 Re: Striper Regs
This article was in the Virginian-Pilot today. Also note that only one fish can be kept between 12/10 and 12/31. As I understand it this is for the bay, not sure of the ocean regs.
Striper regulations changed for season that opens Oct. 4
By LEE TOLLIVER, The Virginian-Pilot
© September 26, 2007 | Last updated 9:08 PM Sep. 25
NEWPORT NEWS
Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay sometimes is simply too good.
Last spring, recreational anglers saw tighter regulations for flounder because they caught too many fish last year.
On Tuesday, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission added striped bass to the list.
The commission voted unanimously to adopt tougher recreational striped bass regulations for the Chesapeake Bay fall season that opens Oct. 4 and continues through Dec. 31.
Under the new rules, anglers will be able to keep only one fish a day from Dec. 10 to Dec. 31. In addition, a no-take slot limit of 28 to 34 inches was instituted for the entire season.
Prior to Dec. 10, anglers still will be able to keep two fish a day that each measure from 18 to 28 inches. One of those fish, however, can measure longer than 34 inches. After Dec. 10, the one allowed fish can measure between 18 and 28 inches or longer than 34.
Anglers caught 2,425,547 pounds of Chesapeake Bay striped bass last year.
Because this year's quota is 1,554,302 pounds, the commission is obligated to get the catch as close to the quota as possible - resulting in an attempt to reduce last year's catch by nearly 900,000 pounds.
The recreational striped bass fishery in the Chesapeake Bay has exceeded its quota each year since 2001. Major overages occurred in 2003, 2004 and last year. Adjustments to size limits were made for 2004 and 2005. But none was made for last year.
Continued overages could result in mandatory reductions, paybacks and possible closures by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The National Marine Fisheries Service uses intercept surveys - with a representative showing up at the docks and counting the catch - and telephone surveys to attempt to determine how many pounds of stripers have been caught.
The numbers from the surveys then are plugged into a complicated set of equations, and anglers argue that the final numbers wind up being way off the mark.
Even commission members take issue with the data used to determine regulations.
"The problem we're confronted with is the specificity of the data we have to use to make the decision," said Steve Bowman, a VMRC commissioner.
"The ASMFC is convinced that this is the best data, so we have to do the best we can to make all user groups happy.
"I want the angling public to know that we are not very pleased with the data."
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