Bait shops for us and against us

[RIROCKHOUND]

Fish-eye and eddie.
One thing that gets NO MENTION is this.

First off, I'm a geologist not a biologist so this is my SWAG (scientific wild-ass guess)

The claim is that 1million pogies will filter out 31Million lbs of crap (or somewhat there about)

That is the GROSS uptake of pogies. What gets no mention is the NET benefit. My sense is that any benefit is much much smaller, maybe 10% of that 31Million pounds.... remember.. Pogies eat but Pogies SH_T too!

I think any gain, while important will probably be much less than the benefits the CSO tunnel will provide, OR if all the coastal homes on Septic in the bay are put on Sewer and treated.

I supported the bill by emailing the reps, but I am skeptical of what if any science went into this claim.

As far as the bait shops... They are entitled to their opinion. I disagree at times, and these get voiced at Advisory panel meetings or RIMFC meetings, and not patronizing them because of this isnt a great thing IMHO...

Some shops DO well w/o bait, a la SWE, but for most shops it is a very important item to have bait to sell, be it eels, pogies, squid, whatever

[Capt.Dave]

I hope I'm not out of my area here, but as a bait seller and in many cases harvester, I can't see any problem with limiting purse seining menhaden anywhere. True in my area of NJ, pogies aren't a preferred bait but in Delaware Bay and Raritan Bay they are the standard fare.

Unforutnately in those two big bays purse seining for bait is still permitted which from my understanding at least in the Raritan Bay tends to push remaining pogies north to NY along with the bass.

No mater how many sportfishermen you have those pogies are for lobster and crab bait for the most part. I don't know exactly what other gear types are permitted in Narragansett Bay, but if you take the big purse seine operations out of the equasion gill nets and cast nets can easily supply any striper bait and probably any local commercial baits you need at a higher quality.

All I know is that the more menhaden you send south the fatter the bass will be when they get here.

[CowHunter]

RI is where Jersey was just 3-5 years ago...Fighting to get the out of state Party boats out. What happened, the bunker reduction boats were booted, and the NJ coast heas been getting some of the best fishing in the spring EVER experienced. Guys that have been fishing 20, 30, 40 years have never seen some of the runs that we have been having. thats both boat and beach. Shame on the Tackle shop owners who won't stand up because they are afraid they wont have a bait supply, or because they are worried that people will be able to get their own bait. That is the Fact. Funny thing is, most people werent even using bait of the surf and there were many, 30, 40, and 50lb bass caught on plugs. Googans were bangin' 30's and 40's. Many of these fish don't even make it up North, They stay with the bait...Question...Why do you think the fishing is spiraling downward every year from the cape to Watch Hill???

Just my Humble opinion

[NIB]

I would be interesting to see what would happen north(or east or whatever upstream) of the bay if more bait could make it past the purse seiners in RI...

Davey Who??

[JHABS]

It will take more than just these Menhaden to Help the Bass..........You are Right DZ...............

[CowHunter]

So keep adding to the problem and keep killing millions of pounds of menhaden for lobster bait and keep catching anorexic bass grubbing grubbing for food....