WHY should I care? WHY should I get involved? Why ME?

[Monty]

Sorry you feel that way,
And by the way fishing this year sucked compared to years past. It is on a decline from the mass destruction done by bunker snaggers and charter boats in Virginia and NC in the winter.

I did not mean for it to sound like I want the stocks depleted if it sounded that way (I want the opposite). I feel better fishing management is needed (recreational and commercial). As you state if I interpreted what you wrote correctly, people cause this problem.
I feel they cannot go against their nature and do the things required for stocks to recover without guidance (laws).

I also feel its hypocritical for me to be on the same side as the charter boats catching limits + of 20 pound and up bass.
That is just how I feel (now).
I know these people need to make a living, but I just do not like them killing so many fish.


I just read the article by Doug Olander "To Late to Stop the Train Wreck?". Its alarming the things mentioned in the article are happening to the recreational fishermen. Its almost unbelievable that people on certain positions are so out of touch with what is happening. Its even more troubling with so many branches in the government are so out of touch with whats happening in the USA. Views today by government officials are so skewed by $$ that its disgusting. Not sure what to do about it.

And I do realize that fishing (catching) is on the down side and share your view on where it could be headed. My reference to how many fish you caught this year was a mere reflection of your skills .


Is it us (surf fisherman, boat fisherman, charter boats, party boats and tackle manufacturers) against commercials? Trying to divide the fish quota?
Trying to set fair limits for all that will enable the respective fish stocks to recover?

[DarkSkies]

Here's the link to their site.
http://www.stripersforever.org/Info/index

I noticed sometimes people aren't motivated to click a link. Here's some of the reasons why you should:

Initiatives, Past and Present

Below you will find links to some of Stripers Forever’s most important initiatives. This work is designed to convince policy makers to enhance wild striped bass populations by removing the pressures of market fishing. The best way to start supporting SF’s efforts is to Become A Member – free with a very short sign up through this link. Read on, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

1. Announcing H796 a bill to designate wild striped bass as game fish in the state waters of Massachusetts. We urge all of our members to go http://www.mass.gov/legis/, find their represenatives, and send them an e-mail today in your own words that asks them to support H796, a bill to make striped bass a game fish in Massachusetts.

2. Successful Opposition to Re-opening the EEZ produces Executive Order from President Bush - Stripers Forever was one of the leaders in the effort to keep commercial interests from reopening the EEZ which had been closed to the taking of striped bass since the collapse of the 1980s. With large stripers becoming more scare inshore some commercial interests had pressured the ASMFC to let them fish in this protected zone. Note - to view history of SF's opposition to reopening the EEZ click this link.

3. The Southwick Studies - The Southwick Study, commissioned by SF, compares the relative economic values of commercial and recreational striped bass fishing, and it takes the important step of determining what the socio-economic landscape would be like if commercial fishing for wild striped bass were to cease and the fishery managed purely for recreational/personal-use fishing.

They're also behind quite a few powerful and compelling articles on the state of striped bass today:

I read the Ted williams article several times. I thought he painted a compelling and detailed picture of what is happening today, much better than I ever could. There is no anger or rage in his article, just cold hard facts backing the conclusions he makes.

Ted Williams FR&R On Striped Bass Game Fish July 2009
Attachments:

TedWilliams July 2009.pdf
Size: 814K
Last Updated: 2009/7/2

The above attachment is a story by the noted author, Ted Williams which appears in the current issue of Fly Rod and Reel. The story addresses the state of striped bass in his home state of Massachusetts and Ted's thoughts on making striped bass a game fish. You'll find it a good read. Here is a brief summary of Ted's credentials.

Ted Williams - not the baseball player - has been writing full time on environmental issues, with special attention to fish and wildlife conservation, since 1970. In addition to freelancing for national magazines, he contributes regular feature-length conservation columns to Audubon and Fly Rod & Reel where he serves as Editor-at-Large and Conservation Editor respectively.

2009 Annual Fishing Survey Results
Attachments:

2009 Survey Results and Comments.xls
Size: 279K
Last Updated: 2009/12/12

2009Commentary.doc
Size: 76K
Last Updated: 2009/12/7

Key Comparisons 2003,4,5,6,7,8,9version 2.xls
Size: 33K
Last Updated: 2009/12/7

Stripers Forever's 2009 annual fishing survey results are in. This is our 7th consecutive year of polling guides and recreational anglers from SC to ME on their striped bass fishing experiences and preferences for management measures. The survey data comes from a very experienced group of fishermen representing all the major coastal striped bass states. This year’s results are particularly important since we used Survey Monkey software to obtain surveys from a record 906 respondents including 82 guides representing most coastal states. It will not surprise many of you to read that the overwhelming majority of anglers see the striper fishery as declining significantly. The results and our comments are in the attached documents above.

2009 YOY Disappointing

Attachments:

2009YOYPDFfinalSF.pdf
Size: 320K
Last Updated: 2009/10/21

The Chesapeake Bay, striped bass, young of the year survey for 2009 is out. While the number is better than last year's dismal result it is well below the long term trend, and will certainly not begin to support the fishing pressure currently applied to striped bass. David Ross PhD. a SF board member and fishery scientist comments on the latest numbers in the attached document.

[Monty]

Finchaser mentioned the mass destruction done by bunker snaggers and charter boats in Virginia and NC in the winter.
Does anyone know where the RFA stands on this?

[vpass]

I might not agree on everything the RFA supports. I do understand the points that Monty brought up about the party boat and agree a lot with him, but at this moment the RFA might be best game in town to Lobby against the Gov/Com. I have / will be reading a lot about the other Organizations and what are there missions.

