Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

CowHunter · 12-06-2009, 04:03 PM

Doublerunner, I commercially fish in Mass and charter up the coast. You automatically assume that NJ is all I know....I hear people everywhere blaming the commercial fishery in Mass as causing all the damage to the striped bass fishery when the fishing gets tough. There have been articles down here, written and published by those that dont have a clue. Everybody wants somebody to blame. They have no idea as to what goes on up and down the coast, they just expect to go out and catch all the striped bass they want anytime they want... Times are changing.
Numbskull, sacrifices have to be made both commercially and recrerationally to benifit the striped bass fishery. You can complain and whine all you want about bait. Truth of the matter is there are literally miles of bunker here of the NJ coast, they come on the beach from time to time, but doesnt mean the bass always do, in fact they seldom due. And for those that put their time in and understand the fishery, know when they do and capitalize on it. You cant read that in books. For many miles, that bait is unmolested, didnt mean squat for the inshore fishery. Down in VA and NC the bass are all along with the pogies, Miles and miles of them. Water temp dictates as to them coming in, truth is, they aint coming on the beach where the surf temp is 42-43 degrees. Your going to have to accept the fact that surf fishing isnt what it used to be and probably wont be for time to come. As far as the boat fishing is, it isnt easy by any means, you have to be inovative and adaptive to be consistant. U cant blame the state off striped bass on indescrimit dragging, long lining, gillnetting... The Striped Bass commercial fishery has been regulated much more stringently than the Rec Catches have. There has not been an ounce of accountability on the rec side....

Doublerunner · 12-06-2009, 04:14 PM

CH I never said NJ is all you know. That is just an assumption on your part

It's like listening to a broken record. Read back on some of my posts. I have repeatedly said we all need to work together and I am all for restrictions on the rec side as well

Reducing kill numbers needs a multi faceted approach which also includes reducing the over killing of menhaden

CowHunter · 12-06-2009, 04:31 PM

I really havent got anything else to say.... Im going down to VA this week to fish a tourney, Ill see plenty of dead 30-40 lb breeders. Then Ill be down in January for a few days to fish the midatlantic rockfish tourney, I think that tourney is good for 1000's , (30k+ easy in its hay day), of pounds of dead breeding stock bass in 3 days. Lots of 30-50lb class fish, (Although fewer every year for some strange reason) Dont worry, they dont get sold, a large portion gets wheeled off and donated to food banks, the ones that arent wieghed are fileted... People at food banks want to enjoy striped bass too!

Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout - Fishing Tournament Virginia Beach, VA

MAKAI · 12-06-2009, 05:43 PM

You are making a great argument for catch and release only across the board.
The 10% of the fishermen who catch 90% of the fish rec and com probably are not going to have as strong a say in this as you would like.
But fear not,in the true American way it will be studied and paneled to death and by then it will become a token european style fishery.

numbskull · 12-06-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowHunter

Numbskull, sacrifices have to be made both commercially and recrerationally to benifit the striped bass fishery. .

You miss the point, my self-certain friend. Just who is going to dictate those sacrifices and when are they going to occur? Surely you (and others like you) have no intent to limit yourselves, you are too proud of your skill in a dying fishery and still profiting too much from it to want any change. Likewise the recreational scene you describe in NJ/VA seems unlikely to volunteer sacrifice. So where is that taking us? Towards another collapse quite possibly.

Shifting the ASMFC bias toward preservation rather than exploitation is the last hope FISHERMEN have of controlling the process. This SF bill in MA is a real chance to move the regulators in that direction. If the ASMFC fails to shift their bias and the fishery collapses (it may not but I wouldn't bet against it), the CLF, Pew trusts, and federal courts will step in to protect the interests of the public at large from the greed of recreational and commercial fishermen alike. Count on it. It won't be pretty......though I doubt you will care by that point.

striperman36 · 12-06-2009, 07:03 PM

Totally agree with George, ASFMC focuses on commercial exploitation of every last lb. of biomass for every species it manages.
Unless they do so, we are faced with the only option, litigation.

Doublerunner · 12-06-2009, 08:43 PM

Comments like those made by cowhunter just proves the point that the only way to stop the massive killing of stripers is through legislation and serious enforcement.

I have copied cowhunter's posts and will be bringing them to the next meeting at my club and I suggest all those who care about what steps to take in the right direction to save the stock do the same