Striper Season Closures - Immediate Action Needed

[Duffman]

What if your in favor of the closure? As unpopular as it may be?

[Broad Bill]

The more relevant question is why is there a need for a closure of a fishery where one fish per angler per day between 28-31 inches can be kept. The fishery should be thriving. Years ago when there were no limits, the fishery was robust. If there is in fact a decline, what's caused it and how about we address the core problem as opposed to jumping to a moratorium. For starters, clean up the Chesapeake and kick Omega Protein / Cooke Inc out and stop the money grab by Virginia. If they do end up closing the fishery down, they had better close bunker netting in the bay down as well. Why pass legislations which will negatively impact all Mid-Atlantic states and so many small businesses when one state's greed and polluted spawning grounds is materially causing the problem. The young of the year indexes of both Maryland and Virginia are down alarmingly from historical numbers. A season closure won't improve the health of the stock if the big girls aren't spawning or the eggs not surviving in the stock's largest spawning ground due to pollution. All it'll do is push small businesses to the brink and place undue pressure on other stocks.

[1captainron]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

The more relevant question is why is there a need for a closure of a fishery where one fish per angler per day between 28-31 inches can be kept. The fishery should be thriving. Years ago when there were no limits, the fishery was robust. If there is in fact a decline, what's caused it and how about we address the core problem as opposed to jumping to a moratorium. For starters, clean up the Chesapeake and kick Omega Protein / Cooke Inc out and stop the money grab by Virginia. If they do end up closing the fishery down, they had better close bunker netting in the bay down as well. Why pass legislations which will negatively impact all Mid-Atlantic states and so many small businesses when one state's greed and polluted spawning grounds is materially causing the problem. The young of the year indexes of both Maryland and Virginia are down alarmingly from historical numbers. A season closure won't improve the health of the stock if the big girls aren't spawning or the eggs not surviving in the stock's largest spawning ground due to pollution. All it'll do is push small businesses to the brink and place undue pressure on other stocks.

Broad Bill, Stop it!! You make way too much sense. I'm not a scientist, don't have a PHD but I have eyes and half a brain. Anyone in this business who has at least those two things should know about everything you mention.

[WhaleFart]

I’m all for no harvest and trying to make a better future for this fishery. No targeting will be a huge gut punch. I’d support some additional restrictions like prohibiting bait fishing, or putting a no target on bass let’s say until 4/15 in breeding waters.

Hope they do something to firm things up, there are a good amount of bass today, no doubt, but there aren’t a lot of fish existing to support future generations of equal fishing per the reproduction data.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by WhaleFart

I’m all for no harvest and trying to make a better future for this fishery. No targeting will be a huge gut punch. I’d support some additional restrictions like prohibiting bait fishing, or putting a no target on bass let’s say until 4/15 in breeding waters.

Hope they do something to firm things up, there are a good amount of bass today, no doubt, but there aren’t a lot of fish existing to support future generations of equal fishing per the reproduction data.

Wow! I guess it won't effect you.It might suck in the Chessy area but from what i see it looks like a healthy fishery here in N J.I been chasing strippers for over 60 years and what we have today is fabulous compared to the sixties and seventies.We never had fall runs like we have now. We all want a future for this fishery but at what price? Respecfully.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by WhaleFart

I’m all for no harvest and trying to make a better future for this fishery. No targeting will be a huge gut punch. I’d support some additional restrictions like prohibiting bait fishing, or putting a no target on bass let’s say until 4/15 in breeding waters.

Hope they do something to firm things up, there are a good amount of bass today, no doubt, but there aren’t a lot of fish existing to support future generations of equal fishing per the reproduction data.

As unpopular as it sounds I agree. Although I’d like to see the for hire industry to still be able to fish for stripers.

What goes on in the Sandy Hook/Raritan area during the spring run is disgusting to say the least. Close it during the spawn can only help.

Here’s the question tho…..who will enforce it?

[AndyS]

No one is going to enforce it, just more scare tactics like circle hooks. They will patrol the densely populated fishing areas like Sandy Hook bay and that will be about it. Fish at night, do what ever you want to do.

[RU fan]

Death by a thousand cuts. Slowly but surely, we are giving up our rights to a resource we are entitled to. We do it in the call for saving a fishery!!! They tell us it's for the good of everyone...well it's not. It's for the good of the commercial interest. I watched 60 years of fishery management. What I've learned is they take it away claiming to do it to restore the fishery. What I've also learned is they never give it back. Look at todays; regs....are you happy with 3 fluke for a few months, one to two stripers, one blackfish here and there. How about seabass..(a fully recovered fishery plus). Ok ten for a month over the spring, then one fish over the peak summer season. Then you get to chase them offshore for a few months. Go look at the commercial regs. They fish for seabass 12 months a year....no big decreases month to month. They even get to pick the number of days QOUTA they will fish for. Can we claim we're fishing today for our 5 day quota?
Sadly, over time regulations will put charter and party boat operations out of business. Where do we go then.... their answer is the fish store.
I'm not for breaking laws to keep something we are entitled too, but I get the frustration.. I'm tired of bad science...but what do we do. I appreciate Gerry making it easy to voice our opinions.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Duffman

What if your in favor of the closure? As unpopular as it may be?

You could go to the meetings or write in comments or just hang out and hope the wind might push it your way...