Striped Bass Addendum - My personal opinion

[Angler Paul]

Below is a copy of the letter that I sent to the ASMFC regarding the draft addendum. It is my opinion and it does not necessarily reflect the opinions of any clubs or organizations that I belong to.
10/4/19
Max Appelman, FMP Coordinator
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 North Highland St. Suite 200A-N
Arlington, VA. 22001
Max and ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board,
I am an avid fisherman who has been fishing for stripers for about 45 years. In my prime I used to fish for them 75–100 nights a year from various jetties in New Jersey. I still fish from the jetties and surf more than most people. However, since I’ve grown older and developed back problems, I fish for them from my boat more often. I target large stripers and enjoy fishing in an occasional tournament. I’ve caught documented 40 pound plus stripers from shore in NJ for each of the last five decades. I hope to be allowed to make it a sixth in 2020. Still, I have always viewed myself as a conservationist. Even back in the days when we were allowed to keep 10 stripers at 18”, I released the vast majority of the stripers I caught, including a couple over 40 lbs. Striper fishing has deteriorated in recent years up and down the east coast so something has to be done to restore our striper stocks.
I believe that option 2 is the best option as it will require an 18% decrease in mortality for both the commercial and recreational sectors. I am adamantly opposed to option 3 that would result in an 20 % reduction for recreational fishermen and only a 1.8% reduction for the commercial fishermen. To go a step further I believe striped bass should be made a no-sale or gamefish along the entire east coast and I have been advocating for that for many years. While the commercial catch may seem relatively insignificant, the illegal sales of striped bass are a big problem in the states that allow stripers to be sold and these illegal fish are not added to the commercial harvest numbers.
As I stated, I prefer option 2 and more specifically option 2A1 that would result in a 35” minimum size for the following reasons:
1. The fastest way to restore the fishery is to protect the 2014 and 2015 year classes. The 2015 year class resulted in the largest recruitment of 1 year old fish (in 2016) since 2004! Some of these fish will be reaching spawning size in 2020. There was above average spawning in these two years so we should be protecting them rather than forcing people to target them.
2. In the early 1990’s the fishery was rebuilt by establishing higher size limits. That allowed the many smaller fish to spawn for several years before they could be harvested. It worked then and it will work again now.
3. Larger fish have a higher mortality rate when released than smaller ones. Should you decide to set one of the slot limit options as the coastwide standard, you are going to increase the C&R mortality rate on the larger fish. Fishermen will be throwing back larger fish that are more likely to die and then keeping a smaller fish that would be more likely to survive if it was released.
4. While larger fish do lay more eggs, we know that the large ones do not spawn every year. The medium sized ones may be the best breeders and by letting them go, they may be able to grow and reproduce for many years.
5. Option 2A1 would result in an 18 % reduction which would be the same as required for the commercial sector. I am opposed any of the slot limit options but particularly options 2A2 and 2A3. I understand that some of the conservationists will favor the maximum cut of 21% in 2A4 but that would not be fair unless the commercial sector has to reduce by that same percentage.
6. Having slot limits would unfairly punish those who like to fish for trophy sized fish and those who like to participate in tournaments. When a reduction is necessary, all sectors of the recreational community including the C&R fishermen, those who fish for food and those who target large fish should all have to cut back equally if possible.
7. The 35” minimum size limit is the easiest to understand and enforce.
8. Slot limits would hurt small businesses like Tony Maja Products. Most people do not troll with wire line outfits and bunker spoons to catch slot fish.
Additional comments
I believe that there are better ways to restore this fishery than those listed in the addendum. The sub-options in the addendum will all result in higher C&R mortality. I support conservation equivalency and am hopeful that New Jersey will develop options to allow the harvest of one fish at 28” or greater by establishing seasons. This would allow fishermen to continue to take home fish of various sizes rather than being forced to target specific year classes. I suggest that seasons be established where fishing for stripers would be closed during the spawning period or during the summer when the water is warm and the C&R mortality rate is much higher.
Another option that would work if further developed by the technical committee or by individual states through conservation equivalency would be to allow fisherman to take home a fish from perhaps 28’-32” OR one at 43” or greater. That might pacify those who want to take home a smaller fish to eat as well as those who prefer to harvest a large fish. An option like this would also protect the medium and medium/large fish which are probably our best breeders.
We need to take action to reduce the C&R mortality rate. I support option C which would require states/jurisdictions to promote the use of circle hooks by developing public education and outreach campaigns. However, regulations requiring the mandatory use of circle hooks would be difficult to enforce and would not be fair to certain fishermen. For instance, surfcasters such as myself have $1000 plus long-distance surfcasting rods and reels. It is difficult to find bunker within casting range. Then when you are lucky enough to snag one, what are you supposed to do, reel it in put a circle hook on it and then somehow hope that it swims out a hundred yards or so through the breakers and back to where the bass are? Still, there are many other ways to reduce C&R mortality such as properly handling and quickly releasing the fish, using larger hooks, setting the hook quicker, using heavier tackle so as to not to stress the fish, etc. All the various ways to reduce C&R mortality along with the benefits of circle hooks should be included in any educational programs.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Haertel

[AndyS]

What happens when it gets confusing: