Maine going hard line on Circle Hook Striped Bass Regulation

[pequa1]

"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?"

Slowly drag one of those weighted trebles back after a long cast with 50lb braid and reap the rewards !

 

[chunkster]

What does he do on the off season¿ Does he give discounts
to union employees¿ How about to vets and cops, family members¿
Where did he get his background from¿ Where did he get his degree from¿
Is he part of the LIBBA¿

 

[pequa1]

he has his own website

 

[Roccus7]

Below is a follow up from a member of Maine's ASMFC contingent that I received this morning. Interesting in that we have an unexpected ally in Maine, the worm diggers! It seems that greed on the part of Maine's former colonial masters possibly screwed things up with tube-n-worm. And they wonder why the rest of New England has that special nickname for them??

As a quick follow-up, you are correct that the Striped Bass Board ultimately voted not to approve any exemptions for the use of circle hooks with bait. Like you, we were disappointed with the Board’s decision since our tube and worm exemption had been place for a long time and there is a low incidence of gut-hooking. From my perspective, what happened is that the Board had a strong (negative) reaction to MA’s proposal to exempt the for-hire industry and, in response, shifted to the other end of the spectrum by voting to prohibit any exemptions. I’ve heard from several people who are understandably frustrated with the new reg and some who have expressed concerns about impacts to the worm industry. DMR is going to continue to work on this issue to see if there is any solution we can come up with at the state or ASMFC.

 

[chunkster]

DMR is going to continue to work on this issue to see if there is any solution we can come up with at the state or ASMFC.

There's a number of ways but easier said than done. Spring bluefish bait feeding behavior
is quite different than fall and easily noticed by a season angler. You can practice as season
specific rigs and tackle for each individual species and now drive the guy in the B&T insane!

 

[pequa1]

I guess I have a whole lot of now useless baitholder J hooks in 5/0 on hand. Oh well, I usually only clam belly once a year anyway.

 

[chunkster]

When food fishing. Nothing beats a barbed super sharp J hook.

 

[jdereede]

In New York the DEC uses the following definition for natural bait as already written (aimed at the freshwater fishery):

From

Fishing Definitions

"Natural bait means all baits which entice or might be ingested or swallowed by fish including, but not limited to, fish (dead or alive), fish eggs, worms, shellfish, crustacea, amphibians (frogs and toads), insects (including all stages of development such as larvae, pupae, etc.), pork rinds, liver, meat, corn or other vegetable matter, tapioca, candy, cheese, bread and putty or dough-like scented baits."

Note that pork rinds are specifically included. It is arguable that Gulp and other synthetic baits might also be among those baits defined as "natural".

Also, "entice or might be ingested or swallowed" could include pretty much anything that would either attract a fish and/or fit into a fish's mouth. This gives a conservation officer rather wide discretion.

 

[pequa1]

Next will be the point of a hook must not be so sharp as to be able to penetrate the mouth of a fish.

 

[MakoMike]

A quick search on the State of ME's website turned this up: " It is unlawful to deposit any meat, bones, dead fish, or other food material in inland waters for the purpose of luring fish. However, it is lawful to place food particles in a baitfish trap for the purpose of luring baitfish (Title 12, §12657)."

 

[chunkster]

" It is unlawful to deposit any meat, bones, dead fish, or other food material in inland waters for the purpose of luring fish.

I never fish there but just out of curiosity. What's considered "inland waters"?
I'm thinking anything inside the inlet. A chunk line for stripers on the ocean
can be productive. Obviously I wouldn't run a chum slick in 30 foot of water
when sharking for the reason of boat traffic crossing the slick.

 

[Roccus7]

I never fish there but just out of curiosity. What's considered "inland waters"?
I'm thinking anything inside the inlet. A chunk line for stripers on the ocean
can be productive. Obviously I wouldn't run a chum slick in 30 foot of water
when sharking for the reason of boat traffic crossing the slick.

Fresh water = Maine Inland Water. The Department of Inland Fisheries reigns there.

Thank God the Department of Marine Resources runs all salt water and tidal rivers up to the head of tide or 1st dam.

 

[Roccus7]

A win for the good guys. Hope NY can follow the lead...

​

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Striped Bass Anglers, At the recent Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting, the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board voted to approve a proposal submitted by Maine and Massachusetts to study the baited tube rig fishery. In response, DMR will be re-instating the previous circle hook exemption for baited rubber or latex tube rigs ahead of the 2021 fishery. We are also encouraging recreational anglers to participate in the study via Maine's Volunteer Angler Logbook Program. The Maine and Massachusetts study is intended to gather data on the striped bass baited tube rig fishery. This fishery has been the source of many stakeholder comments, particularly in regards to the use of circle hooks, but is data poor. As a result, the study intends to better understand the number of participants using tube rigs, where the hook sets on the fish, and if circle hooks can be effectively used on a tube rig. The study will be composed of three elements: an angler survey, expansion of Maine's Volunteer Angler Logbook Program, and on-the-water work. To carry out the study and enable collaboration with industry, the Board voted to allow a two year coastwide exemption to the circle hook requirement for tube rig gear. As a result, DMR will be re-instating its previous exemption for baited rubber or latex tube rigs ahead of the 2021 fishing season. As a reminder, in December 2020, DMR issued an emergency regulation to remove the circle hook exemption for tube rigs. Given an emergency regulation is only effective for 90 days, DMR will let this emergency regulation expire, re-instating the exemption on March 16, 2021. Importantly, DMR is encouraging recreational anglers to participate in the study by collecting data through Maine's Volunteer Angler Logbook Program. The Logbook is a way for saltwater anglers to collect important trip-level information on fish length and catch & effort data. For the study, DMR will be expanding the questions in the Logbook to gather information on participation rates and catch associated with tube rig gear. In addition to a paper Logbook, DMR will also be providing the option for an electronic Logbook this year, which will allow anglers to fill out the information online. Collecting data through the Logbook program is a key way stakeholders can contribute to the Maine and Massachusetts study. If you are interesting in participating in the Logbook program or would like to learn more, please contact Victoria Batter at [email protected] or 207.350.7354.​

 

[MakoMike]

What did you expect? That's exactly what they said they were going to. I expect to see the same thing out of MA and maybe a few other states as well.

 

[pequa1]

I sent an email in but with my not using any "natural" bait (whatever that is) at all since 2003 or so, I could truthfully only ask from my experience that Berkley Gulp and pork rind be exempt. I have a couple dozen circle hooks around somewhere, but haven't looked for them in years. Oddly enough the only striper I ever gut hooked was on a clam belly surfcasting, and I was using a CIRCLE hook. Hopefully it rusted out as it was too deep into that schoolie.