Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass

[Doublerunner]

and more on menhaden

Omega's lobbyist donate millions to the legislature - Senators and Congressman. This has been going on for years on end.

The Virginia legislative session begins January 13th 2010. Watermen and fishermen raise hell year after year. Over the last three years they were appeased with a cap on tonnage. But thats about it. Reedsville screams about the 200 plus workers who will be without jobs but really its the humps in office who take the $$ under the derby in political tradeoffs from some other BS.
The RFA and CCF guys should be lauded and applauded. They wont stop just because it seems futile. Constant pressure and public scrutiny may change status quo. Its not like its going un-noticed any more.

[CowHunter]

I know I'm done, (For the 10th time).
Just wanted to post a link for the NJ Bonus tag program. New Jersey allocates its comercial catch to recreational fisherman. Each fish in NJ is sold out for $2.00 a fish, (Used to be a buck or so- I never got one). The COMMERCIAL or as rec guys would like to hear BONUS TAG Program quota is 321,750lbs.... That is twice what RI's commercial quota is and close to a third of mass com quota. Anyone can get one. The State gets all the $$$ and the tag system is abused. Guys rarely fill out the tag unless they see a warden. If heard Rec Guys refer to it as "The Gift that keeps on Giving". Stripersforever dont have a problem with this, are they even aware??

I'm just calling it how it is... How do you Hardcore rec Guys feel about this????

Mark My words, if Mass looses its com quota it WILL Be distributed to other states. Boys down south Cant wait!

[CowHunter]

NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Striped Bass Bonus Program

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by CowHunter

I know I'm done, (For the 10th time).
Just wanted to post a link for the NJ Bonus tag program. New Jersey allocates its comercial catch to recreational fisherman. Each fish in NJ is sold out for $2.00 a fish, (Used to be a buck or so- I never got one). The COMMERCIAL or as rec guys would like to hear BONUS TAG Program quota is 321,750lbs.... That is twice what RI's commercial quota is and close to a third of mass com quota. Anyone can get one. The State gets all the $$$ and the tag system is abused. Guys rarely fill out the tag unless they see a warden. If heard Rec Guys refer to it as "The Gift that keeps on Giving". Stripersforever dont have a problem with this, are they even aware??

I'm just calling it how it is... How do you Hardcore rec Guys feel about this????

Mark My words, if Mass looses its com quota it WILL Be distributed to other states. Boys down south Cant wait!

I told you earlier how i felt about it and i hope it never happens like that here in Mass.

well put cowhunter
I guess I'll just continue doing my part by releasing all my 40 pounders and hope they survive the gauntlet so I can catch them again when they are 50's

[MikeToole]

Originally Posted by CowHunter

I know I'm done, (For the 10th time).
Just wanted to post a link for the NJ Bonus tag program. New Jersey allocates its comercial catch to recreational fisherman. Each fish in NJ is sold out for $2.00 a fish, (Used to be a buck or so- I never got one). The COMMERCIAL or as rec guys would like to hear BONUS TAG Program quota is 321,750lbs.... That is twice what RI's commercial quota is and close to a third of mass com quota. Anyone can get one. The State gets all the $$$ and the tag system is abused. Guys rarely fill out the tag unless they see a warden. If heard Rec Guys refer to it as "The Gift that keeps on Giving". Stripersforever dont have a problem with this, are they even aware??

Mark My words, if Mass looses its com quota it WILL Be distributed to other states. Boys down south Cant wait!

So for small money any joe blow can get a mass license and kill far more at less than $2.00 a fish. There are plenty of fish caught under the Mass license process that do not make it into the state quote numbers. This system is abused and the state gets the money. Different process, same results. How about the great results Maryland recently had with their commercial fisherman poaching problems. In that case they were actually real commercial fisherman. In mass the licenses mostly go to greedy recreational fisherman.

I can assure you that Stripers Forever are well aware of how NJ uses their quota. From the ones I've talked to they do not think this is any better then commercial fishing. Lets make demons out of a group that is actually working together to protect a resource. They may be on the extreme side but it is usually these groups that finally get action to occur.

I look at the fishery as something that should be maintained in the best interest of the public. For stripers you have a huge number of people fishing for them, which results in true social benefits. So it is in the best interest of the public to keep this fishery in a very health state. When you reach the point where you need to reduce the catch you should first reduce the catch being taken by the groups being given special benefits, over the general population. That is what the commercial quota is. What makes anyone think that they deserve the right to a public resource for personal finiancial gain over that of the rest of the public.

The Northeast cod fishery could produce at least three times as much fish as it presently does if we would just let it recover. But to prevent short term job loss we continue to waste a valuable resource by are in action.