TWO BASS FOR RI CHARTER AND PARTY BOATS?

[hq2]

Well, just about every other SB site member has tossed in their $.02
on this. Having been a shore, kayak, and charter boat fisherman over the last 25 years or so, including the moratorium, I have seen it from many angles. So here's my take on this.

1. Two at 33" for charters won't work. Guys, the charter guys are good. Their clients want BIG fish to take home, and they know how to get them. I usually caught multiple keepers of 36" or more every time I went out. Two at 33" won't stop them any. It may even make things worse, because now they would be taking home bigger breeders who can produce more eggs. It would have to be closer to 36" or 37" to make any impact, and even that may not be enough.

2. There are other fish out there. During the moratorium, I caught a lot of blues (which unfortunately are also lacking now too). The charter guys are going to have to realize that catching stripers is a privilege, not a right, as we knew back then. There is other stuff to fish for; blues, togs, scup, black sea bass, fluke, winter flounder, albies (sometimes), weakfish (coming back in RI). The charter guys are going to have to accept the situation, and try to promote combined trips where they catch other stuff out there along with stripers in order to bring customers in. That's just the way it is. They'll have to realize it's less now or nothing later, like it is for the rest of us.