GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

Gambler's striped bass fishing was very good today. We were out with a light crowd. All fish were on lures. Jigs wit tails worked best but the big stripers also grabbed shads and spoons. Often, the fish were rolling on top, gulping up sandeels. Other times, the Gambler stopped on haystack readings. Great day on the water.

Gambler is fishing 7 days a week for striped bass, leaving at 7:30 and returning by 2:30.

Suggested to make reservations on-line or call office. Gambler is limiting capacity to 2/3rds of what we normally would carry. Walk-ons are welcome if we are not fully booked (suggested to call ahead on weekends).

Our spacious cabin is heated and our galley serves up breakfast and lunch throughout the trip.

Bring your own gear or rent from us. Tackle available on board.

Re: GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

Nice net shots! Great day on the water, fall fishing at its best.

Want to say something that's not been said here before. I look at these reports and see the smiles on people's faces even though the regulations allow very few fish to be retained. Some recreational anglers fish and spend the significant money involved for a meal, most in my opinion do it for the experience and in the case of stripers for the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime. I don't see anyone complaining in these reports, just a bunch of smiling faces enjoying what recreational fishing is in many ways all about.

Just keep that in mind when people are asked for their help fighting the federal government, in some cases state governments, the corrupt bureaucratic agencies managing fisheries and corrupt politicians. Recreational fishing is a choice and a lifestyle too important to let corporate and political greed and corruption destroy. Please remember that when your help and support is asked for, I can't and don't want to imagine what my life would've been like without the countless outings I've enjoyed with my parents, brothers, sons and so many friends.

Re: GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

Thanks for the observations, Bill. But I think that we have lost a generation of fishermen that once came down to fish, with the hope, that they would bring something home to eat. We used to get a lot more Pennsy farmers and inner city people that might not have had a lot of money, but hoped that the money they spent for the ride-down, the fare, the tackle, etc, would result in a dinner or two.

But now that the stocks have been rebuilt, some species to numbers that scientists did not think could be achieved, the restrictions get tighter. The constant circle: There are more fish, so you caught more, so we need to restrict you more....

Fisheries management is needed, but should be equable to all.

Think about how fast the striped bass biomass increased when it was 2 fish at 28" and over. The stock shot up. So why keep changing it? I agree that those bigger cows should be released in most cases. But instead of making it a regulation, why not educate and let fishermen make a choice?

Re: GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

I'm with you Capt. Bob. I have fished Stripers on the Gambler from the start on the old boat when you were the only boat targeting them in our area. I saw the biomass increase year to year. Then suffered through the size limit changes and the EEZ limiting us to 3miles. What a crock of $%!+ ! Not being able to access these fish is ridiculous. I don't know how many times we couldn't follow the fish or check out birds working. My hats off to Capt. Bob , Capt Ron , and all the other for hire Captains who have to put up with this .
Capt. Bob, I will see you in the morning at the dock. Lets Catch Um Up !

Re: GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

Capt., the recreational sector has been screwed more times than Stormy Daniels and that's saying something. Less kids getting involved in this sport is directly proportionate to the internet and in my opinion restrictions and constraints placed on the recreational sector over the last two or three decades even as it's been an important part of most of our lives. Fathers already struggling to make ends meet can't afford to drop $250-$350 to take their children fishing and bring nothing home. The point of my post was in spite of that, fishing is a recreational activity in our blood and a life choice by many still. What other recreational activity, or sport if you will, can you enjoy and participate in when your a child and still when you're 60 or 70 years old? None. Retaining some of your harvest for a meal should be the God-given right I agree and fisheries management has made it anything but. In order for that to ever change, there has to be pushback against the powers to be that are causing fisheries up and down the coast to become their own personal piggy banks as opposed to a public resource fairly allocated between the recreational angler and commercial interests. I wasn't at all suggesting that the regulations that we've been hamstrung by are fair, just pointing out how important fighting for less stringent regulations and the survival of our beloved sport is.

Re: GAMBLER --STRIPERS!
 

My personal observations are that the kids that do fish, and I know a lot that do, are a lot more conservation minded then I was as a kid... We were reckless and killed or kept everything but times have changed.

For the most part kids like catching fish but many want to see them released and some will keep fish so to each, his or here own decision.

IMHO what we need to fight for is as much access, meaning the amount of days people can fish for something to allow boats and kids to get out whenever they want to and have some reasonable regs for the hope of being able to take at least something home if they choose to.