Something Stinks at the ASMFC? - ASMFC Striped Bass ruling October 2013

[finchaser]

Tom Fote of JCAA voted against protecting the bass

Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 4:58 PM
Subject: We are making our way back to square one!!



What happened today at the ASMFC 72nd Annual Meeting held in Georgia was a real shitshow.

While the transcripts of todays meeting and vote aren't available, one result is out based on the following question,

"To implement a 28 inch minimum size and one fish daily for coastal recreational fisheries with an equivalent reduction for coastal commercial quotas for implementation in 2014."

[finchaser]

Can't save the bass but they have time for this SH_T . I was invited but refused to go. Also fluke were over fished and quota's and bag limits in 2014 will be cut

----- Original Message ----- From: Jersey Coast Anglers Association
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 2:00 PM
Subject: PRESS RELEASE - JCAA Sportsperson of the Year Dinner November 10, 2013

JCAA Sportsperson of the Year Dinner November 10, 2013
Sergio Radossi is the 2013 Sportsperson of the Year

At the November 10th Jersey Coast Anglers Association annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year Dinner we will honor Sergio Radossi, as the 2013 recipient of the JCAA "Sportsperson-of-the-Year". He was nominated by the Hudson River Fisherman's Association and was given this honor by a majority vote at the October 29th General Meeting. We are proud to announce this year's Youth Education Award winner is Geaorge Foreman. The dinner takes place on Sunday, November 10, 2013 from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the beautiful Crystal Point Yacht Club, Route 70 & River Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling Dan Millerat (609) 641-7821. Tickets are $75.00 per person or $600.00 for a table of ten. For more information about the dinner and Sergio Radossi's nomination letter from the Hudson River Fisherman's Association, go to the JCAA web page.

About Jersey Coast Anglers Association The Jersey Coast Anglers Association is a non-profit organization formed in 1981. The original objective of the JCAA was to combine a loosely fragmented group of marine sportfishing clubs in order to form and promote a united consensus on issues relevant to saltwater anglers in New Jersey. Over the years, the mission of the JCAA has remained unchanged, but now has the added goal of joining forces with organizations having similar objectives in states along the East Coast and national organizations. While the JCAA is relatively young, it has emerged as the most effective organization of its kind on the East Coast. For more information, or for information about becoming a member of the JCAA, please call (732) 506-6565 or visit www.JCAA.org

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JCAA Sportsperson of the Year Dinner November 10, 2013 At the November 10th Jersey Coast Anglers Association annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year Dinner we will honor Sergio Radossi, as the 2013 recipient of the JCAA "Sportsperson-of-the-Year". He was nominated by the Hudson River Fisherman's Association and was given this honor by a majority vote at the October 29th General Meeting. We are proud to announce this year's Youth Education Award winner is Geaorge Foreman. The dinner takes place on Sunday, November 10, 2013 from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the beautiful Crystal Point Yacht Club, Route 70 & River Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling Dan Millerat (609) 641-7821. Tickets are $75.00 per person or $600.00 for a table of ten. For more information about the dinner and Sergio Radossi's nomination letter from the Hudson River Fisherman's Association, go to the

[nitestrikes]

One thing some folks in NJ may not realize is the limits for striped bass in NY are one at 28" and one at 40" or greater.
However, the party boats have a conditional license to take 2 at 28" or better, per angler.
There is also a pretty strong commercial striper fishery in NY, mainly gillnetters.

Taken together, these party boats and gillnetters represent a strong political lobbying group. I read "undue influence" mentioned here. It is stronger than that. It is a targeted influence by these commercial interests to further their inroads they have made. Any move by the ASMFC to cut the stiped bass harvest would definitely affect their quotas. They will fight tooth and nail for that quota even if it means they have to lie and make up stories about how healthy the bass stocks are. These folks are in it for the $$. They don't care about the future of striped bass. If bass are wiped out they will just target another species.
I think it's admirable that you want to pursue this fight. As bababooey said you will make some enemies out there. These folks will do anything to keep or increase their quota. That being said I want to commend you for taking the initiave to rally against the ASMFC. Groups have tried it before and failed. Just be aware that there are Commissioners on the ASMFC from LI and they will most certainly represent LI commercial interests. This will continue no matter how much data you present to prove your case. I do give you credit for trying and will help any way I can.

