I've fished Maine for Stripers for the past 20 or so years. Unless they've changed it from last year you can keep 1 striper a day between 20 and 26 inches OR 1 "trophy" over 40 inches. This works well with me. I keep 2 or 3 fish all season in the 26" size and the fillets off one fish are perfect for feeding 3 or 4 people.
As far as the circle hook fishing goes...I get it, but I much prefer setting the hook. Out of every 20 fish I hook with a j hook I probably do gut hook one or two. If it helps, I'm for it, but I'll miss the set.
For a long time I've been a slot size proponent, but there is an overwhelming amount of chatter that the schoolies are dwindling in their normal haunts.
Let's make it a real challenge and go for 1 @ 40" from Maine to Virgina (and south if they go to Carolina's )
I would not mind going back to 1@ 36" too, but I think that the reason for the circle hook is so that when and if you are throwing back a short fish you are not throwing back a fish that has been gut hooked and is going to die. Two different issues really. Believe me, I do not think as many people kill fish during catch and release fishing as some studies try to make us believe, but the fact of the matter is that it does happen and the use of circle hooks will definitely reduce that number. I do not understand why so many of you are against the idea of saving some fish from unnecessarily dying.
Hybrid Mode
