Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass

[Mr. Sandman]

I am sorry you resent my generalisation about comm fishermen. I think it is fairly accurate. Having gone to many of the various public meetings when options were being discussed as what may happen during the problem days, I heard from many outspoken comm fishermen first hand in the public forums. They wanted to continue fishing commercially inspite of the drastic situation bass were in. They wanted to give up nothing!! And the state was appearing sympathetic. It wasn't until the government literally forced the closure that the DMF had no choice to close comm bass fishing in MA, and they were quick to re-open it to pre-closure levels as soon as they could.
More recently, when they wanted to move the MA comm limit from 50 to something lower like 10 fish/day the outcry was outrageous and it legislated to (only) 30. Where is the science in this? Just because a bunch of guys cry about it the DMF changes its recommendation?? This is a joke. They should not be listening to the fishermen who are soley acting to protect their selfish interest. They should set the proper rules for a healthy fishery and enforce fisherman to comply. Do what is right and the hell with weekend yahoos. If you don't like it , get a land job

This is what makes the DMF so laughable, they pat themselves on their own back for what a great job they did for saving the SB, yet THEY were part of the problem!! If they were actually managing the resources properly we would never have to endure such draconian action like a complete moratorium. Your right, I do critique the DMF and the main reason is because they are in bed with the commercial interest and are trying to squeeze every last drop of a resource of unknown size and health. They are not conservative enough IMO. I would like to err on the side of caution and never have to resort to such harsh and knee jerk regulations.
How come Comm R&R don't complain about the by-catch discard of SB by draggers? I bet if that catch was forced to be sold rather than dumped and come off the commercial quota the R&R bass guys would be screaming bloody murder that "these guys are taking our fish". But instead they get dumped overboard dead, unaccounted for and as long as it doesn't effect this weeks paycheck don't worry about it. Face it, Commercial SB fishermen really don't care about protecting much of anything.

[sokinwet]

Hey Sandman - As I said...seen your posts before...lots of the same old IMO's here. You know what they say about opinions. Quick question for you...how many more fish does it take to reach the lb. quota @ 50 per day as opposed to 30 per day? I assume your background is in marine fisheries or psychology as you seem to know everything about how fisheries should be managed and how everyone else thinks......or should be thinking. I'm pretty sure you don't have a degree in math.

And..I have a land job already thanks. As a matter of fact I have 2 jobs in the summer....you know "greedy recreational fisherman " as Mike T. calls us. Funny thing is I never would have got job #1 (land job) if I hadn't paid for school with job #2 (GRF)...wait... does that mean job #2 really is job #1?? Maybe I am a REAL COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN after all! Thank goodness...for a while there I thought I might be entering the wrong occupational code on my 1040 Sched. C when I'm paying my taxes on my GRF business income!

PS You know guys..I really tried to change. I had a PT job as a nail banger but someone started bitching about me taking food out of the mouth of the pro nail banger down the street.

[Crafty Angler]

This thread reminds me of a good barroom brawl and after 25 years in the business I've seen more than one New Bedford squaredance break out...

Now that the combatants have pretty much finished beating the Jehovah out of each other after Mike stepped in as bouncer, there are some obvious conclusions

To a man, there seems to be little disagreement that the inshore striped bass fishery is in trouble and I hear that opinion from a pretty broad range of veteran surfmen that I respect. These are men with 30, 40 and in some cases more than 50 years in the fishery, both recreationally and commercially, and there are few, if any, substitutes for that kind of historical perspective.

Ultimately, whether you like it or not, striped bass are a shared resource and Stripers Forever is attempting an exclusive resource grab for the recreational sector. Period.

If - and this is really the fly in the ointment - if the data gathered from recreational licensing goes as expected, I think the recreational side - of which I am a member - is going to be in denial for some time to come over the facts

No one is blameless. The regulations have to be tightened and both sides have to take a hit and take the pain - the alternative is going to be a moritorium which will serve no one user group's best interests

And since I don't have a dog in the fight financially on either side, I don't have to "be careful" - I don't run a charter operation, don't manufacture or sell striped bass plugs, tackle, waders, bags, titanium pliers, books, flip-flops or any of the other accoutrements that mark your standing as a seasoned and knowledgeable sharpie

Nor do I have a commercial license, although I have many friends who do and that is their right regarding a shared resource

Money, as we all know, is at the root of all evil - although at this point in my life I've come to realize that ego and a deep-seated need for external validation is a pretty frigging close second

[maddmatt]

Originally Posted by Crafty Angler

This thread reminds me of a good barroom brawl and after 25 years in the business I've seen more than one New Bedford squaredance break out...

Now that the combatants have pretty much finished beating the Jehovah out of each other after Mike stepped in as bouncer, there are some obvious conclusions

To a man, there seems to be little disagreement that the inshore striped bass fishery is in trouble and I hear that opinion from a pretty broad range of veteran surfmen that I respect. These are men with 30, 40 and in some cases more than 50 years in the fishery, both recreationally and commercially, and there are few, if any, substitutes for that kind of historical perspective.

Ultimately, whether you like it or not, striped bass are a shared resource and Stripers Forever is attempting an exclusive resource grab for the recreational sector. Period.

If - and this is really the fly in the ointment - if the data gathered from recreational licensing goes as expected, I think the recreational side - of which I am a member - is going to be in denial for some time to come over the facts

No one is blameless. The regulations have to be tightened and both sides have to take a hit and take the pain - the alternative is going to be a moritorium which will serve no one user group's best interests

And since I don't have a dog in the fight financially on either side, I don't have to "be careful" - I don't run a charter operation, don't manufacture or sell striped bass plugs, tackle, waders, bags, titanium pliers, books, flip-flops or any of the other accoutrements that mark your standing as a seasoned and knowledgeable sharpie

Nor do I have a commercial license, although I have many friends who do and that is their right regarding a shared resource

Money, as we all know, is at the root of all evil - although at this point in my life I've come to realize that ego and a deep-seated need for external validation is a pretty frigging close second

THAT was really good!

[Back Beach]

I just received my commercial license renewal in the mail yesterday. Given there's 3700 or so licenses issued at $ 65 each it amounts to roughly 240K in revenue for the state. I don't see them stopping commercial sale of bass for 2010 at this point given the impending winfall.I think if the gamefish bill gets passed it wouldn't be implemented until 2011 at least.

Just a thought from one of the 3600 or so "recrimercial" fisherman in Mass.

[CowHunter]

Mine is $470.00... Moving to Mass when I retire!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by CowHunter

Mine is $470.00... Moving to Mass when I retire!

Why so much? I thought the out of state was like $150?

[CowHunter]

Out of State Boat, Charter, Striped bass, Seabass, Scup endorsements.... Mass Raises more than people think on license fees...

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by CowHunter

Mass Raises more than people think on license fees...

In keeping with the context of this thread its probably 240K or so just for striped bass endorsements. Licensing revenue overall would obviously have to be substantially higher.

[CowHunter]

Yes it is true, but some people only get a license for the striped bass endorsement ONLY, fees being much higher for boat...