Striped Bass Size Limits

[Aaron_Jasper]

For all of the enjoyment people get out of catching those fish, it’s almost a “karma” thing to let them go for a while. Yes regulations are what they are, however that does mean someone has to keep the limit every time. It’s a decision.

It’s good to see all of the ideas. With the numbers in real decline and no magic schools past the 3 mile line, keeping fish in the population is the only way to make it work.

The fishing in the Hudson for the spawning fish and the culling that goes on there is terrible and a is the slaughter that’s been taking place off of BI and MTK all summer. The inputs are not equaling the outputs and that’s the problem.

This is maybe a few years from going to the 1980’s.

[Capt Sal]

Just plain WRONG!!Just an opinion from a person that thinks he knows. Fact is there are a tremendous amount of striped bass outside the three mile line.Fact-Most private boat owners that fish a lot for stripers are into catch and release.People that go on a head boat or charter once or twice a season want a few fish to eat and will keep there limit and they should.I believe in conservation my friend but do not think or preach the striped bass industry is a few years away from being like the eighties.That is total nonsense.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal

Just plain WRONG!!Just an opinion from a person that thinks he knows. Fact is there are a tremendous amount of striped bass outside the three mile line.Fact-Most private boat owners that fish a lot for stripers are into catch and release.People that go on a head boat or charter once or twice a season want a few fish to eat and will keep there limit and they should.I believe in conservation my friend but do not think or preach the striped bass industry is a few years away from being like the eighties.That is total nonsense.

Normally I would agree with you ,as our thinking is the same on most aspects of striper fishing .

But the proof of lack of fish staging into their breeding areas is showing a drastic decline.
I agree many fish pass us outside the 3 mile line.
But the bass are getting crushed east of us for 5 months and south of us for 4 months.
The slaughter of egg filled breeders in VA is unreal again due to a warmer winter .
And I like they want to decrease the amount of large breeders .
Having a constant breeding stock will allow more smaller slot fish to be taken without hurting future stocks .

Now if we could just push the bunker boats off the beach a few miles we could have the fishery back we had just 5 years ago.

.

[reason162]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal

Fact is there are a tremendous amount of striped bass outside the three mile line.

Ah, the BS mythical offshore bass run.

Where's your evidence of this abundance?

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by reason162

Ah, the BS mythical offshore bass run.

Where's your evidence of this abundance?

It’s not mythical .
Because the bunker boats constantly deplete a lot of the inshore bunker schools in the spring many fish stay on the bigger schools of bunker off the beach.

Many more fish take that route every fall unless we get a good bait run down the beach

[Aaron_Jasper]

Capt Sal

I have to ask the questio, how do you know there are so many fish out there? Are you fishing for them? Or do you go with the, “we are fishing for bluefish” excuse?

I was at striped day and I can tell you that there was no one there saying that the fishery is NOT in trouble. I was surprised by it. These fish are valuable, not only for Sportfishing, but also for the charter boat fleet as well.

When the charter boats keep on taking boat limits of fish multiple times a day, all they are doing is putting themselves out of business. It is not a sustainable business model as the fish do not fall out of trees at 30 plus pounds.

If you would like the PDF of the latest stock assessment send an e mail to aaron@westbranchholdings.com I will be more than happy to send it to you or anyone on the forum who would like to read it.

[barbarian]

I'll back Sal up, I've fished with him many times and have had many memorable trips landing cows. The stripers are so thick past 3 mile you can walk on the water steaming out the blackfish grounds. It's a little late now but they were there week between Christmas and New Years. I don't want to be rude your PDF's are Fake News, I'm trying hard to be stigma free and inclusive.

Good Luck with your pdf's....

[reason162]

Originally Posted by barbarian

I don't want to be rude your PDF's are Fake News

Lol we're doomed.

[reason162]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

It’s not mythical .
Because the bunker boats constantly deplete a lot of the inshore bunker schools in the spring many fish stay on the bigger schools of bunker off the beach.

Many more fish take that route every fall unless we get a good bait run down the beach

I was referring to the mythical offshore bass population that people love to fantasize about...the teeming schools 20-30 miles offshore all the way to the canyon that plague any discussion of conservation whenever the topic comes up.

In other words, if the surveys show weak numbers...it's because bass are congregating out in the blue yonder, no need to panic (or reduce the take)!

If Sal was just talking about 3 miles, apologies. Those fish obviously exist, and get pounded by unscrupulous boaters who drift in and out of the marker.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by reason162

Ah, the BS mythical offshore bass run.

Where's your evidence of this abundance?

Been there done that saw them.It is fact.Many charter boats run into them on the way out to the tuna grounds.I have also did you?If you never leave Raritan Bay you will not see this.