[BassBuddah]

I will help as well.

Some e-mails for NJ and LI for folks who want to pepper them with e-mail blasts:


LI Commissioners -

James Gilmore,
NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Marine Resources
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, NY 11733-3400
Tel: 631.444.0433
jjgilmor@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Pat Augustine
25 Stuart Drive
Coram, NY 11727
Tel: 631.928.1524
paugustine3@verizon.net


Sen Philip M Boyle
4^th Senate District
69 West Main Street
Bay Shore, NY 11706
Tel: 518.455.3411 (Albany); 631.665.2311 (District office)





NJ Commissioners

David Chanda
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Mail Code 501‐03
PO BOX 400
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Tel: 609.292.9410
dave.chanda@dep.state.nj.us

Thomas P Fote
22 Cruiser Court
Toms River, NJ 08753-6246
Tel: 732.270.9102
tfote@jcaa.org


Assemblyman Nelson T Albano
NJ State Legislature
1028 East Landis Avenue
Vineland, NJ 08360-4041
Tel: 856.696.7109
AsmAlbano@njleg.org

[BassBuddah]

Ideally this makeup should provide a balance, with someone involved in the science, another a Congressman or Official, and the other just plain folk who are supposed to represent the interests of the fishermen. We have had similar issues with Pat Augustine representing the LI fishery. I feel he represents commercials more than recreationals and this is where the resentment lies.

This is a list of all the ASMFC Commissioners -

http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/commissioners


It is interesting to note that at the meeting that took place this week, only 13 of them voted on the striped bass question. That is 13 out of 45, not even enough for a quorum. I feel all members should be voting on each issue like this that is important to us fishermen. Other wise, what's the point of having a vote?

[clamchucker]

the meeting summary. It is in pdf format

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/pr...hmarkAssmt.pdf

[clamchucker]

Some very good points made here. Bassbuddah thank you for your input on the new york captains. I was not aware they have such a strong influence. I can tell you folks that I have been fishing for striped bass since the 1960's. As mentioned here the conditions that existed prior to the moratorium were such that few of us were aware of imminent collapse. There were areas like Cape Cod and Montauk where there were very strong showings of striped bass. I caught some very large fish from the shores of the Cape Cod area. Some over 45lbs. The conditions were fantastic fishing and almost unbelievable by today's standards.
This was around the late 1970's. Then things declined sharply thereafter. The amount of fishermen selling their catch back then was incredible. I believe this unchecked selling had a lot to do with the collapse. The years 1980 to 1982 you could really tell there was a decline. Bass were harder to catch and the blitz conditions occurred less and less. Then in 1982 they declared them overfished and put a shutdown on the fishing.

Most of us knew back in 1979 that we were seeing the beginning of the end. There were some newspaper articles published back then but not many folks paid attention. When they finally did declare them overfished it was too late.
Then, it took 5-7 years for them to come back where the numbers and catches were really strong again.

You should e-mail the asmfc reps for your state and ask them key questions relative to their reports showing how the stock has declined. Petitions might work as well but you would need thousands of signatures. You folks have a unique opportunity to pressure the asmfc to do the right thing here.

Dark skies I admire your initiative. As has been said I think they tried to make a change in Long Island but were not successful. Do not let a lack of success discourage you. There are enough fishermen out there right now that will confirm what I am saying. I am too old to keep fighting this like we used to. I have high hopes that you younger folk will be able to help and apply pressure for them to re-visit the statistics. I sincerely believe the statistic models they are using now are providing flawed data just like with the summer flounder. Convincing them of that will be a formidable task but it is well worth the effort. Best of luck and thank you.

[albiealert]

Thank you for sharing that clamchucker.I think we are headed down that same road again. Hope the goofballs at the Asmfc realize that before its too late. Count me in for any sigs or e-mails. The best we can do is try.

[rockhopper]

Hope the goofballs at the Asmfc realize that before its too late. .

I think it is all about money and politics. When you have it that way the stripers come last. I will help too let me know.