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

[CowHunter]

DannyPlug, I think SB is far from extinct..... People have gotten spoiled the last few years.... We do Have an EEZ where the Bass are protected... I will say this about the Chesapeke, At Least they Shut it down to Harvesting from Jan 1 Til May - Catch And Release ONLY... Im suprised the SF Folks dont head down there from Maine and Enjoy a Fine Catch and Release Fishery.... You can catch all the little dinks you want, till your arms fall off....

[dannyplug1]

Look at the young of the year indexes for the chesapeake. Typically there are a series of off years then there is a year when every thing comes together. This has not happened in quite a few years. When the fish were evey where there was a correlation with the YOY indexes. The Chesapeake fish are in trouble! acres of the bay are dead the menhaden which provide the best ratio of nutrient to the bass are being whiped out. And from a personal perspective I know the ammount of small bass are going down. Fishermen up and down the coast are support the scientific reality that stripers are in trouble. For many reasons people do not want to see the truth. Are we supposed to wait till we are on the edge like the eighties. We should all bite the bullet and release all bass. I cant expect others to make sacrifices if I wont.

[CowHunter]

DannyPlug, I am aware of the YOY indexes, I believe 06 was the worst with .5 a sienne and 09 had like 3.5 or so... Think a 700% increase or so. In any case it is troublesome, but what is the cause?? I hear the biggest Blame is the run off from the farmlands and not overharvesting, even though Ive seen some impressive rec kils there in December and outside in Jan... In fact the Com guys Harvesting BlueCrabs are Blaming the Striped Bass for eating them... Finger Pointing Everywhere... And Yes the Menhaden is a huge factor....

Agian, correct me if I am wrong on the YOY, That was just off the top of my head...

[CowHunter]

Seabuggy, been saying that for weeks on here....

[inTHERAPY]

Cowhunter, You've said all that can be said. I do not know of anyone that has fished as extensively and intensely as yourself. I am sure you have more first hand, east coast experience, striped bass fishing, than 99% of all fishermen. You've stated your points as clearly as anyone has, in any forum. I have a better understanding of the coast wide fishery as a result. Thank you. Charters are over, commercial is closed, tournaments are done. Hibernate. Art