MSBA Action Alert--Stripers Forever Bill Could Pass- Only One Hearing--This Thursday

[Swimmer]

I find it interesting that if you don't go you have no say.

A fish that is three to six years old probably does not lay any eggs. But fish between 26"s and 40"s sure do. So if someone takes a 25 inch fish home for dinner that hasn't matured sexually, how can that be worse than taking home a 39"er that lays a gazillion eggs that you wont be able to take home if this bill passes.

God forbid the commercial guys can't catch 30 fish a day for up to four to eight weeks until the quota is met.

[BigFish]

Eben for President! I have to agree with him! I could care less about the commercials......its all take, take, take......kill, kill, kill! I am all for going back to 1 fish per day at 34 inches! No commercial take!

Eben I could not agree with you more!

[Adam_777]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Eben for President! I have to agree with him! I could care less about the commercials......its all take, take, take......kill, kill, kill! I am all for going back to 1 fish per day at 34 inches! No commercial take!

Eben I could not agree with you more!

+1 and bring back the pic in your sig

[big jay]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

I find it interesting that if you don't go you have no say.

A fish that is three to six years old probably does lay any eggs. But fish between 26"s and 40"s sure do. So if someone takes a 25 inch fish home for dinner that hasn't matured sexually, how can that be worse than taking home a 39"er that lays a gazillion eggs that you wont be able to take home if this bill passes.

The problem with your scenario is the 25" never had an opportunity to spawn before it was harvested, whereas the 39" fish spawned several times before it was taken.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by big jay

The problem with your scenario is the 25" never had an opportunity to spawn before it was harvested, whereas the 39" fish spawned several times before it was taken.

it's simple economics... a 25" fish still has a chance to be eaten by Seals, tuna and other sea going fish eaters... a 39" fish is getting up there in size... good chance it wont be eaten by a seal or tuna.. also a good chance that it will live until it dies of old age or is eaten or mis handled by a fisherman...and to top it off the small ones are better eating with less waste when processed.

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

it's simple economics... a 25" fish still has a chance to be eaten by Seals, tuna and other sea going fish eaters... a 39" fish is getting up there in size... good chance it wont be eaten by a seal or tuna.. also a good chance that it will live until it dies of old age or is eaten or mis handled by a fisherman...and to top it off the small ones are better eating with less waste when processed.

I see this as an arguement to leave the little fish alone...bottom line is that the little fish are roughly 75 % males that do get hammerred by seals etc (the percentage is debateable but it is definatey way aboe half male to half female)...to get the year class numbers over the past dozen years we have needed this ratio of males to females

This slot will kill a lot of those little fish and the seals etc will still eat what they eat rducing the mumbers even further. If the little fish are devastated so will the ratio of males to females causing future year classes to drop even mor without spawning...I don't state this...fisheries scientists state this

The speculation and guess work science being thrown around this board is the same that was done to Bob Pond when all the so called "high liners" were laughing at him and he was preaching the use of science.

Good science is not why SF is going to the legislature...the fact is they just can't get their junk by ASMFC.

For the record and because I am the only one on this board that actually has been attending the recent ASMFC Striped Bass meetings, there are multiple concerns with the SB stock and the scientists are at the end process of the analysis of certain problems as we..science based solutions that look like they will work work will be enacted as is written in the managment plan.

We need to set limits according to science and not guess work no matter how good pounding our chest makes any of us feel. Its nice to pound your chest and demand this or that but they did that with the slot limit in Maine and now a few years later they have no fish left. They kill all the bait and all the little fish on their coast and wonder what happenned. Sure let's blamit on ASMFC...Maine chose to harvest baby stripers not ASMFC.

If you really want to help then donate and support the organizations doing the real work at the places the work is really done

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

it's simple economics... a 25" fish still has a chance to be eaten by Seals, tuna and other sea going fish eaters... a 39" fish is getting up there in size... good chance it wont be eaten by a seal or tuna.. also a good chance that it will live until it dies of old age or is eaten or mis handled by a fisherman....

Are you serious?

[BasicPatrick]

[QUOTE=Swimmer;738355]I find it interesting that if you don't go you have no say."

Frank...It is Stripers Forever that is working to eliminate your input on this subject.

If the proponents of stricter regulations actually did the footwork, developed and presented the science and used the current system then we might actually have the series of hearings and vigorous public debate that many of us are yearning for including the MSBA Leadership.

