Mass Striped Bass Game Fish Bill

[Smann]

How do you feel about the new Striped Bass Law that is in the works?

[oddfish]

Originally Posted by Smann

How do you feel about the new Striped Bass Law that is in the works?

Is there a link?

Oddfish

[Smann]

Yes there is.

Stripers Forever - Massachusetts Striped Bass Game Fish Bill Introduced Jan. 14 2009

[oddfish]

I'm a bit ambivilent about it. I'm OK with the end of commercial fishing, mostly, but I am not a big fan of a 20" size. Every person fishing will take home a striper, thus killing many more stripers. I am also fond of a 2 fish limit. One and done is no fun to me.

I would rather see a bill that allowed commercial hand line rod and reel, with a rec 2-3 fish limit 30" + with only one being larger than 34". I think that would be a boone for both the fishermen and the fish. But good luck with anything like that, it involves logic not political greed and winey-ass pseudo-enviromentalists.

Oddfish

[Roccus]

I'm fine with eliminating the comercial sale, only IF you end all the tournoments.... these kill way too many fish just to hang them on a bragging board....and what is the differance.... it's becomes all about money, if your going to make it a game fish then do it... do not serve just one user group, and realy, thats what the whole com. Versus rec issue is all about anyway..... allow recreational 1 fish 28" or larger... I'd call for a slot limit but that would take away trophy status for those that get a fish of a lifetime and do want to keep it....

[HarryG]

I think the big thing to remember is that these fish roam from as far north as nova scotia to as far south as south carolina/georgia. So the good intentions in terms of regulations in one state can be totally abolished by those of another state.

I personally like maines laws it allows smaller non breeding fish to become table fair but also allows that trophy fish to be kept.

I kept one fish last year and only because one of the trebles was gill hooked.

The good thing is that people on the majority care and are making efforts for a sustainable population.

If I was all of you guys up north I would be more concerned about having a stellar season this year compared to last. Don't get me wrong last year showed some of the bigger fish I ever caught up north but the numbers of fish and lack of a fall run was much different than previous years.

[Smann]

I am in total agreement to ending commercial fishing for the striper, I am not in agreement to taking 20"to 26" stripers, that window could be more like 26" to 32" a second fish could be taken if over 40". Any management will certainly make a difference, but the taking of small stripers will mean everyone who fishes will be taking home a fish, i don't see how that will help the goal of increasing the striper population.

[oddfish]

Originally Posted by Smann

I am in total agreement to ending commercial fishing for the striper, I am not in agreement to taking 20"to 26" stripers, that window could be more like 26" to 32" a second fish could be taken if over 40". Any management will certainly make a difference, but the taking of small stripers will mean everyone who fishes will be taking home a fish, i don't see how that will help the goal of increasing the striper population.

Their argument (ecologically inept as it may be). Is that the smaller fish are not breeders yet. so you are not removing breeding stock, but it's a lot like a credit card you will be paying for that a few years down the road when they would have been breeding stock. Then they will argue that it's natural to have more mortality at this level, but it is still increased mortality. And as we all know It's not too hard to catch many small stripers vs. a breeding sized one.

Harry made a good point about territory. There is a lot more damage being done to the south of us. Any useful regulation would have to be somewhat similar across the whole seaboard. So MA stops commercial fishing, so what? that's peanuts to what some of the Southern States are doing commercially.


Arg!

Oddfish

Yes, too much coffee this morning!

[Roccus]

everyone needs to remember one thing about small versus large fish.... a large bass, say over 20lbs, has run tha gambit of lifes hazzards, and for the most part, except for the odd shark and of coarse humans has no enemies, these fish grow to be very large and live a long time, the larger the fish, the more spawn it produces...

Small fish, first, there are many more of them, thay have not yet reached the stage that they are not fodder for everything ( I've had large bass grab small ones) I've seen tuna whack schoolies as well, another thing to consier is that most small fish are males, Im not talking babies of coarse, but most males seldome grow over 15lbs and have a shorter life span.. takeing several small fish home is far less detrimental to the species than the taking of one large one...

[Smann]

thank you roc now it makes more sense to me, just didn't know if i should support it or not.