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

sokinwet · 12-07-2009, 11:23 AM

Hey Cowhunter.....I'm going to INVITE you to my club!

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 12:29 PM

Thanks Bud, Ill make sure to bring my posts with me!

Doublerunner · 12-07-2009, 12:35 PM

If I saw any one, on a boat or on land, dumping fish overboard to keep another one instead, I would call and report them immediately. But then again, only people who care about the stock would do that. Those that don't are just users and abusers

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 12:45 PM

Hey JackBass, curious this was a horrible year for bluefish for me in Mass during July and August. Last year and previous years where I was guaranteed 200-300lbs as bycatch, and countless lost cause they would just bite through the damn floro, this year I couldnt seem to put a catch together. I really never was targeting them, but the bycatch was nice. I mean, this year on a good day, Maybe 80lbs or so. some times I would go days without seeing one! Areas that were stacked with bluefish, (Quicks Hole, Gayhead, etc), were void of life! (I did happen to notice the lack of bait). I will confess, I did get top dollar, some days .50!!! I dont know why they didnt come back to the same area in stay, but I do want to know if you and your marine bioligist freinds are doing anything about it? Maybe a Bluefishforever kind of thing? I mean, here we are in December and the mass Commercial quota is only 58% filled?? This is absurd, There is definately a big problem? The recs killing all the fish or the comms?
Funny, in the Fall the rhode Island coast Had miles and miles of them from watch hill to Matuinuck, they were eating all the bait on the shoreline. In early May I did notice that there were miles of Monster Bluefish coming up the jersey coast, I couldnt get away from them, big bruisers. I couldnt imagine why big bluefish would be on Anchovies, when in another 2 weeks they can have all the bunker they want! This is all so very confusing?!??!??? Did they ever show up at ur Spot?? Anybody??

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 12:56 PM

Numbskull, weather you understand it or not, I am both commercial and Recreational.. Im all for conservation, Hell I belong to the CCA, Have done plenty for Charity and conservation, way more than most. Ive had 50 and 40lbers released.... Ive even donated 20-30lb bass to the Norwalk Aquarium. I have live releases all but one fish in the last few tournaments I fished. Im not the one that wants only commercial or only recreational. I just dont think its fair everybody is blaming mass commercial pinhookers when the recs are more at fault. Im sorry bud, I agree with some you say, but you are wrong to blame mass commercials just because the fish arent where you want them. Hell I would love for striped bass to be in NJ from Late March through January LIKE THEY USED TOO. I would waste gas money driving to Mass or NC. I may not like it but Im not gonna sit around either and hope the patterns change to my benifit and the fish come to me...

Your Self-Certain Friend

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 12:59 PM

Doublerunner, more than one person reported that incident....

Jackbass · 12-07-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowHunter

Doublerunner, more than one person reported that incident....

Doublerunner · 12-07-2009, 01:56 PM

Blues??? I only saw blues once this year. They must be getting wiped out somewhere. Oh yeah the 3 I caught killed off the stock

Seriously though. As I have said from the beginning...a multi faceted approach that has slot limits and restrictions on quantities from both rec and commercial. And also the complete elimination of dragging for menhaden

As far as the rec goes perhaps there needs to be different classifications to distinguish between charters, personal boats not chartering, and non-boaters

I personally hate all fishing tournaments whether they are from shore or on boat. All those tournaments are are fish-kills and as far as I am concerned they should be banned completely

Back Beach · 12-07-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowHunter

I just dont think its fair everybody is blaming mass commercial pinhookers when the recs are more at fault.

Thats not what anyone here is saying. We're saying the regulations, collectively, need tweaking in order to sustain and improve things longer term.

Half the time Numbskull doesn't even have hooks on his plugs, so don't go by what he says...

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 01:10 PM

Back Beach How can you say that?? Its exactly what its about Stripersforever is attempting to shut down Mass commercial. Refer to first post......Its write there in the article, go to the website... They want to shut down mass commercial fishing entirely and give the recs one guy? How would you like if it was both, make mass just like the eez??? Comon...

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 01:11 PM

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...eb1809-001.jpg

CowHunter · 12-07-2009, 01:14 PM

Thats not what anyone here is saying. We're saying the regulations, collectively, need tweaking

Posted by BackBeach - above

Guess Tweeking is banning commercial harvesting in Mass??

Half the time Numbskull doesn't even have hooks on his plugs, so don't go by what he says...

(I didnt want to say anything but I have heard this from a few people - Said hooks hurt the poor fish)

Back Beach · 12-07-2009, 01:27 PM

"Tweaking" to me would be lowering the recreational daily bag to one fish and implementing a slot limit or larger minimum size if its deemed necessary. This can be accomplished without introducing game fish status and banning commercial sale.

"Tweaking" could also include more restricive measures such as a lower commercial quota and larger minimum size if its deemed necessary. Although I dislike some of what takes place as a result of having a commercial season, it does provide income for some who honestly rely on it.

Back Beach · 12-07-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowHunter

(I didnt want to say anything but I have heard this from a few people - Said hooks hurt the poor fish)

That's not the reason, he just doesn't want shleps like me accusing him of depleting the local stocks...

numbskull · 12-07-2009, 12:35 PM

Gee, I don't belong to any clubs, but I have no problem with you pointing out that I feel the recreational sector also is a huge part of the problem.

The real problem, however, is neither the recreational or commercial sector......it is the attitude of individuals in each group. As I see it you and the SF guys you hate are one of a kind. Both happy to shaft the other to improve their own lot.

A united voice from the recreational and commercial sector to the ASMFC asking for more conservative management (to protect us from ourselves) is what is needed. Somehow I don't see you as likely to be interested in that approach.

I doubt this bill will pass. I am very glad it was filed, however. At very least it may scare some sense into the ASMFC and the commercial sector that for too long has gleefully ignored the impact of their actions on the average schmuck fisherman. A better balance is needed than what we have now.

Back Beach · 12-07-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by numbskull

I doubt this bill will pass. I am very glad it was filed, however. At very least it may scare some sense into the ASMFC and the commercial sector that for too long has gleefully ignored the impact of their actions on the average schmuck fisherman. A better balance is needed than what we have now.

Give it time, G. It may not pass the first time around but that's not the plan, IMO. Its the beginning of a ground swell...ground swells start with filings, consensus building, and vision.
The impending angler(shmuck) registry/license is going to help this along in time, IMO.