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Random Quote: Dad, is there a depth finder on this boat? Why is the water tan?
Has anyone heard about The meeting tonight on MV at the Cornell theater?
I don't have any details but from what I understand, Stripers Foreverhas attached a gamefish resolution to another bill and this meeting isto discuss that?
I'm working to find out more but if you know anything, let the rest of us know, OK? If I can find out more, I'll let you know.
-just got more info...
5 PM at the Cornell theater- it's the all islands selectmens meetingand Matt Patrick is going to be there, I guess he's a proponent of this.
I am told that a bill was file on the 15'th, I'll see if I can look it up.
EXCLUSIVE DETAILS AVAILABLE NOW TO STRIPERS FOREVER MEMBERS ONLY................................. The general public won’t have access to the Bill’s details and specifics for another couple of weeks due to the paper processing procedures on the Hill... but you can get the information NOW. Ted Purcell, a key MA board member of SF, who has volunteered to help organize a grass roots membership effort to encourage legislators to pass the Game Fish Bill (thanks Ted) has a copy of the Bill and would be happy to email an EXCLUSIVE preview copy to you as a member of Stripers Forever! Please email Ted and find out how the commercial quota is to be handled, what the new length and bag limits outlined in the Bill are, and all the other details. Ted’s email address is: tedpurcell@verizon.net....simply ask for a copy of the Bill.... and please include your name, address and zip code. We want you to continue to be informed and involved as the Bill goes forward. The stripers need our help more than ever now that our Conservation Bill has been filed. The Bill is creative, politically sensitive, and will serve the stripers well but only if we -all of us - pitch in to get it passed. Get your copy from Ted today and see what the excitement is all about. The MA Stripers Forever State Committee
A bill to end all commercial harvesting of wild striped bass in state waters and to manage the resource for recreational fishermen has been introduced in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The new Massachusetts Striped Bass Conservation Bill also prohibits the sale of wild striped bass in the Commonwealth and sets a recreational daily bag limit of one striper measuring between 20 and 26 inches, or alternatively, one fish of 40 inches or greater per angler.
Stripers Forever, an internet-based organization which advocates managing wild stripers as game fish everywhere on the Atlantic coast by eliminating all commercial fishing for the species, was instrumental in proposing the new legislation.
“According to a study by noted wildlife socio-economist Rob Southwick, the recreational saltwater fishery for wild migratory striped bass in Massachusetts generates more than $1 billion annually in economic activity for the economy of the Commonwealth,” says Brad Burns, president of Stripers Forever. “By contrast, the commercial fishery generates about $24 million. Yet recreational angling success for stripers in Massachusetts waters has decreased steadily in recent years while the commercial striped bass quota has remained constant.”
“The economics of commercial striper fishing in Massachusetts just don’t make sense,” according to Burns. “By eliminating the commercial kill and managing stripers as game fish for the 600,000-plus resident and non-resident anglers who pursue these fish, over 2,800 full-time equivalent jobs would be added to the Massachusetts economy.”
The new conservation bill specifies that the current striped bass quotas granted to Massachusetts commercial fishermen by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission would not be added to recreational fishing quotas, but would instead be set aside as a conservation reserve to strengthen the striped bass resource.
It's the same bullshit every year from these Gripers Forever frauds. It's a quota grab, pure and simple. IF you truly believe that striped bass need "protecting" from a scientific or biological standpoint, then you need to go after the sector that directly and indirectly kills more fish. The recreational sector kills 3-7 times more fish than does the commercial. These assholes have no science on their side so they're resorting to the failed lawyer's creed: "If you have the fact, pound the facts. If you have the law, pound the las. If you have neither, pound the table." These Gripers forever stooges are quite adept at table-pounding...
Last night a meeting took place at the Cornelltheater on MV, the meeting was actually the all island selectmens'meeting but a group of Island fishermen were there to see two stateofficials who were there, Senator Rob O'Leary and newly electedRepresentative Tim Madden, to discuss a piece of legislation to makestriped bass a game fish here in Massachusetts that is being sponsoredby the group Stripers Forever.
Folks, Please take just a second and send an email to your local State Rep stating your oppostion to this bill .................................... Striped Bass Conservation Bill..........................
Here is a letter i recieved from our local Rep for Cape Cod and she needs and is asking for our help.
Hi Glenn, thanks for the email. I agree with you 100% and have made my views known to my colleagues both on and off of the Cape. DMF also opposes this bill. The Striper Forever folks try to argue that this is such a small fishery that it will never be missed. My view is that the commercial striped bass fishery is vitally important to the fishermen in my district and on the Cape. I’m sure your catch helps pay a few bills in your household. As you say, there is no scientific bases for this bill. Additionally, fresh striped bass is a big draw for our tourists. I know people (me included) who look forward all year to being able to order local, fresh striped bass when out at restaurants.
I can use some help in this fight. I need to hear by mail or email from as many fishermen as possible. I will keep all of the emails and submit them as part of my testimony when this bill comes up for a hearing (probably later in the spring). When the hearing does get scheduled, there may not be much advance notice, so I want to get this lined up now. The Stripers Forever folks have hired one of the top lobbying firms in Boston to push this bill.
Thanks for your email. Please see if you can get others to write as well. I don’t need anything long or fancy, just real words from the people affected by this.
