Maine going hard line on Circle Hook Striped Bass Regulation

[Roccus7]

Maine has had a circle hook requirement on bait fishing for bass for a good 6 or so years no, BUT they waived circle hooks on tubes for Tube-n-Worm rigs. Well guess what I got today? Guess Gulp Sand/Bloodworm sales will be going up this year...

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Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Recreational fishermen, The Department of Marine Resources has taken emergency action to modify the circle hook requirements for striped bass in order to come into compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. Below is a summary of the regulation which takes effect today, December 16. Concise Summary: In order to come into compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan, the Department is implementing regulatory changes to expand the required use of circle hooks in the recreational striped bass fishery. Specifically, this emergency rulemaking makes it unlawful to use any hook other than a circle hook when fishing for striped bass with bait. In doing so, this emergency rulemaking removes the exception that previously exempted those fishing for striped bass with baited rubber or latex tube rigs from having to use circle hooks.​

 

[chunkster]

I been catching stripers like this forever.
Who's right and who's wrong?
What are you fishing for?
Bluefish

The blues and the bass were caught the same day.
The bass had to go back because it was short.

 

[Roccus7]

I been catching stripers like this forever.
Who's right and who's wrong?
What are you fishing for?
Bluefish

The blues and the bass were caught the same day.
The bass had to go back because it was short.

In Maine circle hooks required for bluefish bait fishing too...

 

[MakoMike]

That's going to be the coastwise rule.

 

[Roccus7]

That's going to be the coastwise rule.

Thanks Mike. That at one went by me under the radar. Here's the root of the Evil, and somehow MA came away smelling like roses with yet another "For Hire" vs "Rec" blessing. I'm unsure if this For Hire exemption is Coast Wide or limited to Massachusetts, will find out.

On October 21, 2020, the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board (Board) of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) met electronically as part of the 79th Annual Meeting to review the specifications for implementing the new circle hook requirement along the Atlantic coast.

Approved in October 2019, the change to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) implemented coastwide harvest reductions put in place in 2020, while also requiring the mandatory use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries. As per the FMP, states are required to implement circle hook requirements by January 1, 2021.

At the October 21 meeting, each state provided its implementation plan complete with any requested exemptions for review and approval. While the proposed regulatory language varied slightly from state to state, at its core the meaning and intent was consistent across all proposals. The only states that submitted exemption requests were Maine, Massachusetts and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (though the Potomac River Fisheries Commission subsequently withdrew its exemption request and modified its proposal for year-round circle hook requirement).

Maine asked that rubber or latex tube rigs be exempt from the circle hook restriction as long as they conform with the following: the lure must consist of a minimum of 8 inches of latex rubber tubing with a single hook protruding from the end portion of the tubing where bait may be attached. Use of treble hooks is not allowed with these rigs.

Massachusetts sought a circle hook exemption for anglers fishing onboard for-hire vessels; furthermore, Massachusetts asked that the circle hook requirement for shore-bound and private shall not apply to any artificial lure designed to be trolled, cast and retrieved, or vertically jigged with natural bait attached.

Prior to withdrawing their exemption request, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission sought to have the circle requirement not be required prior to May 1 during catch and release season (barbless hooks required).

A motion was made by Tom Fote (NJ) and seconded by Dennis Abbot (NH) to approve the implementation plans but to prohibit any states from gear or user exemptions. A motion to substitute was then made by Megan Ware (ME) to approve the implementation plans and exemptions with the exception of the Massachusetts for-hire exemption; it was seconded by Justin Davis (CT). After lengthy discussion, the motion failed by a count of five in favor (RI, ME, MA, DE, NC), eight opposed (DC, PA, NJ, VA, NH, NY, MD, VA, NC PRFC), one null (CT), and two abstains (USFWS, NMFS).

The original motion was then called and it passed with a vote of 15 in favor (ME, NH, MA, RI, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, PRFC, VA, NC, NMFS, USFWS) and one opposed (CT) thereby approving and requiring the use of circle hooks by all recreational anglers when targeting striped bass with any kind of live or dead natural bait effective January 1, 2021. No exemptions were made for gear type or user groups and therefore this regulation includes shore-bound, private boat and anglers onboard for-hire vessels.

With no gear type exemptions allowed, the new circle hook requirement in place for 2021 includes but is not limited to such angling techniques as a tube and worm; eelskin rig; rigged eel; the addition of pork rind, squid, etc. to a bucktail jig; and any and all other scenarios where a natural bait is added to an artificial lure when targeting striped bass.

 

[pequa1]

Its getting to the point wherein I feel that it won't be long when those weighted trebles for snagging bunker are outlawed. Guess I will be using my remaining pork rind when bait stealers get my Gulp tails while fluking.

 

[george]

and somehow MA came away smelling like roses with yet another "For Hire" vs "Rec" blessing. I'm unsure if this For Hire exemption is Coast Wide or limited to Massachusetts, will find out.

