ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS ASSESSMENT SUMMARY FOR 2013

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Mpa's work on ground fish.

I saw the writing on the wall back in '05-'07. How many times can you get skunked without coming to the conclusion that there are not as many fish around? Yes bait patterns change. I too think a moratorium is coming our way and I can't understand why the limit of 2 @28" can't be reduce to one at "36, or something... Why wait till its a serious problem?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Because like Mike said it is managed to MSY. States could alter how they manage their portion of the yield via 1@36 recreationally but odds are under the current plan if they do that recreationally they will add to commercial quota. Resulting in a net zero fish saved for future.

It is pretty telling though that in MA they re opened the fishery twice and did not fill the quota when in recent years they have always exceeded the quota.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

Because like Mike said it is managed to MSY. States could alter how they manage their portion of the yield via 1@36 recreationally but odds are under the current plan if they do that recreationally they will add to commercial quota. Resulting in a net zero fish saved for future.

It is pretty telling though that in MA they re opened the fishery twice and did not fill the quota when in recent years they have always exceeded the quota.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Not quite true. There are two Catch quotas (ACL), one for recreational and one for commercial, and in states where there is a commercial fishery one doesn't affect the other. In NY, where there is a commercial fishery the rule for recreational anglers not fishing on a charter/party boat is one fish over 28 inches and one fish over 40 inches. I believe that in Maine there is a slot limit and its not 2 at 28. So states can elect to be more conservative than 2 @ 28 without increasing the commercial limit, in that state. Of course if the population eventually grows the TAL for both recreational and commercial fisheries will eventually be increased.