ASMFC To Take Action to reduce Striped Bass mortality

[Nebe]

1 at 36. Make it a gamefish. Take the price off it's head. Protect the bunker.
Simple.
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[stripermaineiac]

How's greed work? Oh ya as long as I can still make the bucks cut everyone else LOL . OK. I know this is a waste but since Maine only lands less than 1 % of the stripers landed not much we do will affect others. but for us since 96 well the number of stripers we land and the size has almost dropped off the chart. As far as an increase in what we kill -LOL-don't know about that. Might be if you look at the small increase in the number of anglers up here. But it's a heck of a lot better than 2 fish 28 in that helps creat the slaughter of fish in the canal.More mortality just there than we see in a couple seasons. so do we just keep argueing or get off our collective butts and work together and do something. Poleticians are part of the problem along with the greedy. Gamefish and 36 in will help but it wont stop the charter slaughter in the EEZ,The Canal and all other places like that. The Tournements and derbys hurt some but look at the Vineyard and see the decline in fish weighed in over a month. LOL look at the MS weekend. Loads of fish there LOL with a bunch of good fishermen. A dozen fish over 100 angles. We don't do something soon and you young guys are gonna feel what we did back in the 80's.
So we gonna do something or just keep bitchin at each other.

[big jay]

Maybe your fishing sucks up in Maine because you implemented that asinine "management plan" that targets sexually immature fish.
*and as a bonus, kills the breeders too...
Maine's pre slot and post slot kill #s have been posted a million times - I really don't feel like looking up the reference, but the kills went up three fold when you guys started killing the babies.

And by the way - I'm in favor of management cuts that will adversely effect my own income. But I'm looking at long term viability and fairness to all user groups rather than what suits my own short term needs.
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[stripermaineiac]

LOL ok . Your right we're all just dummies.So what are your ideas and how do we make them work.The small amount we take up here isn't a days fishin in Mass. The problem needs to be fixed or else. Or is it still gonna be the same. just keep doin nothin.Then whine when the bottom falls out and blame everyone.

[big jay]

Originally Posted by big jay

1 fish at 34 or 36 - it worked before, it will work again.
An equivalent cut to the commercial quota as well - if the market supply is controlled adequately, the actual net dollars (higher price for less lbs landed) will not change for the commercial guys.
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Here's a start.
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[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by big jay

I'm glad they are stepping in, and quite honestly if they're going to take action they should do it this year rather than 2015.

That said, Maine's slot limit is ridiculous and failed at accomplishing any sort of conservation.
Maine's overall Striper mortality INCREASED significantly when the slot was implemented. I'll argue all day long its the antithesis of conservation, and if implemented coastwide would destroy the Striper population.

FYI ME's slot limit was not designed to reduce the catch, it was supposed to be "conservationally equivalent" to the "normal" 2 fish at 28 inches.

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by Nebe

1 at 36. Make it a gamefish. Take the price off it's head. Protect the bunker.
Simple.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Striped Bass would flourish once again. It seems EVERY species I've fished for my entire life has taken similar hits. Seems to me like decades of fisheries mismanagement has taken its toll.

[Eric Roach]

What about directing our energy to established organizations that share some of the concerns here? Coastal Conservation Association? Stripers Forever?

Does anyone see merit in these (or other) organizations representing sport anglers?

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by big jay

Maybe your fishing sucks up in Maine because you implemented that asinine "management plan" that targets sexually immature fish.
*and as a bonus, kills the breeders too...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

The catch trend in Maine follows the catch trend throughout the coast. Both are down about 50% from 2008-2012. How many of those Maine fish leave and get hammered on the trip back south? They aren't all Kennebunk fish and it isn't an isolated population. Even the harvest data is inconclusive. Bad yoy in the chesapeake would limit slot size fish in Maine.

[Jackbass]

I think a slot over complicates the situation. I realize there is scientific merit to it regardless. 1 @ 36 is a proven road to recovery. It allows fish to spawn before being targeted for harvest. As far as commercial goes I want to see how the tag system works. Where every tag is accountable. I am in no way an advocate for commercial fishing. But I feel recreational guys need to take a long hard look in the mirror before they point fingers.
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[stripermaineiac]

Ok so how do we get it started? 1 fish 36 in sounds good. It would make a huge inroad as to the kill numbers along parts of the migration route. But how do we as a group-Striper Fishermen- get the ball rolling? 1 fish will be a step alone. Over 30 in another step.But we need to take the steps as a group get get it done.