I'm not seeing this in the release. It looks like all states are stuck with the same stupid rules.

 

[Roccus7]

I'm not seeing this in the release. It looks like all states are stuck with the same stupid rules.

D’OH!! Thanks for setting me straight @george. I guess I was so pissed at another For Hire exemption I misread it.

 

[Roccus7]

Some good news on this front. Some of you have been concerned that Gulp baits might be considered "natural baits" I've been in contact with a member of the ASMFC and was assured that Gulp is NOT a "natural bait". This same member said they are considering another go around with Tube-n-Worms so don't go changing over to circle hooks just quite yet.

Additionally, I brought up the topic of pork rinds. This ASMFC member was from Maine and assured me that pork rind is NOT a "natural, marine bait" and Maine DMR would not ding folks for using them on any J-hooks. However, the member mentioned this is a state by state decision. Time to start lobbying your state's Marine conservation groups to allow pork rind!! What's a bucktail or a Tony Aceta Pet Spoon without pork rind?

 

[george]

Some good news on this front. Some of you have been concerned that Gulp baits might be considered "natural baits" I've been in contact with a member of the ASMFC and was assured that Gulp is NOT a "natural bait". This same member said they are considering another go around with Tube-n-Worms so don't go changing over to circle hooks just quite yet.

Additionally, I brought up the topic of pork rinds. This ASMFC member was from Maine and assured me that pork rind is NOT a "natural, marine bait" and Maine DMR would not ding folks for using them on any J-hooks. However, the member mentioned this is a state by state decision. Time to start lobbying your state's Marine conservation groups to allow pork rind!! What's a bucktail or a Tony Aceta Pet Spoon without pork rind?

Can you still buy pork rind? It's good to see that people are listening. The problem is not enough people are talking.

 

[Roccus7]

Can you still buy pork rind? It's good to see that people are listening. The problem is not enough people are talking.

Yeah, but it's as tough to find has my old Pet Spoons that I stick the pork rind onto...

 

[MakoMike]

Some good news on this front. Some of you have been concerned that Gulp baits might be considered "natural baits" I've been in contact with a member of the ASMFC and was assured that Gulp is NOT a "natural bait". This same member said they are considering another go around with Tube-n-Worms so don't go changing over to circle hooks just quite yet.

Additionally, I brought up the topic of pork rinds. This ASMFC member was from Maine and assured me that pork rind is NOT a "natural, marine bait" and Maine DMR would not ding folks for using them on any J-hooks. However, the member mentioned this is a state by state decision. Time to start lobbying your state's Marine conservation groups to allow pork rind!! What's a bucktail or a Tony Aceta Pet Spoon without pork rind?

Problem is that most states (I don't know if ME is one) are using their freshwater definitions of what is bait. And most states consider that pork rind is bait in their fresh water regs.

 

[chunkster]

From my understanding. Pork rind is a added attraction. It's used to entice a bite.
It can be cut in certain ways that it flutters. Such as cut in pennant shapes. The
thick part placed on the hook. If you like you can split the tail. It's so tough, it can
be reused. It holds a scent well when saturated with a fish smell. It can also work
in your favor when trying to add buoyancy to your lure. Getting it off the hook can
be very difficult.

 

[Roccus7]

Problem is that most states (I don't know if ME is one) are using their freshwater definitions of what is bait. And most states consider that pork rind is bait in their fresh water regs.

The person, PK, said that things like pork rind are a State-specific interpretation. I guess Maine's salt water fishing enforcement officers separate from the fresh water boys is a good thing. They didn't the make North Woods Law cast, but at least they can tell bait from visual attracters...

 

[chunkster]

Cut bait shouldn't be allowed in the estuary do to it's effectiveness.
This is practiced in many place along the coast and it makes a big difference.

 

[pequa1]

From my understanding. Pork rind is a added attraction. It's used to entice a bite.
It can be cut in certain ways that it flutters. Such as cut in pennant shapes. The
thick part placed on the hook. If you like you can split the tail. It's so tough, it can
be reused. It holds a scent well when saturated with a fish smell. It can also work
in your favor when trying to add buoyancy to your lure. Getting it off the hook can
be very difficult.

Bill Wetzel demonstrated in a seminar the easy way to remove with pliers but strong fingernails work just as well, pulling it down perpendicular to and towards the shank, stretching the hole just enough so it fits over the barb, (really easy if the barb is flattened. )

 

[chunkster]

Bill Wetzel demonstrated in a seminar the easy way to remove with pliers but strong fingernails work just as well, pulling it down perpendicular to and towards the shank, stretching the hole just enough so it fits over the barb, (really easy if the barb is flattened. )

Who's Bill Wetzel? Does he chunk bunker?

 

[chunkster]

 

[chunkster]

Would Bill be able to tell me if I tied a assist hook to
one of the bends of the weighted treble? would the
weighted treble hold better then a storm sinker?

 

[pequa1]

Who's Bill Wetzel? Does he chunk bunker?

a guide. mostly lures I believe.