New Striper hook rules in Maine

[stripermaineiac]

LOL WOW. I'm impressed by the number of anglers that will go against any positive action to protect even a single striper. I've got an idea let's just kill every one of them and then sit around blaming everyone else for it.1 fish a day. A 40 incher if your lucky but oooopppps we don't get them hardly anymore in Maine since the commercial rod n reel fishing started and there being a charter boat on every square foot of water south of us. Most chunkers and commercials use trebles MMMMMM wonder why they don't want to stop using trebles bait fishing.
Yes it's a very small step by a state that see's less than 1/10 of a percent of the striper landings as most other states south of us but at least we're willing to take a step towards protecting the STRIPERS.Oh that's right we already are at 1 fish a day with spawning areas closed to fishing during the spawning season and a slot limit that's reasonable. OOOOOPPPPPSSSS reasonable isn't in our language anymore just bitch an moan and do nothing to fix the problem.
I applaud what my state has done as it is an effort to try to set a trend. I'm ashamed at those who just want to complain and do nothing. Obviously many of the complainers were'nt fishing for stripers in the 70's and 80's. Ron

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by stripermaineiac

Obviously many of the complainers were'nt fishing for stripers in the 70's and 80's. Ron

I came of age in a fishing family, fishing in the late 80's and vividly remember how rare decent bass fishing was back then. Bluefish out the wazoo. bass were celebrated and gossiped about....

Talking to the older crowd, including my former surf partner. the fishery now sounds eerily like the early 1980's.


Small step, yes, but a step.

and yes, 1@36".
that was someone's signature for a while, if I recall

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

I came of age in a fishing family, fishing in the late 80's and vividly remember how rare decent bass fishing was back then. Bluefish out the wazoo. bass were celebrated and gossiped about....

Talking to the older crowd, including my former surf partner. the fishery now sounds eerily like the early 1980's.


Small step, yes, but a step.

and yes, 1@36".
that was someone's signature for a while, if I recall

How long do we go on saying it? The gods who make the laws are starting to listen but it may be too late. Those of us who lived through "No Bass" in the mid-80 to the early 90s see it happening again.

When the hell will they listen and make it 1 fish 36"? Never probably.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by stripermaineiac

I'm ashamed at those who just want to complain and do nothing. Obviously many of the complainers were'nt fishing for stripers in the 70's and 80's. Ron

Ron,
Well, I think that this may possibly be the very first time I've ever been accused of not caring or getting involved in striper conservation.

DZ

[fishbones]

By the way, Jimmy. Would it be considered irony or hypocrisy to be seen wearing a Striper Cup hat for someone who is so against the tournament? Just asking because I seem to remember seeing you with one on last year.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by fishbones

By the way, Jimmy. Would it be considered irony or hypocrisy to be seen wearing a Striper Cup hat for someone who is so against the tournament? Just asking because I seem to remember seeing you with one on last year.

I fished the cup 4 years ago, but by observing the striper population decline, I realized its not what I want to be part of. I have a dozen hats I wear, thats one of them.
maybe people see me in the hat and wish they could be as slick as I am and join the cup but I doubt it.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I fished the cup 4 years ago, but by observing the striper population decline, I realized its not what I want to be part of. I have a dozen hats I wear, thats one of them.
maybe people see me in the hat and wish they could be as slick as I am and join the cup but I doubt it.

My above post responding to your intial post was just saying that I think there's a way to still be conservation minded while participating in a tournament. They do have a catch and release category, as well.

I applaud you for switching out hooks when fishing bunker because a lot of guys fish them with trebles. My comment had nothing to do with eels v. bunker. Not sure why you made that leap? What would be dumb would be saying you don't want to kill fish, but then going and fishing bait on treble hooks.

Making circle hooks madatory may be consdiered "silly" by some, but it's a step. You know what it's like trying to get the government to do anything. I've sent letters and made phone calls on behalf of Striper conservation. Any progress is good in my mind. If the government said we could no longer keep bass, I'd be fine with it. I'd still fish.

As for you wearing the hat, to me it looks like you're supporting the Striper Cup. You're advertising for a tournament that you despise. If you have a dozen hats, you should wear another one. It's like you driving around with an Obama/Biden bumper sticker on your car.

[Mr. Sandman]

All this jaw boning about what is best for the fish and how best to protect it (while still allowing "the fishermen" to continue to do what they have been doing ) is not going to do much of anything.

IMO this is why gamefish is the way to go. It cuts thru all the crap and regulation nonsense and takes a ton of pressure off the fish. Further, simple regulations on recs ( 1@whaterever, circle hooks, etc) can control the population as needed. (whatever they may be) Again, I think we are in a serious death spiral which has been and is still being largely ignored by the "experts" and I doubt the fish will recover now without draconian measures. IMO a collapse will be good because it will demonstrate just how inept and how cavalier the fishery managers are and it could result in a top down vetting of these buffoons. These guys can't wipe their ass without getting public comments. I want to see some leadership. Stand up and simply do what is right (FOR THE FISH) and let the chips fall where they may.

I have had enough!

http://www.downside.com/bldgjump.gif

[Sea of Atlas]

The longest journey begins with a single step.

No commerical fishing, 1 fish per day, slot limit, circle hooks, reduction of treble hooks...Maine is taking its steps and if a moratorium or other such drastic measure comes in effect us Maine folk won't have any trouble falling in line. Caught a lot of "out of state" limits and released the majority of any legal fish I caught. Can't do much more here in Maine.