[Liv2Fish]

[QUOTE=New ideas are great. Would you like to be the chair of the committee to get the ball rolling with your ideas? I'll help and so won't some others.[/QUOTE]

So, I'm definitely not the person to chair as I have no idea what would be the most effective method and as others have said, what is the message??? I am committed to putting in as much effort as I can to help.

I agree that 1 @ 36 has been the only measurably effective method of restoration and why not support what we know works.

I don't know how others feel but I would guess that most of the req guys would be happy to "donate" their current two per day quota to the comm guys to maybe avoid some staunch opposition from the guys who do rely on the fishery to provide for their families? Maybe on the license, there could be an option to "opt out" of being able to harvest.

Sounds like the first goal is to agree on the target regulations. How do we start that discussion? Maybe a survey through the local magazines, SCJ, OTW, Fisherman, F&S, handouts at shops and the big shows coming up after the new year? This could be almost like a vote where you check your box, sign and send it in. Include your fishing license number, etc. I would volunteer to distribute and try to educate at shows, etc.

There are two groups: Those that want to make a living on it and those that want to preserve it, and maybe a 3rd somewhere in between. We both have to give in order for it to not vanish and we have to find common ground and then join forces to push the terds in control to adopt what the people who pay them want them to do.

[stripermaineiac]

Ist you can't just ask the majority to give more to the minority to shut them up.just adds another arguement.size and number might have the most leeway for discussion.As far as user groups and those that make a livin with well it's a very broad base. From the guide to the deli all are stake holders.Commercial taking of the fish is at best a side line or a short term part time job.the gas station that sell the gas we use has a larger economic hurt by the loss of the species and it's broad base monitary affect than either tackle shops or charter businesses.But all have to kept in thought as far as the effect of what ever we choose.Most sportfishermen really don't keep a lot of fish but cumulatively the catch is huge.Like one charter boat compared to coastwide . to get the best benefit for the fish what ever is done has to be perceived by both as fair and realistic.
How about ist if we try to get a list of as many clubs,tackleshops,charters,commercial guys and groups such as CCA,RFC,Stripers Forever and so on along with the tournaments to one create a mailing list and a way to get both input and distribute questions.
On top a good computer type that has a clue in how to make both the info and the web work for the same positive goal. Keeping striped bass from going down the same path as back in the 70's an 80's.
LOL Probably one of the younger types LOL that speaks computerese.

[massgc]

What Jay said

[afterhours]

seems that all existing orgs, groups, etc have their own agendas. and that the comm interests are very well financed and organized. maybe need we one that has the well being of the fishery first and foremost. first thing is to organize on a coastwide basis. it's always about the $$ we fishermen dump chitloads into the economy- there has to be a way to turn that into a voice with some thump.

[ronfish]

I keep hearing that 1@36" worked, but wasn't that after the moratorium? Why not try the slot limit like Maine has. If it doesn't work we can change it. Ron

[Mr. Sandman]

slot fishing is too complicated, both for fisherman and enforcement.

36" fish gives every fish a chance to reproduce more than once. Why anyone would want to take a juvenile fish is beyond comprehension.I guess the theory is ...Lets kill the babies and then we will have just big fish left...yeah but for how long?

[stripermaineiac]

What ever we come up with we need a centralized voice to get things going so that we work together and not come from too many angles at once. Muddy water just makes the real issue the fish harder to see. the me me mine mine issue has been used to long against any type of posetive action. Once we get around that by being focused on the fish the other issues will be easier to address.There are already plenty of fishermen LOL we really don't need to worry about conserving them. It's the fish we need to help out.

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by ronfish

I keep hearing that 1@36" worked, but wasn't that after the moratorium? Why not try the slot limit like Maine has. If it doesn't work we can change it. Ron

Why re invent the wheel. Change does not come easy. Regardless any plan that eliminates potential breeding fish is counter productive.
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[Jackbass]

What we need is an online petition. Base it upon an agreeable middle ground on implementing a change to recreational take of bass with a controlled scale back on coastal commercial quota.

