Hey! They are burning me in effigy on FFSW cause I joined this discussion. But the thought of making it a gamefish is just ridiculous. Just cause commercial fisheries for groundfish are F$%^@! up doesn't mean that the current bass situation has anything remotely to do with commercial fishing. It's fishing pressure in general and the biggie that everyone of the so-called righteous sportfisherman seem to conviently forget "LACK OF SUITABLE BAIT".
Duh!!!!!! Look at the canal this year so far, poor herring runs (decimated by sportfisherman I might add) The last time recordable numbers of adult pogies was seen around the cape has been ten years or so now maybe longer. Seen a whiting in the canal in the last twenty years? No. The commercial fishing catch is tightly regulated, christ, it's been since 1937 since haul seining was stopped and the bass is now recognized as the most studied, most regulated fishery in Massachusetts waters. We know how nay the commercials take yet any guess as to the take of sportfishers is just that, a guess. Giime a break. Sportfish status? Time to join the Stripers Forever crowd with thier junk science to back up thier claims. One over 36 will get you better fishing thats true but without the large bait that 36 inch fish will go 16 instead of twenty five like they used too when we had big bait. Can't see the forest from the trees and the debate goes on. What a waste of breath. Save the bait the bass can take care of themselves.
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