I’m just curious is it better to have many groups that are interested in the same goals, or is it better to unite them as one. What I’m talking about is the SSFFF, JCAA, Striperforever, RFA, and Others? (I’m not sure if there are others at the moment.) Could our voices be stronger if all groups where united?

[finchaser]

IMO except for JCAA the other are all pretty much talking and the RFA does the Lobbing in Washington the march on Washington in February was started by RFA and SSFFF to show unity of the recreational sector. Buses have been set up in 4 locations to bring anglers to Washington for $32.00 round trip.

Main concern now is fisheries being shut down by Ms. Lubchenco the PEW appointed Obama puppet. These closures are putting extreme pressure on Striped Bass and fluke which if they become over fished will shut them down next.

Over fished is different from over quota.

Over quota means you surpassed the government assigned quota
Over fished means a species is harvested faster then nature can supply it.

All the activists groups always used the term over fished when they lobby in Washington important to remember. Pew is now paying charter boat captains to convey this to the public.

Inaccurate over fished information caused seabass to be closed even though it was 103% rebuilt 3 years ahead of schedule.
Weakfish are truly over fished
Winter flounder will probably have no 2010 recreational season

So at any time Ms. Lubchenco deems bass or fluke over fished it's all over this is why it's so important to protect them now.

Plus she is not in favor of all coastal states having there own rules( like NJ has 2 bass @28"), she wants coastal NOAA size and bag limits giving her total control of all recreational fisheries.

The editorial in Sport Fishing magazine "To Late to Stop the Train Wreck" is down right sickening if you are a recreational fisherman.

[DarkSkies]

Here it is:

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/

[Monty]

It seems like Lubchenco is very conservative. Is she shutting down commercial fishing also? Why is a set size and limit for all states not the best way (if it was set at a consevative #)? These questions are relative to the stance that the RFA takes. Does the RFA have a stance on the current striper regulations in NJ/NY which I feel are terrible and should be changed (1 fish per person is plenty and raise the size to 36")? If the RFA is "looking out for charters, surf/boat fisheman", they more than likely do not want to reduce the current regs.

[finchaser]

It seems like Lubchenco is very conservative. Is she shutting down commercial fishing also? Why is a set size and limit for all states not the best way (if it was set at a consevative #)? These questions are relative to the stance that the RFA takes. Does the RFA have a stance on the current striper regulations in NJ/NY which I feel are terrible and should be changed (1 fish per person is plenty and raise the size to 36")? If the RFA is "looking out for charters, surf/boat fisheman", they more than likely do not want to reduce the current regs.

No most commercial fishing goes on as normal or with increases, she just goes after the recreational guys which she has no use for.
As stated without us things would be easier to manage and lets not forget renaming fish to sea kittens to teach children not to kill fish that's the side Ms. L sides with.
This is what the RFA fights for our right to catch and bring home a fish to eat when you want to. Forget about the bass it's way beyond that now.

I agree with a 1 fish at 28 to 32" was great when we had that stocks built fast and way less people fished for them. Most importantly it would spare the most prolific breeders in the 32 to 36 inch range. Even a true trophy tag of 1 fish over 50" per year per angler.But it's not just about bass anymore.

The coastal size was first suggested for 2010 for fluke 2 fish at 19 1/2 inches which would wipe out most breeding females. No science was even considered on this one. SSFFF and RFA played a major role in it's defeat.

Once the states have no say our congressman and senators become almost totally useless.The RFA works in conjunction with the good ones like Pallone to help get bills passed. Like the beloved bunker bill which in some instance people care more about than the bass because without bunker they couldn't catch a bass. The mind set if there are bunker there will be bass. Yep there like Dorrito's will just make more bass

But this is about recreational rights to catch and keep fish any kind not just bass. IMO they are testing the waters.

The new registry is going in place so they can call fisherman instead of people out of the phone book which led to some of the inaccurate info which caused allot of this mess.

Another problem is Obama is not a sportsman like Bush and others were, his appointment of Lubchenco in 2/09 from PEW some think was a political payback.

So as stated by editorial,conservation columns this is about our rights, forget about bass, 5 fisheries have been closed in less than a year and others are being targeted..

Everyone needs to start looking at the BIG PICTURE or bass will fall by the wayside and I personally don't want that twice in my lifetime

The End

[Jackbass]

It seems like Lubchenco is very conservative. Is she shutting down commercial fishing also?

Lubchenco is Conservative so long as it pertains to the people buttering her Bread. Some of the things she and her cronies are proposing make me toss in my mouth a bit.

I agree with DSkies Stripers Forever is truly focused on Striped bass conservation and trying like hell to open ears and minds to what is really going on with fisheries management.

Other reasons you should join Stripers Forever

1. The group is 100 percent volunteer based and runs it self strictly on donations. Not a single dime of money that comes into that group, does not go to Conservation efforts

2. Many of the Founding members of Stripers forever have lived through the Striper wars and the moratorium and have seen the Ebb and Flow of Striper Populations.

3. They propose sound management of stocks while eliminating commercial fishing.

Un Like the NJ bonus tag system the current Gamefish Bill in MA proposes the entire MA quota be earmarked for conservation not returned to the national quota or slated for rec. take.

In fact they actually propose eliminating a keeper per outing per rec angler. Reducing the take to one per day.


I understand people think comm fisherman and recreational fisherman each have a place on the water but from where I stand any time a fish has a dollar sign attached to its head the dollar sign becomes more important than the fish.

The more members SF has the bigger voice it has with law makers.