2018 MV Derby

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by DZ

What did the derby do when the bass swooned in the 1980s? I know the RI Striper Tournament dropped them as a species for a few seasons. Became bluefish only.

Derby dropped the bass as well for several years.

[Fish On]

Very,very few bass are wasted as most are filleted and donated or eaten by the fisherman/woman. All state limits are stickly adhered to and are sometimes even more strict for the derby. I've presonally watched so many youngsters lift their fish up to the counter and hand it to Charlie. It's not about the shot at a mystery prize for them.

I don't believe the numbers caught and eaten during the derby make any signifcant impact to the fishery and if anything teach youngersters about limits and why they exist. Even when stripers were pulled from the derby in the 80's it was more in a show of support for the fishery but likely made little to no impact on it's revival imho.

The seals make a far greater negative impact on the striper population as well as to bring in the Great Whites that put our bathers at risk. Thinning the seal population in a humane way should be considered frommultiple perpspectives.

[JohnR]

I think the Derby can tweak the rules and find ways to reduce pressure on the bass .


Great job for those of you that went!!!