Hook restrictions on Striped Bass

[NEXT2NUN]

MarineFisheries Advisory

October 11, 2011



NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS:

HOOK AND LINE GEAR RESTRICTIONS IN THE STRIPED BASS FISHERY

MANDATING CIRCLE HOOKS AND PROHIBITING “YO-YO” RIGS


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Under the provisions of M.G.L. Ch 30A and pursuant to the authority found in M.G.L. Ch. 130 ss. 17A & 80, the Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) and the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFC) have scheduled two public hearings to accept comments on proposed changes to 322 CMR 6.07. To promote the conservation of the striped bass resource by reducing the discard mortality associated with certain hook and line gears, the Division of Marine Fisheries is proposing the following actions:



Mandate the use of circle hooks. Traditional “J” hooks are often swallowed by striped bass causing internal damage and increasing discard mortality. Circle hooks have demonstrated the ability to hook the fish in the mouth and thereby decrease discard mortality rates. Consequently, MarineFisheries is proposing to require both recreational and commercial fishermen fishing for or in possession of striped bass to use circle hooks when fishing with whole or cut natural bait.
Prohibit the use yo-yo rigs. “Yo-Yo” rigs and other similar gear that use natural baits rigged with embedded weights not attached to the terminal tackle increase discard mortality when striped bass swallow the bait and the associated weight. MarineFisheries is proposing to prohibit the use of this gear by both recreational and commercial fishermen.


Two public hearings have been scheduled:

November 29, 2011 at 6 PM at the CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923.

November 30, 2011 at 6 PM at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.



Public comments will be accepted until 5PM on December 2, 2011. Please e-mail all public comments to marine.fisheries@state.ma.us or jared.silva@state.ma.us or send to 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114.

For further information please contact Jared Silva by phone (617-626-1534) or through e-mail (jared.silva@state.ma.us), or visit our website (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries). You may obtain a copy of the draft regulations here.

[tattoobob]

You forgot this part

Prohibit the use yo-yo rigs. “Yo-Yo” rigs and other similar gear that use natural baits rigged with embedded weights not attached to the terminal tackle increase discard mortality when striped bass swallow the bait and the associated weight. MarineFisheries is proposing to prohibit the use of this gear by both recreational and commercial fishermen.

[JohnnyD]

This will be like putting a band-aid on a severed leg.

[toaster816]

...Because gut hooked bass are the reason for deteriorated stocks...can't be the worthless recreational and commercial regulations. Morons.

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by toaster816

...Because gut hooked bass are the reason for deteriorated stocks...can't be the worthless recreational and commercial regulations. Morons.

x2
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[redlite]

The hook manufacturers will sue the gubberment to stop banning the use of most of their products........$$$$$$$$

[Piscator]

Originally Posted by redlite

The hook manufacturers will sue the gubberment to stop banning the use of most of their products........$$$$$$$$

Or, the price of circle hooks go through the roof to make up for lost sales.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[likwid]

Originally Posted by toaster816

...Because gut hooked bass are the reason for deteriorated stocks...can't be the worthless recreational and commercial regulations. Morons.

Obviously making people switch to circle hooks for bait is a bad thing. You'll never be able to catch a fish ever again right?

They do nothing, people bitch. They do something, people bitch. Who are the morons again?

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by likwid

Obviously making people switch to circle hooks for bait is a bad thing. You'll never be able to catch a fish ever again right?

They do nothing, people bitch. They do something, people bitch. Who are the morons again?

Be serious!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[toaster816]

Originally Posted by likwid

Obviously making people switch to circle hooks for bait is a bad thing. You'll never be able to catch a fish ever again right?

They do nothing, people bitch. They do something, people bitch. Who are the morons again?

I use circle hooks, silly goose.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by likwid

Obviously making people switch to circle hooks for bait is a bad thing. You'll never be able to catch a fish ever again right?

They do nothing, people bitch. They do something, people bitch. Who are the morons again?

Something isn't always better than nothing. Now they can say "see, we are taking steps to preserve the species" even though this potential regulation is relatively meaningless in the grand picture.

If they really see problems with the striped bass stocks, they'd move to a one fish per day standard.

They should just move towards a tag system and be done with it. Buy your license and receive 5 tags. Direct, quantitative evidence to how many fish really are being killed with a simple way of managing how many are taken out of the water. Enough screwing around.

[big jay]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

They should just move towards a tag system and be done with it. Buy your license and receive 5 tags. Direct, quantitative evidence to how many fish really are being killed with a simple way of managing how many are taken out of the water. Enough screwing around.

That's great - piss on a positive step, and counter with something ridiculous.

Likwid is right (I can't believe I just said that) - you guys piss and moan when nothing is done, and bitch even louder when something is proposed.

[thefishingfreak]

Ban hooks all together
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Mike J.]

Will a circle hook function properly on a tube n worm rig???

And if you attach the weight on a Yo-Yo rig to the terminal gear with Braided line then it will be legal to Yo-Yo ?

[sokinwet]

While circle hooks may have their place for chunking they are virtually worthless for many other types of fishing. Try slow trolling live bait, fishing a tube, etc with a circle hook and see how that works out for you. My guess is the same crybabys who can't catch a fish now will be joined by the rest of us who won't be able to hook a fish. Try setting the hook when you get a hit.....works wonders.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

While circle hooks may have their place for chunking they are virtually worthless for many other types of fishing. Try slow trolling live bait, fishing a tube, etc with a circle hook and see how that works out for you. My guess is the same crybabys who can't catch a fish now will be joined by the rest of us who won't be able to hook a fish. Try setting the hook when you get a hit.....works wonders.

Billfish tournaments all require circle hooks with bait, live or rigged.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by likwid

Billfish tournaments all require circle hooks with bait, live or rigged.

I fished for Sailfish in FL and we "kited" live blue runners
We used nothing but circle hooks. Tally was 3 "sails" and 1 white marlin all on circle hooks
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[likwid]

Originally Posted by piemma

I fished for Sailfish in FL and we "kited" live blue runners
We used nothing but circle hooks. Tally was 3 "sails" and 1 white marlin all on circle hooks
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Unpossible!

[sokinwet]

"Billfish tournaments all require circle hooks with bait, live or rigged."Good... you use em! I'll stick with a treble w/treble stinger like I have for the last 40 yrs. I "like" to set the hook...one of the more exiting parts of the catch to me. I believe the problem with gut hooking is letting the fish "take" the bait. When you feel a tap a big bass has that bait....they don't bite it, they inhale it. Stick em immediatly and a majority of the time the hook is right in the mouth. Feed them line, count to ten, etc. and they're gut hooked.