Is It Time for Conservation

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I hear ya old man. I would have started in 1970, but I was in diapers. 1980 was just about the modern day bottom for the bass stocks though.Some day I'll look back and call today the good old days.

Hey Clammer. I knew Back Beach when it WAS good on the Back Beaches. That's where I met him years ago and we did have nights of 30 and 40 fish from 20 to 40 lbs. I don't see that happening anymore. I think the Cape downturn is due mostly to the seals. There isn't as many big sandeels as there use to be either.

I think the RI scene is still viable. You just gotta work for the fish. July and August have always been the "Summer Doldrums". Eels in the middle of the night have always been the ticket. So what's changed??? I think that we had a good Spring run (I know my partner and I did) and perhaps guys got spoiled. These are always the toughest 2 months. If you want large you just have to loose sleep and crawl the dark hours with eels. So nothing is different. I am willing to bet that in 2 months (Sept 20th) you will see tons of big fish being caught in the surf. It's always been that way.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

first off i would have to say that anyone who has spent enough time on the water will tell you that just because there are a lot of fish today doesn't mean there will lots tommorrow.every fish keep today is one less tomorrow. i haven't fished from a boat much in the last ten years so i can't say how good or bad it really is.i do know what it was like in the 60's and 70's and i serouisly doubt that the number of fish between 20 and 60 lbs is anywheres near what it was back then.if the boat guys are doing as good as everyone says doesn't that give you an indication that maybe too many fish are being killed, idoubt that many people in the real world practice C@R like the guys on these boards do. i like to eat fish so i keep my share to eat fresh.i am curouis if the boat guys are doing well because there are a lot of fish to catch or are they just catching fish because of there mobility and abilitly to stay on fish if and when they find them.

[baldwin]

I myself practice catch and release for stripers, but I would be happy with a slot length for those who want to keep some for the table. I have problems with those who kill for show-and-tell, but keeping one or two at 24" - 30" would leave those that make it past there to contribute large, healthy, viable eggs. I know and work with NMFS scientists who advocate this practice.
I agree 100% with the previous post that said that every bass released is another to be caught. A good striper is too valuable to be caught only once.

[Pete_G]

As several have mentioned, the boat game has changed SO much in the past few years in particular due to the widespread availability of great GPS units.

Anyone can eventually find the BEST spots anywhere they fish very easily. Just take a look at your GPS, find sharp changes in structure, park your boat near it, throw some plugs at it or pull a tube past it, and usually you'll catch a fish. Or just pick up and move to the next good looking spot. Even an every other week boat fisherman can catch big fish easily now. Obviously before GPS things were a little tougher out there.

I've spent enough time fishing off Newport that thanks to staring at the GPS and the fish finder I literally have almost square foot of real estate you can put a boat over memorized. Think I have an advantage over guys fishing before electronics?

There are many spots and small features that the GPS doesn't reveal and that is still partly what separates one angler from another, but overall it's damn accurate. In tandem with a fish finder anyone can get educated about the bottom of the ocean very easily.

Boat fishing is MUCH easier then it used to be and a whole lot easier then surf fishing simply due to the mobility.