Is Raritan Bay Next

[Duffman]

Tougher regulations here won’t mean a damn thing if they aren’t enforced. You could put a moratorium on stripers right now and it won’t stop the rampant poaching that’s been going on for weeks.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Duffman

Tougher regulations here won’t mean a damn thing if they aren’t enforced. You could put a moratorium on stripers right now and it won’t stop the rampant poaching that’s been going on for weeks.

There were no stripers here for decades... They weren't missed really.. There was a lot of other species to fish for in Spring... All those species are gone, caught and eaten over time... So now all there is to fish for is Stripers this time of year. Guys don't care if they are spawned out, or loaded down with eggs or milt... They want fish, Stripers are the only thing available in salt water, so they get intense pressure during the spawn... Hopefully, the stocks stay strong because if Stripers ever vanish they way they did for 30 or so years in the not too distant past, there will be nothing left to fish for in March and April except a few scarce blackfish and ling, unless guys want to catch Skates, Horn Dogs, and Pout... bob

[Merle31483]

Listen the regs are what they are.... it's up to the angler to decide whether they will keep a fish or not... the individual who catches these striped bass on the Shrewsbury or navisink rivers are allowed 1 fish between 28 and 38 inches which is legal most the people I fish with in these rivers just throw them back regardless of the fish being legal or not they ate sport fisherman and do this shit every night damn near

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Merle31483

Listen the regs are what they are.... it's up to the angler to decide whether they will keep a fish or not... the individual who catches these striped bass on the Shrewsbury or navisink rivers are allowed 1 fish between 28 and 38 inches which is legal most the people I fish with in these rivers just throw them back regardless of the fish being legal or not they ate sport fisherman and do this shit every night damn near

Understood,, However, if a guy spends $150 to go on an "open/charter" boat, he will typically kill and eat a fish. same with private boats that spend thousands a year to fish. Multiply that by a thousand guys a week, and the number of fish killed every spring and fall can get pretty high... Even with a 1 fish limit, these fish are under some intense pressure...

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Understood,, However, if a guy spends $150 to go on an "open/charter" boat, he will typically kill and eat a fish. same with private boats that spend thousands a year to fish. Multiply that by a thousand guys a week, and the number of fish killed every spring and fall can get pretty high... Even with a 1 fish limit, these fish are under some intense pressure...

Not true, my son and I very rarely if ever keep a striper that we catch on our boat. Nor do I keep any when I go on an ‘open boat” trip.

On average, I catch in excess of 200 stripers a year and at most I keep 5 & only when my receptionist requests one.

[bigfishy]

Originally Posted by Skolmann

Not true, my son and I very rarely if ever keep a striper that we catch on our boat. Nor do I keep any when I go on an ‘open boat” trip.

On average, I catch in excess of 200 stripers a year and at most I keep 5 & only when my receptionist requests one.

The overall fish population thanks you, but in reality you are the part of the minority....similar to recycling...

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by bigfishy

The overall fish population thanks you, but in reality you are the part of the minority....similar to recycling...

Starts with one person then grows.

I’ve said it for years, if the northeast angler attitude became more like the southeast angler we’d see an overall increase in fish stocks (IMHO),

Here it seems that unless you have a boat limit, at least one ‘trophy’ fish, or a filled cooler/dock shot picture you didn’t have a good day. While down south, it’s been my experience (after having lived in Florida & Georgia for numerous years) that they take what they need for a meal & are happy with just having the rod bend the rest of the day.