POSSIBLE changes to STRIPED BASS fishery

[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

[rumster]

Originally Posted by Garone Custom Rods

Here is an idea get rid of the bonus tag or only make them available on a slot size fish.

Love your idea! Really, How many fish do you need? Like 2 fish in the 15 lb - 20 lb class aren't enough per angler.

[NJ Dave]

How about all the bigger fish that you catch and have to release trying to find that "slot" sized fish.
What do you think the mortality rate is going to be on these fish?
Not saying they will all die but a mouth full of trebels, hooks in the gills, swallowed hooks from live lining, and the fact that a good portion of these fish will be mis handled and out of the water for a while when unlocking.
Im sure most will not survive so in turn all we did was injured big pregnant fish.

[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

[pectoralfin]

If you give up that second fish, when the population rebuilds, you will never see an increase in the limit from 1 to 2 fish. History has shown that limits have always decreased while the minimum size increases. Look at fluke, from 8 to 5 fish and they claim we overfished our limit last year (summer after Sandy) by 47% based on their highly questionable survey methods. Why can commercial fishermen keep 14" fish that we have to release? Sea bass from 25 to 15 fish. Winter flounder is still 2 fish and I wonder when that fishery is declared rebuilt so the limits can be increased. Up north, haddock went from 19" unlimited possession limits to 21" and 3 fish. And the list goes on.
For the record, I am in favor of reasonable size and possession limits. I keep one bass less than 32" and the rest are returned. But what you give up today will not be given back tomorrow.

[Michael82929]

Thanks for the good read Dan.

I think everyone is in a different circumstance that warrants a different opinion about catching size limits.

I can just control what I am going to do about the matter. Hopefully people would have the same lines of thinking.

[pectoralfin]

If you give up that second fish, when the population rebuilds, you will never see an increase in the limit from 1 to 2 fish. History has shown that limits have always decreased while the minimum size increases. Look at fluke, from 8 to 5 fish and they claim we overfished our limit last year (summer after Sandy) by 47% based on their highly questionable survey methods. Why can commercial fishermen keep 14" fish that we have to release? Sea bass from 25 to 15 fish. Winter flounder is still 2 fish and I wonder when that fishery is declared rebuilt so the limits can be increased. Up north, haddock went from 19" unlimited possession limits to 21" and 3 fish. And the list goes on.
For the record, I am in favor of reasonable size and possession limits. I keep one bass less than 32" and the rest are returned. But what you give up today will not be given back tomorrow.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by NJ Dave

How about all the bigger fish that you catch and have to release trying to find that "slot" sized fish.
What do you think the mortality rate is going to be on these fish?
Not saying they will all die but a mouth full of trebels, hooks in the gills, swallowed hooks from live lining, and the fact that a good portion of these fish will be mis handled and out of the water for a while when unlocking.
Im sure most will not survive so in turn all we did was injured big pregnant fish.

No live bait and single hooks may help. Also no fishing while spawning. Then you wouldn't have to reduce the limits.

Leif