Striped Bass

[Snapprhead27]

I'm hearing there will be a meeting tomorrow with the ASMFC and Atlantic striped Bass management board to have an emergency change in the size. Instead of 28-35, they want to lower it to 28-31. If passed it will be in effect by July 2nd.

 

[Bassknuckles]

I just received the email that it passed

 

[pequa1]

Some guys will be scissoring tails...
Which state or states are affected ? (I believe the Chesapeake has some exemption (?)

 

[Roccus7]

Yes it passed overwhelmingly, 15-1 with NJ the only dissenting vote, real shocker there.

States have until July 2 to implement so we'll see how quickly this happens. My money is on NJ being the last to implement.

The ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has adopted an emergency measure to reduce recreational striped bass landings. States will have until July 2 to cap their maximum recreational size limit at 31 inches. As a practical matter, that means a 28-31 inch slot everywhere on the coast.

The motion passed by an overwhelming vote of 15-1.

Only New Jersey opposed the measure.

 

[Roccus7]

I asked my contact in Maine DMR about an anticipated implementation date and this was the response:

I don’t have an official date yet, but I would like to move the emergency action sooner as opposed to later. Before implementing the regulatory change I do want to hold a webinar meeting so we can catch people up on what has happened today. Right now I’m looking at holding that meeting in the second half of next week but I will send out a email notification when I have a specific date/time.

 

[pequa1]

I carry a cord knotted at 28 and 35" when I surfcast for them in the fall for a few weeks. Guess I need to tie the second knot closer in ! Wish they would do the same and establish a slot for fluke before its too late.

 

[george]

Do we know what has triggered this? Are we catching too many? And why thre Chesapeake exception?

 

[WhatKnot]

And why the North of the GW Bridge nonsense.

 

[captmike28]

Yes it passed overwhelmingly, 15-1 with NJ the only dissenting vote, real shocker there.

States have until July 2 to implement so we'll see how quickly this happens. My money is on NJ being the last to implement.

The ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has adopted an emergency measure to reduce recreational striped bass landings. States will have until July 2 to cap their maximum recreational size limit at 31 inches. As a practical matter, that means a 28-31 inch slot everywhere on the coast.

The motion passed by an overwhelming vote of 15-1.

Only New Jersey opposed the measure.

Yet another atrocity we should have seen coming.

Last season we saw probably the highest ratio of keepers to shorts most can remember for many years. And the reports so far for this brand new season is that trend is continuing.

So, as always seems to be the case with fisheries management, when a given species starts to improve and we catch more it is time to get punished for our success!! Very sad.

 

[Roccus7]

Yet another atrocity we should have seen coming.

Last season we saw probably the highest ratio of keepers to shorts most can remember for many years. And the reports so far for this brand new season is that trend is continuing.

So, as always seems to be the case with fisheries management, when a given species starts to improve and we catch more it is time to get punished for our success!! Very sad.

This is a classic example of consequences Fisheries Management's normal Kick the Can Down the road and Pray for a Miracle Strategy.

When the slot was proposed, and believe me I've always been a big fan of a slot, some folks asked about protecting the 2015 Year Class Fish, which are the last good spawn we've had. The hope was that in ensuing years there would be another excellent spawning year, which is not the case, as there has only been disappointment since then.

Yes, the biggest factors for Spawning Success are environmental as to the conditions on the spawning grounds, but since 2015 we've had consistently had wet springs, which is the worst condition, and this year will probably continue this poor spawn streak.

So here we are, without a Miracle and virtually all the "keepers" on the higher end of the 28-35" slot from the 2015 spawn. No action by ASFMC would ensure that the 2029 recovery was not going to happen, forcing them to do something under emergency action. The irony here was that many said they should never have to protect a single year class of fish...

Amendment 7 forces them to take immediate action, and thus clipping the slot was the best thing they could do. Not the answer that many of us wanted to hear, but the only thing that would significantly reduce fish mortality with the exception of a TOTAL shutdown of the fishery, NO TARGETING, NO C&R, NO COMMERCIAL.

 

[hartattack]

Some interesting points here raised by my friend in NJ.

Striped Bass Slot If there's a decline in Striped Bass populations you certainly don't see it here in NJ, our area is practically polluted with them. I think we've been good stewards of the fishery here. No commercial fishing allowed and Bunker reduction boats have been banned in our state waters. We've also taken recent measures with our regs to try and avoid the harvest of the larger breeders and our bonus program, which used to be for larger fish is now a slot between 24 and 28 inches. That and circle hooks and no gaffing to help with release mortality. I think we've done our part and I'm glad NJ voted against this. The cause of all this is a result of the decline in the Chesapeake Bay fishery recruitment. This was caused in part by farm run off and lack of Bunker. What are the states along the Chesapeake doing about that? Omega who accounts for 70% of the bunker harvest are still allowed fish for them in the bay and farms continue to pollute and now we all have to suck it up?? I know this a highly migratory fishery and has to be managed regionally but time for the Feds to do some critical thinking here. If this is a Chesapeake problem, force change in the Chesapeake states and how about getting after the root causes? Seems like there is no state sovereignty any longer. Look what recently happened with Fluke when the feds made a unilateral decision and no states were allowed a choice in tweaking their regulations this year. Now the same with Striped Bass? Why even have a state fisheries council.... The federal government knows what's best for you and they're on top of things