New Striper hook rules in Maine

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by fishbones

By the way, Jimmy. Would it be considered irony or hypocrisy to be seen wearing a Striper Cup hat for someone who is so against the tournament? Just asking because I seem to remember seeing you with one on last year.

I fished the cup 4 years ago, but by observing the striper population decline, I realized its not what I want to be part of. I have a dozen hats I wear, thats one of them.
maybe people see me in the hat and wish they could be as slick as I am and join the cup but I doubt it.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I fished the cup 4 years ago, but by observing the striper population decline, I realized its not what I want to be part of. I have a dozen hats I wear, thats one of them.
maybe people see me in the hat and wish they could be as slick as I am and join the cup but I doubt it.

My above post responding to your intial post was just saying that I think there's a way to still be conservation minded while participating in a tournament. They do have a catch and release category, as well.

I applaud you for switching out hooks when fishing bunker because a lot of guys fish them with trebles. My comment had nothing to do with eels v. bunker. Not sure why you made that leap? What would be dumb would be saying you don't want to kill fish, but then going and fishing bait on treble hooks.

Making circle hooks madatory may be consdiered "silly" by some, but it's a step. You know what it's like trying to get the government to do anything. I've sent letters and made phone calls on behalf of Striper conservation. Any progress is good in my mind. If the government said we could no longer keep bass, I'd be fine with it. I'd still fish.

As for you wearing the hat, to me it looks like you're supporting the Striper Cup. You're advertising for a tournament that you despise. If you have a dozen hats, you should wear another one. It's like you driving around with an Obama/Biden bumper sticker on your car.

[Mr. Sandman]

All this jaw boning about what is best for the fish and how best to protect it (while still allowing "the fishermen" to continue to do what they have been doing ) is not going to do much of anything.

IMO this is why gamefish is the way to go. It cuts thru all the crap and regulation nonsense and takes a ton of pressure off the fish. Further, simple regulations on recs ( 1@whaterever, circle hooks, etc) can control the population as needed. (whatever they may be) Again, I think we are in a serious death spiral which has been and is still being largely ignored by the "experts" and I doubt the fish will recover now without draconian measures. IMO a collapse will be good because it will demonstrate just how inept and how cavalier the fishery managers are and it could result in a top down vetting of these buffoons. These guys can't wipe their ass without getting public comments. I want to see some leadership. Stand up and simply do what is right (FOR THE FISH) and let the chips fall where they may.

I have had enough!

http://www.downside.com/bldgjump.gif

[Sea of Atlas]

The longest journey begins with a single step.

No commerical fishing, 1 fish per day, slot limit, circle hooks, reduction of treble hooks...Maine is taking its steps and if a moratorium or other such drastic measure comes in effect us Maine folk won't have any trouble falling in line. Caught a lot of "out of state" limits and released the majority of any legal fish I caught. Can't do much more here in Maine.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Sea of Atlas

Maine is taking its steps and if a moratorium or other such drastic measure comes in effect us Maine folk won't have any trouble falling in line.

That's the difference between you and me... I'm not one to unquestionably "fall in line" with what the government tells me is the correct action.

[Sea of Atlas]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

That's the difference between you and me... I'm not one to unquestionably "fall in line" with what the government tells me is the correct action.

You can make ad hominem attacks all you want, it will only reflect poorly on you.

[Mike P]

Ron--I'm not taking a position for or against commercial fishing in the abstract. What I'm saying is that if a commercial fishery is to exist, it should be limited to legitimate commercial fishermen.

And, with all due respect---if you don't see the waste in the rec fishery, you're not looking in the right places. You don't see the same 30 guys taking 2 40" plus fish off the Canal every plugging tide all year. There is absoultely no need for guys to take two fish in the 25-30 pound range every day for a whole set of tides. Freindships have been strained by a few of us calling people we know out on that senselessness. You don't see the guys day after day with two breeders bungee corded to their bike baskets, just because the law says they can take 2 fish. You don't see the absolute slaughter in NJ every May when the adult pogies are running tight to the beach---the sharpies there tell me than any guy with a snag hook can look like a pro. You don't see the absolute slaughter on the really big "citation" fish when they're stacked up every winter off the Virginia coast, when every charter guy from every port within range is running a 6-pack out there, and guys from the northeast are trailering their rigs down there. A lot fo that is taking place in the EEZ, and there isn't much that can be done to stop it, since they have bird dogs on the radio putting out the word when the USCG heads out there.That fishery didn't exist 15 years ago. I know that you do see people coming to the Derby weigh-in with fish that don't have a prayer of winning a daily, just so they have a shot at a Mystery prize. And winning a daily for what---a hat pin and a $20 check? People love to knock the OTW torunament as bad, but the same people have no problem with the MV Derby. A dead bass is a dead bass no matter where it's killed. I'm sure that you still make an effort to win the Grand Slam every Derby.

We are all to blame, and we need to clean our own houses before we point fingers at the other guys.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Ron--I'm not taking a position for or against commercial fishing in the abstract. What I'm saying is that if a commercial fishery is to exist, it should be limited to legitimate commercial fishermen.

And, with all due respect---if you don't see the waste in the rec fishery, you're not looking in the right places. You don't see the same 30 guys taking 2 40" plus fish off the Canal every plugging tide all year. There is absoultely no need for guys to take two fish in the 25-30 pound range every day for a whole set of tides. Freindships have been strained by a few of us calling people we know out on that senselessness. You don't see the guys day after day with two breeders bungee corded to their bike baskets, just because the law says they can take 2 fish. You don't see the absolute slaughter in NJ every May when the adult pogies are running tight to the beach---the sharpies there tell me than any guy with a snag hook can look like a pro. You don't see the absolute slaughter on the really big "citation" fish when they're stacked up every winter off the Virginia coast, when every charter guy from every port within range is running a 6-pack out there, and guys from the northeast are trailering their rigs down there. A lot fo that is taking place in the EEZ, and there isn't much that can be done to stop it, since they have bird dogs on the radio putting out the word when the USCG heads out there.That fishery didn't exist 15 years ago. I know that you do see people coming to the Derby weigh-in with fish that don't have a prayer of winning a daily, just so they have a shot at a Mystery prize. And winning a daily for what---a hat pin and a $20 check? People love to knock the OTW torunament as bad, but the same people have no problem with the MV Derby. A dead bass is a dead bass no matter where it's killed. I'm sure that you still make an effort to win the Grand Slam every Derby.

We are all to blame, and we need to clean our own houses before we point fingers at the other guys.

Awesome post!!!
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