[614349]

I just read the proposed changes to the striped bass regs.

“DMF proposals to amend striped bass regulations (322 CMR 6.07):
(a) Proposal to authorize holders of the new for-hire permit to be authorized to filet striped bass at-sea for their customers consistent with existing regulations, thereby negating the need for written letter of authorization from the Director.

”(b) Proposal to amend the recreational striped bass bag and size limit from the current 1-fish per angler at 28'' or greater to a limit of 2 fish where the first fish must measure at least 28" and the second fish must measure at least 40".

”(c) Proposal to increase the commercial quota from 807,000 to 1,000,000 lbs. “

In my opinion allowing a second fish over 40” with out increasing the 28” limit for the first fish seems counter productive. I was never in favor of a 28” limit in the first place. Taking the big cows that produce all of the eggs is not very smart.

I have always thought that a slot limit made a lot of sense. Allowing the bigger fish to keep producing is the way to build a fishery.

I know a lot of people will say that they should be allowed to take the fish they catch, but I want my kids to be able to catch fish when they grow-up too. We have seen that over fishing can devastate a fishery, and taking a second Bass over 40” without increasing the 28” limit is crime.

 

[Tiderunner]

Striped Bass Regs

I agree! It sounds counter productive to me as well. More people should actually be releasing the larger bass rather than keeping them. These older and larger bass usually come from a stonger gene pool and will breed stonger and healthier fish.

Tag & Release
Tiderunner

 

[614851]

proposed regs

if we are going to go to a limit of 2 bass/angler/day, i would rather see something like: 1 at 28"-32" and 1 over 45".

the overall take would not have to be any greater than what it is now. maybe the 28"-32" band would have to be a bit different, i'll leave that to the number crunchers to determine.

a restriction on 32"-45" stripers would help bring back the big bass. over time, the 45" limit could be raised to 50".

it is a sad situation that a 40" striper is now considered a trophy fish.

 

[620047]

We really need to consider a slot limit and not be greedy. By allowing a second large fish is not going to help our fishery any. The large fish are our best chance to keep improving the population to what it once was.
Does anyone know how old a 40 or 50lb fish is? I was told that as fish gets older, its growth rate slows dramtically.
Has anyone noticed that over the last several years that there are less and less of true cows being caught? Granted there have been at least 3 50lbers. caught that I know of but I still hear of less fish over 40lbs. every year. Years ago I think we had a year with 3 Fish going over 70 Lbs. with probably too many fiftys to count. What is it going to take to keep improving our fihery?

 

[616787]

A POINT TO CONSIDER?

Maybe I'm totally uneducated in this department. Maybe it's because I'm not a catch-and-release kinda guy. I don't fish for anything I don't intend to eat.

The point being, how many of these released 40 and 50 pounders live after release? To me, it sure as heck is a BIGGER CRIME to catch a 50 pounder and think of it floating belly up a few hours later.....or even days later!

What is the mortality rate for a striper after release? I'll go out on a limb, and say it is NOT 100%. So, multiply every percent IT IS NOT for every hundred released, and that is how many pounds of fish that could've went to good use.

How many of these released fish have thier life span shortened? Do they make a complete recovery? Even handled under optimum conditions, some of these fish have to die or live a shorter life, I would think.

If you wish to catch-and-release, that is your right. I wouldn't fight against it (although in these times, I do oppose it).

I posted this objective viewpoint to illustrate that although catch-and-release has it's merits, and it is a noble gesture......it isn't perfect. And if a fish dies, especially a trophy bass - and AT LEAST SOME do - it is a waste of food, and the total sum of this dead and wasted fish is a direct contradiction to the very issue we fight for.....a higher quota for recreational fishermen.

I oughta recieve some flack from this post, LOL....but I thought it was worth noting!

 

