Wal-Mart Striper Series, Big $$$$

[Fisherwoman]

That is correct SKD, we are participating!!!

[Squid kids Dad]

Good luck Jules....

[Fish_Eye]

This was as professionally run a tournament as I have ever seen. I like the fact that it’s artificial only, I love the fact that it’s a live release and I honestly feel that the attention that this brings to our sport can significantly increase our chances of getting meaningful regulations to protect them. The more people realize that there are millions of anglers that target stripers and that those millions of anglers spend big $$$ not only on tackle and boats, but on lodging, donuts, coffee, etc., the stronger the lobbying effort will become to save stripers. The slot limit does make it a nail-biting affair at the weigh in (only fractions of an ounce determine the winner in many cases) and that’s good for the camera and helps make it a more dramatic weigh in. This kind of tournament also give the non-pro angler a chance to mix it up with the big guns, especially if your local knowledge puts you over a bunch of fatties that are within the slot limit.

Is my idea of a great day on the water racing at 67mph to some distant spot through 6 foot seas because I’ve got to boat the biggest or should I say fattest striper I can cull? No way! My idea of the ideal day is one where I watch the sun come up with a good fishing buddy that also appreciates the beauty of the surrounding as well as catching fish…and oh yeah, we then proceed to catch giant cows on surface plugs. I also don’t like what tournament fishing does to ordinarily nice people…put some significant money on the line and some people go nuts and do very bad things. I’ve always been taught that the conscience is a person’s compass and I’ve seen people go way off course while in tournaments. To those who enter, good luck and good fishing.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Fish_Eye

This was as professionally run a tournament as I have ever seen. I like the fact that it’s artificial only, I love the fact that it’s a live release and I honestly feel that the attention that this brings to our sport can significantly increase our chances of getting meaningful regulations to protect them. The more people realize that there are millions of anglers that target stripers and that those millions of anglers spend big $$$ not only on tackle and boats, but on lodging, donuts, coffee, etc., the stronger the lobbying effort will become to save stripers. The slot limit does make it a nail-biting affair at the weigh in (only fractions of an ounce determine the winner in many cases) and that’s good for the camera and helps make it a more dramatic weigh in. This kind of tournament also give the non-pro angler a chance to mix it up with the big guns, especially if your local knowledge puts you over a bunch of fatties that are within the slot limit.

Is my idea of a great day on the water racing at 67mph to some distant spot through 6 foot seas because I’ve got to boat the biggest or should I say fattest striper I can cull? No way! My idea of the ideal day is one where I watch the sun come up with a good fishing buddy that also appreciates the beauty of the surrounding as well as catching fish…and oh yeah, we then proceed to catch giant cows on surface plugs. I also don’t like what tournament fishing does to ordinarily nice people…put some significant money on the line and some people go nuts and do very bad things. I’ve always been taught that the conscience is a person’s compass and I’ve seen people go way off course while in tournaments. To those who enter, good luck and good fishing.

I agree with Fish Eye Mike.
Seems like a fair format. They have boat size minimums also.One which puts my 18 fter out of the comepetion.Otherwise i would fish it.
The keep alive format is for the fishes sake not highgrading(Catch a bigger one throw the smaller one back).Which I believe is illegal in this format.So important on the water,on the spot decisions have to be made.It's a catch an release lure only format.Short of luck playing a big part in winning.As a Striped Bass fisherman, of all the contests/tourneys that are kill formats. How could this be bad???
I too could give a rats arse about walmart but if they wanna give me money to catch a fish then I'm beating em.The BASS type tours do quite a bit for conservation in their sport.Why couldn't this trickle into the salt water species.Ya the white shirts with all the lgo's an the Nascar type boats are a little overboard never mind Icconelli spinning on the deck,but the saltwater world could use a good punch in the arm to unite it's anglers.This could be just what the doctor ordered.