Maryland finally gets its act together

[surferman]

Check out the language they used guys. They are finally starting to realize you can't just keep taking and taking while the bass are breeding.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries...egulations.asp


The purpose of this action is to reduce the impact of catch and release fishing on pre-spawn female striped bass. The proposed action places restrictions on recreational angling for striped bass during the catch and release period of March 1 through the 3rd Friday of April. This action is needed to address a significant increase in fishing effort that has developed during the months of March and April since 2002, and the potential negative impacts of this fishery to the Atlantic coast population of striped bass. Specifically, there is concern about the sub-lethal (fish survives but doesn’t spawn successfully) impacts of catch and release fishing on pre-spawn female striped bass, as well as an increase in direct mortality. There is uncertainty in the magnitude of these impacts. The Department is proposing this action as an initial precautionary measure to ensure adequate protection of pre-spawn female striped bass. These concerns and potential regulatory options were discussed on October 20, 2009 by the Sport and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commissions. The Department considered comment from this meeting and presented refined regulatory options to the public at a scoping meeting on November 16, 2009. The proposed action takes into consideration comments received from the public.

The proposed action places restrictions in all open catch and release areas during the pre-spawn time period of March 1 through the third Friday in April. Specifically, the action prohibits the use of stinger hooks, requires barbless hooks to be used when trolling, requires the use of circle hooks or J hooks with a gap of less than ½” when using bait, and restricts boats to the use of no more than six lines when trolling, regardless of the number of individuals on board the vessel.

Click here to view proposed text.

[DarkSkies]

Check out the language they used guys. They are finally starting to realize you can't just keep taking and taking while the bass are breeding.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries...egulations.asp


The purpose of this action is to reduce the impact of catch and release fishing on pre-spawn female striped bass. The proposed action places restrictions on recreational angling for striped bass during the catch and release period of March 1 through the 3rd Friday of April. This action is needed to address a significant increase in fishing effort that has developed during the months of March and April since 2002, and the potential negative impacts of this fishery to the Atlantic coast population of striped bass. Specifically, there is concern about the sub-lethal (fish survives but doesn’t spawn successfully) impacts of catch and release fishing on pre-spawn female striped bass, as well as an increase in direct mortality.

It's definitely a step in the right direction, Surferman, and a progressive one at that considering the pressure that was probably on them NOT to do something like this.

Thanks for posting that.

[seamonkey]

I fish there in the spring. So much illegal fishing goes on down there in the back bays it's not funny. About time they did something.

[gjb1969]

good for them

[Monty]

A positive step.
Good.