Make sure you remind her that this type of legislation is exactly what the Founding Father's sought to protect us against-the hegemony of the majority. We are a representative republic for that reason. This bullshit about more economic impact is an attempt to take a fishery from a minority to benefit a well-heeled majority. It is patently bullshit and the sad part is that burns and the rest of these gripers forever assholes know it. They've shifted their message, but not their bullshit agenda. Phukk them...
I received this this afternoon from Rep. Jeff Perry- <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THECONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Houseof Representatives in the General Court assembled, and by theauthority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 110A of chapter 130of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, isherby amended by striking the section in its entirety and insertingin place thereof the following sentences:-
Commercial harvesting and sale of wild striped bass shall be prohibited in the commonwealth. The director, with the approval of the marine fisheries advisory commission, shall adopt rules and regulations relative to the taking or possession of wild striped bass by recreational angling, provided that in no instance shall any rule or regulation authorize the taking or possession of striped bass which are less than 20 inches in length or greater than 26 inches total length but less than 40 inches total length. It is unlawful to take or possess striped bass unless the fish are whole with head on and are between 20 and 26 inches total length or 40 inches and greater total length.
It is unlawful to take or possess more than one (1) striped bass each day.
All aquaculture raised striped bass for sale in the commonwealth shall bear the tag of the grower or distributor of the fish.
Whoever violates any rules or regulations made pursuant to this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars for each fish taken or possessed for the first violation, five hundred dollars for each fish taken or possessed for the second violation and for each subsequent violation shall be fined one thousand dollars for each fish taken or possessed or imprisoned not more than sixty days or both. No part of any fine imposed for the taking or possession of any striped bass in violation of any such regulation shall be remitted.
SECTION 2. The striped bass quota forcommercial fishing provided to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bythe Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shall not be added torecreational fishing quotas. Said quota shall be set aside forconservation and the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheriesshall use his best efforts in working with the Commission to see thatthe amount of this quota is not given to other states but remains theproperty of the Commonwealth to be used for conservation of stripedbass.
As an RI fisherman, will my letter have any weight with this fight?? Ill send one over anyhow, hope it helps!
Ryan
Every bit helps and so its always worth commenting even if you are out of state. Remember, Stripers Forever wants gamefish status everywhere and not just in MA, so if they make headway anywhere it hurts everyone regardless of where they live!
I am in no way a proponent of game fish status or Striped Bass Forever. I possess and utilize my right to a commercial license in MA. I do not want an end to the commercial bass fishery in MA, although I would like to see amends to it. That being said i also am aware of the problems facing the fishery. The over harvest of forage, the destruction of habitat, the pressure of a heavy rec sector and commercial sector, the report of 60% of Chesepeake fish infected with mycobacteriosis, an disturbingly low ( 3.9 ) YOY class, and fisheries management claiming the bass stock are healthy. A continued business as usual will lead to the collapse of this great fishery! Art
There are plenty of striped bass, they have changed there patterns...ie the bank, crab ledge ect...there is so much bait offshore they just don't come in anymore...
Stripers Forever wants to take that permit from you and never give it back. Just a short typed email to your Local State Rep or even the State Reps from Loligo's post above stating your strong oppostion to the Striped Bass Conservation Act will help.
These folks are well organized and well funded and have a high powered lobbyist working on their behalf.
Please invest 5 mins of your time and send an email or make a phone call.
There are plenty of striped bass, they have changed there patterns...ie the bank, crab ledge ect...there is so much bait offshore they just don't come in anymore...
I agree that we have seen pattern changes and movements of the biomass. In my area a "fall run" has not happened in 4 or 5 years. BUT if you can not acknowledge the facts of decimation of forage, environmental destruction, and disease you are doing the fishery an injustice. Suppose for instance that the report of 60% of Chesepeake fish are destined to die from mycobacteriosis, which is the published report from Rutgers and Williams and Mary, is over exagerrated. So only 20% of the breeding females die, shouldn't the managers of our fishery take that into account. ASMFC reported a healthy striped bass stock. The reported 3.9 YOY class is also disturbing. A change in fisheries management is needed imo.
Surfcaster, I have sent letters concerning my interest on this topic. I am in no way in favor of this law. However, I do want to see ASMFC and state environmental managers acknowledge the issues. The only outcome I want to see regarding this legislature is that acknowledgement. Art
There are numerous issues that need to be addressed with all fisheries, Striped bass included
Please Stay focussed with the very simple topic of this thread and maybe just once we as a group of very unorganized fisherman can accomplish something.
atom - 1/23/2009 9:38 AM
I agree that we have seen pattern changes and movements of the biomass. In my area a "fall run" has not happened in 4 or 5 years.
Art
You're kidding right? The fall run this year out and around Sakonnet Point was the best I have seen in many years. There was a run where you could find blitzing surface action from numerous schools which lasted for several weeks. For two weeks running I could find big fish on top right at the point and for almost a month there were tons of small fish. Where were you? If "your area" means the Taunton River then I cannot speak for that.
atom - 1/23/2009 9:38 AM
I agree that we have seen pattern changes and movements of the biomass. In my area a "fall run" has not happened in 4 or 5 years.
Art
Striped bass gamefish, again, ugh..... 
