1@32 Pledge.....and Free Decals

[storminsteve]

I share your same sentiments about the ASMFC and have been watching them give lip service to the striped bass fishery for the last 7 years, saying one thing and doing another.

At one time I believed we as fishermen could change that. Now, after all these years, I am beginning to see a pattern where it seems they pretend to listen to us but already have their own agenda. Sadly, I feel somehow there is corruption among the ranks, and that commercial interests are a strong presence behind the scenes.

The clearest way for us to change that, is to identify the most lax at the ASMFC, the ones that consistently speak how healthy the striped bass fishery is, and apply pressure for their removal, whether they are representatives of our chosen political party or not.

**Sometimes, in the longest battles.....the tide can turn....with the most determined warriors.....food for thought..... If Bob Pond were alive now, he would not give up either......

I wish I had a crystal ball to see how all of this will shake out. The fact that the Technical Assessment was accepted by the Striped Bass Management Board (SBMB) is a very good thing as now they cannot ignore the science and the data. The trends seemingly compel them to act. Even with the Technical Assessment having been accepted some Board members are questioning the science and trying to raise questions to water down any action that the Board may take. Listening to the webinars of these meetings it is amazing to see some board members passionately calling for measures to improve the striped bass fishery while others are firm in their opinion that no problem exists.

My real hope is that when the time comes for people to act they will. Something tells me that many of the Pledge people will - it seems to resonate with a lot of people that are concerned and worried about the downward trends. Each legislator on the SBMB needs to hear from their constituents. The facebook pledge page lists all the representatives on the SBMB in the files section of the page. They all strive to remain in power and my sense is that a large outpouring could begin to influence their votes. The governors of each state are players in this too but they may be too big to influence...I just don't know.

My gut tells me that at the next ASMFC meeting there will be recommendation to cut the commercial quota (~30%) and a decision to limit recreational landings to one fish at 28". Not sure what if anything they will do to protect spawning fish??

Ross

Thanks guys for sharing your opinions. I really think they should shut down all bay and river fishing till all the fish have spawned. Give them a month or 3 weeks and then let fishermen have at em. This would make sense but I think the commercial fishermen would not allow it. Any other thoughts?

[surferman]

What about the party and charter boats that take their limits all the time with bonus tag? Don't you all think something should be done about them?

[Monty]

What about the party and charter boats that take their limits all the time with bonus tag? Don't you all think something should be done about them?

Yes, 1 at 32 or 1 at 36 and the bonus tag should be obliterated.

[jigfreak]

I think if you cut fishing during the spawn you would probably have these bass come back like gangbusters. I think you gents are right tho, no real chance of that happening as its all politics and stuff behind the scenes.

[dogfish]

Good job Ross. Noticed on the other site there were like 70 replies. The saddest thing about that is at least half were arguing with you on the size limit. You must have done some research before you came up with the 1 @ 32" concept. There were all these stunods telling you why you should change your notion to fit theirs. Some of the comments were so idiotic that I doubt some of these folks fish they seem like internet fishermen. This is why there is so much trouble getting fishermen to act together. In the society we live in everyone thinks they have a right to have their particular wants or needs followed. What happened to the idea of compromise. You are the one who had the initiative. They should all be patting you on the back instead of trying to fine tune your ideas. Unbelievable the stupidity in some of those comments. Thank you and keep it up. I previously signed on the fb page. let's keep this thing going.

[hookset]

There were all these stunods telling you why you should change your notion to fit theirs. Some of the comments were so idiotic that I doubt some of these folks fish they seem like internet fishermen. This is why there is so much trouble getting fishermen to act together.. Unbelievable the stupidity in some of those comments. Thank you and keep it up. I previously signed on the fb page. let's keep this thing going.

Just read the following comment on the barn-

Then after doing some digging it would appear that this is being funded and promoted by PEW to a large extent, and to generalize I feel that PEW is the real enemy to catch and release fishing. So I have very mixed emotions on this one.

Are you in any way affiliated with PEW? What a toolbag that guy was what a ****** comment!
This is why fishermen can't get anything done someone like Ross comes along and tries to make a diffrence and the negative nellys line up.

[jigfreak]

^^^^^^ Well you know what they say opinions are like A*SHOLES and everyone has one. Don't sweat it ross I checked out the fb page and didn't see any connections to pew what so ever. Keep up the good work

[Monty]

Thanks guys for sharing your opinions. I really think they should shut down all bay and river fishing till all the fish have spawned. Give them a month or 3 weeks and then let fishermen have at em. This would make sense but I think the commercial fishermen would not allow it. Any other thoughts?

Have at them with much more stricter limits.
1 at 32 or 1 at 36 would be my preference.
But the "let them spawn" idea is excellent and should be put in place. But instead the meat men will be out there killing them.