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I believe the total bass KILLED (not just sold thru the quota) by ALL comm fishing (netting by-catch discard, illegal, undersized, EEZ fish, yoyo rig mortality, and charter boats (which are a comm enterprise) etc) exceeds the rec catch today by a wide margin
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I am pretty sure that charter boat mortality is tabbed as recreational fish by ASMFC...and that is why a portion of the rec mortality figures are high; no one ever seems to mentioned that in the rec vs comm controversy. Most charter customers aren't going to release their catch after paying their fees. I have nothing against the charter industry ( I know many); it just has to be reported on the number of fish they catch (from Virginia to Maine)....and I am sure they are totally against 1 fish per day bag limits...it would kill their already tenuous situation (economy/fuel, i.e., etc)...I don't think many patrons would pay upwards of $800 to charter a boat for 1 fish each....
There are many economic/social issues and slants involved with the striped bass fishery industry (and it is an industry); because of its recovery it HAS become the fish of note on the East coast...everybody fishes for them at the expense of most others...(fluke, bottom fish, tuna, bluefish)....
Also, the striped bass has been a commercial fishery since the pilgrims bartered with the indians (a little poignant humor here)
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