‘Scary’ Decline In Striper Stocks

[stripermaineiac]

Well the arguement will always have to have a blame point. Easy solution is a moratorium.Shut it down close the tackle shops and the charter industry.Keep it shut down for at least 5 yrs.Chase scup an mackeral with maybe a blue in the mix from time to time. get caught wih a striper on the hook $1000 fine an loss of all gear in possession.No one to blame then. Always easier to blame rather than take any steps to fix the problem.
You hear most angler tell about landing very few fish from shore and the same from boats. Cut backs have already been done by most to the point that most don't catch or keep many fish.The only cut back left is to just shut it all down.As far as I can see it's about the only way to get those with a commercial ticket to cut back too.Greed is what it is.Yup the guy without a paycheck keeps more than most to feed his family.with gas bein what it is even he won't land many fish this yr. So just shut it down that way everyone has to cut back not just us hardcores that release most of what we land. The feds had to do it last time hopefully they do it soon to make sure the fish do survive.Ron

[Nomad]

1 @ 36 for recs.

Only commercials that keep their ticket are those that prove that is their ONLY income (commercial fishing for clams/worms/eels, etc) and then step back the commercial quota each year and offer college tuition reimbursement.

I know that you fish commercially cause you love it and not because you don't have a degree but maybe it is just not sustainable and this way at least you still feed the family with a post-college career.

Just my .02 which is prolly worth about just that

[Jackbass]

Until all use groups can agree to disagree and find a common ground that everyone can live with the fish will be doomed. The people who utilize the resource need to be part of the solution they are all part of the problem. Recs, Captains, Comms alike need to come up with a plan and police themselves.

Any singular portion of the utilization group that abuses the resource needs to have suitable punishment. Regardless of who it is.

The managers bow to public opinion they have to. Until all groups get together and are realistic about what to expect from the fishery we will continue this cycle. It is obvious managers are reactive as opposed to pro active. That is the nature of the game for them. They will not implement changes until certain check points are met. At those points it is generally too late.