Wal-Mart Striper Series, Big $$$$

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Slinger

All they needed was a permit to high grade from Mass, so I guess they got it.
Slinger

Slinger - your reference to high grade, what exactly does that mean?

[Clogston29]

Does anyone know if they are planning on tagging any of the released fish to try to come up with a mortality rate of bass kept alive in those tubes. Might be a good idea just for information purposes. I'd be curious to see the results and how they compare to mortality rate studies that have previously done for catch and release with stripers. By the way, I applaud their efforts to run a responsible tournament and this post was in no way supposed to come off as an attack (things don't always come out right when typed and I just want to be clear).

[BigBo]

In MA it is illegal to keep a Striped Bass alive with the intent to High Grade. ie; release the first fish in favor of a larger fish caught at a later time. High Grading or the intent to High Grade is illegal in MA.
But, I'm guessing they will give permits to allow it? I've never heard of that happening.

[JohnR]

My understanding is that they have achieved a waiver during the tournament for those participating...

[Mike P]

It's illegal to keep a bass alive in Mass, period. Keeping one on a stringer, or in a livewell, is deemed per se evidence that you're engaging in high-grading.

322 CMR 6.07(5)(e):

(e) To prohibit the practice of high-grading as defined in 322 CMR 6.07(2) recreational fishermen may not retain legal-sized striped bass and release said fish in favor of another larger legal-sized striped bass captured subsequently. Any legal-sized fish not immediately released into the water and held by stringer, live-well or another means shall be considered intent to high-grade

322 CMR 6.07(7)(g):

(7) Prohibitions. It shall be unlawful for:

(g) a recreational fisherman to "high-grade" striped bass or to keep striped bass alive in the water by attaching a line or chain to the fish or placing the fish in a live-well or holding car.

[JeffH]

What a great concept in which you are rewarded for being an average fisherman by the need to target slot fish. If you do manage to catch a few slot fish it's then dumb luck if you get a fat slot fish.
The one that was held in CT had a bunch of boats trolling tubes tipped with Berkley Power Sandworms, what tremendous fishing skills that requires. Many of the boatscame in with no fish. It should be a no trolling tournament.................

[Johnny C]

F wal mart.