Back to the subject, I think slots are the way to go. It may be complicated to some, but only if they're not future minded. IMHO breeders should breed, not feed. A tag for "Trophy" fish would be no more confusing than a tag for deer.