Unfortunately, Stripers Forever took a grant from some hard core enviros...hired some lobbyists and influenced Rep. Matt Patrick (who happens to be Brad Burns of Stripers Forever's Summer Time Neighbor) to introduce the bill.

Does anyone think that Matt Patrick's refusal to meeet with the Falmouth Fishermen's Assn and the Falmouth Rod & Gun Club is any indicator that this is not an open public process.

One hearing in the middle of a weekday is the Stripers Forever way...the "system" many here complain about has hearings from 5-7pm in multiple locations iwth at least 30 days notice...required by law...not manipulated by Stripers forever high paid enviro attorney's.

If you want a say on this bill...tell the legislature to kick the subject to DMF and the MA Marine Fisheries Commission where it belongs. Your remember the last time we had a S-B hearing...that was the process then..and at least we got to speak and be a part of the process.

Hope to see you there on Thursday

[MAKAI]

This all may be a mute point anyway,I noticed the state of Conn. DPH in 2009 recommended women and children avoid eating any striped bass at all. Could there possibly be a time soon, when bass is deemed not fit for consumption.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

Frank...It is Stripers Forever that is working to eliminate your input on this subject.

If the proponents of stricter regulations actually did the footwork, developed and presented the science and used the current system then we might actually have the series of hearings and vigorous public debate that many of us are yearning for including the MSBA Leadership.

....

One hearing in the middle of a weekday is the Stripers Forever way...the "system" many here complain about has hearings from 5-7pm in multiple locations iwth at least 30 days notice...required by law...not manipulated by Stripers forever high paid enviro attorney's.

You've summed up exactly the cause of many people's frustration - very little getting done because of the obstacle course that is set up to push new policy.

Having worked and sat through dozens of public hearings/meetings/conferences through my work, I've witnessed that very little ever gets accomplished from them aside from delaying action or a result of complete inaction. Every school teacher, retiree, college student, home-maker, engineer, and businessman that shows up is an "expert" on the subject and thinks they have detailed knowledge. For example, the Westwood Station development has taken over a year longer than expected due to needing a hearing before just about every decision could be finalized.

Why exactly should the average fishermen have a say? Unless you have performed detailed research or reviewed multiple competent studies, how can an informed opinion be presented? Fisherman are already somewhat dismissed by the enviros for being selfish and destructive - presenting unsupported misinformation will only give them more ammo. SF is highly organized, and as such, more than likely has the qualifying materials (biased or not) to support there policy push. Unfortunately, "I have been fishing for 30 years" isn't perceived as credibility at these hearings.

If recreational fishermen truly want more control over fisheries management, then they need to support the people/groups that can perform the research necessary to support/contradict regulations and not let groups like SF or the commercial fishing industry continue dumping money until they get what they want.

[BigFish]

Its ok...I don't make tuna poppers! I also do not curb my opinions to cater to folks! I have an opinion and I do not keep it in check because I might be afraid of hurting business! There are plenty of other builders out there.....don't be afraid to use them!

[Clammer]

we all S/B concerned .. @ 1st I didn,t think it had a chance / but now with the backing of this wacked out other group & their issue of disposable lures & etc;
this //if pasted could start a ball rolling that for those that live long enough .......... ya won,t be back @ blue-gill fishing ;
I was going to say Golfing ...but then they will be going against damaging the grass & possiable damage to trees & ponds ;;

WTF /way too far

[sokinwet]

"Its ok...I don't make tuna poppers"
Through wired, wood plugs...I would have thought they would hold up to the tuna abuse...guess not huh!

I certainly don't begrudge anyone their opinion and input...it's when someone tries to shove their opinion down everyone else's throat that I get a little.....upset.

[BigFish]

I expressed my opinion and you took exception to it! I have further opinions about what I do not like about the commercial laws but I doubt you want to hear them! Have enough respect to respect someone's opinion whether you agree with it or not! I do! Then you drag out that other crap about plugs and "I am not gonna buy them from you"...because you don't like my opinion?? What the hell is that all about??!!

I hardly think "voicing" my opinion is "shoving my opinion down anyones throat"?!

[Ake G]

I'm in favor of the bill.

Clearly drastic conservation measures need to be put in place before it's too late. All opposed haven't been paying attention or simply don't care or choose to look beyond their own selfish agendas and what's happening in their own backyard.

Mortality is a huge part of the picture and I'm for any measures taken with a plan to reduce it. Sounds like dropping the two fish per day limit to one and prohibiting commercial harvesting would be a step in the right direction.

Wait until the fishing falls off in MA like it has up here in Maine.