The petition I imagine could be easily implemented via web. (I am not a web guy so I can't speak to this). It will be easy for individuals to participate in. Anonymous and easily promoted via boards FB twitter etc.
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[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

slot fishing is too complicated, both for fisherman and enforcement.

36" fish gives every fish a chance to reproduce more than once. Why anyone would want to take a juvenile fish is beyond comprehension.I guess the theory is ...Lets kill the babies and then we will have just big fish left...yeah but for how long?

I PREFER eating 28"-32" fish so it is what I choose to kill (1-2 a year). But I would without hesitation support a 36" limit.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

What we need is an online petition. Base it upon an agreeable middle ground on implementing a change to recreational take of bass with a controlled scale back on coastal commercial quota.

The petition I imagine could be easily implemented via web. (I am not a web guy so I can't speak to this). It will be easy for individuals to participate in. Anonymous and easily promoted via boards FB twitter etc.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

NO. What we need is NO public input. This is the problem. We need someone to mandate this is what will be done to protect the fishery...end of story. Nothing else needs to be said. If it is a reduction or a complete shut down...fine, just do it.

[stripermaineiac]

Food for thought. Every striper is part of the breeding process so the only way to stop the counter productive process is to make it catch n relase totally ie gamefish-release. not ever gonna happen and that issue just keeps us devided.
Question does an online petition have the legal teeth needed due to the almost impossebility to verify it to force the political hand working against the striped bass?

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

NO. What we need is NO public input. This is the problem. We need someone to mandate this is what will be done to protect the fishery...end of story. Nothing else needs to be said. If it is a reduction or a complete shut down...fine, just do it.

I appreciate and understand that but how does one get the ear of the management. By showing there is a concentrated group of people a large number of them that feel we need this type of change. Other wise 2015 is going to show up and this board is going to make a decision for all of us. The decision will happen regardless. If we can put something in front of them that they can look at and digest well we at least gave it a shot
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[stripermaineiac]

Well question Jim. How does that get done with out input ist and 2nd in the corrupted political enviorn that exist today?

[MakoMike]

The only thing anyone can do is to write to the members of the striped bass board and make your views known. Having said that, it probably won't make much of a difference. You guys have no idea what impact any of these proposals would have on the harvest. The technical committee will work up the numbers, and the board will adopt whichever proposals they deem appropriate that will bring the harvest down to the required level.

One thing I can agree with Sandman about, this is NOT A DEMOCRACY! nor should it be.

[Jackbass]

The only thing that will have any legal teeth is a proposed amendment to the management plan. Which will be made available for public comment. We know how wildly popular going to the input hearings is. If someone were to present 100000 signatures or e signature to the board they would take notice
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[stripermaineiac]

The problem is Mike is that the numbers they keep using have shown to be flawed so often that all they've done so far is make things worse not improved things.we need to change the process. This isn't about what won't work we need to do something that will. ASMFC has shown it's self to be not just inefective but biased against the fish not just one user group or another.If we just sit on our hands and do nothing instead of working towards action that is posetive than we might just as well all give it up.I don't buy it.1 there are way too many of us to just say we don't count.2 all these appointees work for us it's time we show them that.I don't mind someone makeing a decision when voted or appointed to do so but time n time again they have shown that they're not up to doing the job. to continually ignore all of us time and again and for us to keep being proven right then it's time we changed this process or make them fix it.

[stripermaineiac]

The balls in our court and ther's way more than enough of us to prove the point and fix it.

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

The only thing anyone can do is to write to the members of the striped bass board and make your views known. Having said that, it probably won't make much of a difference. You guys have no idea what impact any of these proposals would have on the harvest. The technical committee will work up the numbers, and the board will adopt whichever proposals they deem appropriate that will bring the harvest down to the required level.

One thing I can agree with Sandman about, this is NOT A DEMOCRACY! nor should it be.

Ok then forget it we can simply sit on our hands and throw blame around for ever. Let the technical committee do the job they are doing while the managers are influenced by lobbies etc. Which will sway their thinking on the subject with out a doubt.

Well I guess we can just hope when management action happens in 2015 we see a change to 1 a day.
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