[614512]

~~~~~

Here is a more complicated change in regs ...mandatory circle hooks for baitfishing bass. (...or baitfishing all sport fish) ???

...mocean

 

[615841]

Forget 28" and 40"

Back to one fish 36 inches and NO sand spikes!

 

[614349]

I agree with incognito! The 36" limit never should have been changed.

Back when the limit was 36" we where all cathing shorts and releasing them, so catch and release does work. I don't know what the mortalty rate is(I don't think anyone can say for sure) but catch and release worked in the 80's.

 

[620143]

36 inches keeeper

I am a die hard tuna fisherman who at times will wet a line for bass or a blue. This idea of taking two bass one over forty is ass backwards. If you want to have a fishery grow then let the big ole girls who produce lots and lots of eggs go free. As far as i'm concerned the bass limit on my boat is still 36.If you need more meat than one bass gives you get your ass back out the next day and catch another, I'f you can't, then there aren't enough fish!

 

[617905]

Does anyone know how old a 40 or 50lb fish is?

There's a good weight/age/length chart available here ~~> http://www.stripersurf.com/stripers.html

 

[614349]

How old is a 40 lb Striper

Lets say a 40 lb Striper is between 13 and 15 years old. The real question is at what age does a Striper start to reproduce? Not mate for the first time , but really start to produce large amounts of eggs.

I have read that the lager fish can produce much more eggs than a smaller fish. How much more? Does anyone know? We should at least error on the side of the fish not the fisherman.

 

[flybyme.]

i agree that we should go back to a 36" limit. any yahoo (myslf included) can anchor up in the sound in the spring,throw out 2 rods with fresh chunks and catch a 28" keeper a day. i will not keep any under 36" myself. maybe we could stop the montauk charter boats from taking 10 bass a day each of the 30 boats(or more) that charter each day. it seems when i watch the boats come in out there they have 2 quality fish and the rest between 28-30". just a thought!

 

[614851]

yuck!

who wants to eat a bass that is over 36"?

i would rather eat a ****tail blue than that.

i remember eating plenty of 18" stripers in the good old days - yummy!

i won't take one over 34" for my table.

 

[616787]

OPINARI - I once thought the same as you. Before about 5 years ago, I had gone on a long moratorium for striped bass.....perhaps 20 years - because every time I tried to cook and eat a bass over 4 or 5 pounds, it came out tasting terrible. I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out why people loved the big ones anyway.....I had taste buds that were too sensitive, maybe.

I caught my first batch of big bass that aforermentioned 5 years ago, and to my disappointment, the same3 results - I fried them, baked them, poached them.......same cruddy taste. Then, a funny thing happened.

We were going up to CT. to visit my wife's grandparents, and her grandfather loved fish. I trold him I had a load of frozen bass I didn't want, and he jumped on it. I brought them up.

Their oven was on the fritz, but the BROILER (remember that, this is KEY!)

 

[616787]

OPINARI - I once thought the same as you. Before about 5 years ago, I had gone on a long moratorium for striped bass.....perhaps 20 years - because every time I tried to cook and eat a bass over 4 or 5 pounds, it came out tasting terrible. I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out why people loved the big ones anyway.....I had taste buds that were too sensitive, maybe.

I caught my first batch of big bass that aforermentioned 5 years ago, and to my disappointment, the same3 results - I fried them, baked them, poached them.......same cruddy taste. Then, a funny thing happened.

We were going up to CT. to visit my wife's grandparents, and her grandfather loved fish. I trold him I had a load of frozen bass I didn't want, and he jumped on it. I brought them up.

Their oven was on the fritz, but the BROILER (remember that, this is KEY!)

 

[616787]

OPINARI - I once thought EXACTLY the same as you. Before about 5 years ago, I had gone on a long moratorium for striped bass.....perhaps 20 years - because every time I tried to cook and eat a bass over 4 or 5 pounds, it came out tasting terrible. I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out why people loved the big ones anyway.....I had taste buds that were too sensitive, maybe.

I caught my first batch of big bass that aforementioned 5 years ago, and to my disappointment, the same results - I fried them, baked them, poached them.......same cruddy taste. Then, a funny thing happened.

We were going up to CT. to visit my wife's grandparents, and her grandfather loved fish. I told him I had a load of frozen bass I didn't want, and he jumped on it. I brought them up.

Their oven was on the fritz, but the BROILER (remember that, this is KEY!)was working OK.....so, I greased up the racks and stuck 'em in there, what the heck.

I cannot tell you how amazed I was to this day. Everyone, even my daughter who doesn't particularly care for fish, eats them. My wife hated that taste too.....she loves them now! I made some for the company Christmas party last year, and got the rave reviews from every single person.

Steak 'em out, put some minced garlic, butter, splash of soy sauce, some seasoned pepper, and pull 'em out after 5 minutes and lay some thin lemon slices on them. My mind is changed, I will kill for large striper steaks now. BROIL the thick fillets the same way.

You just gotta try this, anyone who hates big striper meat :>)

 

[614851]

kinda off-topic recipe

botumfeder,
the first stripers i ever ate were 18" long,broiled with butter and lemon juice.
i am pist. i can't eat 18" stripers or butter anymore.

 

[LooneyTunes]

Hey guys:

Wake up ! Forget the recreational catch. Look at the proposed increase for commercial.

(c) Proposal to increase the commercial quota from 807,000 to 1,000,000 lbs. ?

The recreationals couldn't put a dent in the breeding stock compared to commercials. Let's stop debating about 28", 32" 36" and 40". It's the commercials and LOOK at that increase for commercials.

That one didn't fly under my radar. How about yours ?

Whadaya think about that ?

Looney Tunes

 

[616787]

Well, OPINARI......excuse me if my post pissed you off - but anyway, if there are others who don't like that "gamey" taste of the big bass, it disappears when you BROIL the meatin this fashion.

 

[Gamakatsu]

I disagree with about everybody here. A size limit of 18" or 20" and a bag limit of 2 fish is the way to go. When the annual quota is met, shut it down for the year. That way the harvest is evenly distributed over all size ranges. This will also allow everybody a chance at keeping some fish if they want and not just the elite. Keying on slot fish can't be healthy for the population as it targets a single year class. What happens if that year class is weak? Do we continue to make it weaker buy targeting just those fish?

Gamakatsu