POSSIBLE changes to STRIPED BASS fishery

[sportfishingusa]

One fish 24 to 36 inches. Bammm. Or one fish 24 and under. Lol.

[Sharkyispy]

Hammer- thanks for posting the information and update. I agree with the slot fish approach. Too many fish taken unnecessarily, and I would imagine at some point they will clamp down just like every other species.

[kmaty]

I agree as well! Was talking to my crew about
It today! Trying to convince paying customers
To release is tough when they fish once a year
__________________

good to hear you say that!!!

Here's one thing thay maybe its just my thinking but please someone explain to me how a slot at 24 or what ever would be benificial? If you take a xxinch fish when its xxinches it never grows to maturity and is dead kinda rendered useless it would never spawn now i also belive that some opinions want the slots back b.c they cant catch a bass over the 28in mark i typicaly dont eat them but im sure the little ones have to taste better than the big red meated cows but whats guna happen right off the gate is a thousand people will catch a thousand fish and bam its a mess

[Reel Class]

Originally Posted by kmaty

good to hear you say that!!!

Here's one thing thay maybe its just my thinking but please someone explain to me how a slot at 24 or what ever would be benificial? If you take a xxinch fish when its xxinches it never grows to maturity and is dead kinda rendered useless it would never spawn now i also belive that some opinions want the slots back b.c they cant catch a bass over the 28in mark i typicaly dont eat them but im sure the little ones have to taste better than the big red meated cows but whats guna happen right off the gate is a thousand people will catch a thousand fish and bam its a mess

The theory behind the slot fish is you're not killing the big breeders that are loaded with eggs.

When we had the 1 fish at 24-27.999" and one over 28" the stock was in pretty good shape - I would hope we go back in this direction also.

Dan, Fred add me to the list! Another +1

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by kmaty

good to hear you say that!!!

Here's one thing thay maybe its just my thinking but please someone explain to me how a slot at 24 or what ever would be benificial? If you take a xxinch fish when its xxinches it never grows to maturity and is dead kinda rendered useless it would never spawn now i also belive that some opinions want the slots back b.c they cant catch a bass over the 28in mark i typicaly dont eat them but im sure the little ones have to taste better than the big red meated cows but whats guna happen right off the gate is a thousand people will catch a thousand fish and bam its a mess

It would limit the amount of fish taken daily.
right now when fishing is easiest in the spring , there are very few small bass caught. so in essence it would limit you to taking one breeder size bass as the less than 28" fish arent being caught.



I also think that as a resource that the enjoyment and hooting and hollering that goes on when a big fish is caught far out weighs the pleasure at the dinner table.
Yet striped bass are good eating fish , and eating some of the smaller fish many would still get to enjoy them without a continued crushing blow to the brood stock

Then in the fall when there are alot of smaller bass around it would still pretty much limit you to one fish a day as there arent as many Big bass around.

the other thought is that it spreads the catch over many different year classes of bass.

and that smaller bass take much less time to be replaced in the fishery.

.

[FASTEDDIE29]

One fish between 24-28. One fish over 28. That's what I hope for. Those 24's are delicious on the grill whole and stuffed with my secret ingredients.

Fished a charter a couple weeks back with a bunch of buddies. Friend X hooks a good fish, it's a 31lb female. The mate gaff's this fish right in the stomach and my buddy and I just felt horrible when we saw what came out of her belly. Let the big girls live. I have to say I did not think this way years ago but this fishery is very important to our future and future anglers. Let's hope that we can just stop all the gaffing and murdering of the big spawning females. It doesn't make sense to me to see pics of a bunch of 20-40lbers all over a bloody deck. They really don't taste that good when they're that big anyway! BRING BACK THE SLOT FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!

TIGHT LINEZ!!!!!!!!

[Qman]

Agree with a slot similar to redfish down south cap off maximum length. Something like two fish 28 to 36. No need to keep anything larger.

[Tony Cav]

The simpler the better. Slot fish, like Hammer outlined in this threads very first post.

Excellent thread!!!!! Long over due.

[FiremanJohn]

I like Maines Regulations. Keep a Fish that is awesome to eat. Only 1 but I still like it. Check it out. 1 @ 20-26 or 40 and over

http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreationa...edBassRegs.pdf

[jmurr711]

2 fish over 24