Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass

[numbskull]

Just to stir the pot, most recreational fishermen struggle to catch a 36" fish.....many have never even seen a 36" fish. Letting a casual fisherman have a realistic chance to take home a fish to feed and poison his family with is every bit as valid a management goal as lining the pockets of the guys who sell lots of 40 lb fish to feed and poison the public. Granted, it would mean implementation of a recreational season to control catch numbers.....but what good is an open season to a guy who only catches 26" fish? I'm not advocating it, but what is the rational against it?

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Just to stir the pot, most recreational fishermen struggle to catch a 36" fish.....many have never even seen a 36" fish. Letting a casual fisherman have a realistic chance to take home a fish to feed and poison his family with is every bit as valid a management goal as lining the pockets of the guys who sell lots of 40 lb fish to feed and poison the public. Granted, it would mean implementation of a recreational season to control catch numbers.....but what good is an open season to a guy who only catches 26" fish? I'm not advocating it, but what is the rational against it?

Numby:
my argument is the fish are that much older (8" = 4 years if memory serves) so that's 4 more spawns before they can be taken out of the spawning biomass... make it 36" rec and commercial....

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Numby:
my argument is the fish are that much older (8" = 4 years if memory serves) so that's 4 more spawns before they can be taken out of the spawning biomass... make it 36" rec and commercial....

I suspect it would help greatly by reducing the recreational catch, but probably less so with the commercial catch. Now if they created a commercial/recreational slot limit, say 34-42", then I could see it.

From my perspective, I feel the large female bass are too valuable as breeders, carriers of genetic traits for size, and important to the quality of the recreational fishery to be eaten. But surely that is because that works for me (I like letting them go more than eating them). If my family and I liked bass, probably I'd see it differently. If I needed to earn extra money from fishing I'd see it differently as well.

[MikeToole]

Does everyone here understand that in Maryland and Virginia the size limits for recreational stripers is 18-28", two fish a day most of the season. They do limit the taking of large fish using seasons and limit of one fish a day. Just think how many small fish are being kept in these two prime striper states.

The main justification for the slot limit is to use more of the male fish resource.

Now that a license system is being put in place I would like to see a tag system, something like the one used for deer in many states. When you buy your license you get 5 tags that allow you to keep five fish over 36". Then the daily limit would be one fish a day 26-32" or the one tagged fish. You would need to put the tag on the fish immediately in a way that destroys the tag for a second use.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by MikeToole

Now that a license system is being put in place I would like to see a tag system, something like the one used for deer in many states. When you buy your license you get 5 tags that allow you to keep five fish over 36". Then the daily limit would be one fish a day 26-32" or the one tagged fish. You would need to put the tag on the fish immediately in a way that destroys the tag for a second use.

I don't think that could be implemented. Too impractical. Too many people would ignore or just not get trained.