Wow – I have read the Striper Cup Rules and I’m very surprised at the response of SB.com members to say the least.

After all that the striped bass stocks have been through and the many threads about lack of large bass that I’ve read on this site I’m shocked at the support this tourney is receiving.

To have a contest that awards prizes for “Aggregate weight (points per pound)” with no limit to the amount of fished entered per club is ill conceived and, in my opinion, not very responsible in this day and age.


Many fishing clubs, including mine, dropped the “aggregate weight/points” system long ago because it was deemed part of our contest’s that endorsed the keeping of bass that would normally have been released.

I’m not “lily white” by any means as I’ve killed my share of bass over the years but the Schaefer Contest was run a long time ago when recreational concern for striped bass stocks was of little concern. A contest made to “appear” similar to it and showing no real concern for conservation issues makes us as recreational fishermen look bad.
I won't be fishing it.

DZ

DZ....many may not care about the aggregate weight......I know I don't! I am going to register and all I care about is large! I only keep 2 or 3 a year.......so I will choose my keeper carefully!;)

I usually keep a couple in the 15-25 pound range but if I catch a personal best....I will weigh it and enter it......and eat it!

The aggregate weight is more for the sum total of a club I believe....I may be wrong.

Each pound is worth ONE POINT.

"Angler of the Year" is based on accumulated POINTS

Winning Club is based on accumulated POINTS

To compete for those categories, each angler will be killing 2 fish a week over the course of a 20 week tournament, to get his points.

Does anyone here think that is the right thing to do in this day and age?

I think it's disgusting.

Ed

John,

Put me on the team... PLease

I gotta admit, I'm really am on the fence here about this 2 fish per week thing. Because you guys are right, it goes by accumulated points, so the more you catch the better. 34 inches really ain't that big, what is the normal wieght for that size, like 13-15 pounds? I can see guys just taking them for the tourney with the mentality that "every little bit helps" when they would normally release them thinking they are nothing special.

It really doesn't appear that a lot of thought went into the numbers of fish that will now be kept. Hopefully most will take Bigfish's approach (as I plan to), keep a fish only if it is a Cow and hope to win the boat at the Harpoon Brewery event!:)

Oh yes, and also have a few harpoons!

Interesting point - do we encourage that the only fish kept once the first 2 are taken, must be larger than a previous? Impose our own self policing?

Yes, I muc prefer C&R tourneys, they can work which is why we do them, pluse serveral Club Tourneys, Tri-State etc, but other "open" tourneys, the prospect for cheating is too great.

Every tournament has it's all out whackos. This is a 20 week tourney.There isn't a prayer in hell that I'm gonna weigh in two fish every week. Weigh stations are gonna be a drive, at least they always have been for any statewide tourney. If I have a nice fish, and it's 6 AM on a weekday, I'm not blowing off a morning of work to weigh a fish! If I have folks looking for a meal, I might, might fillet it and deliver it in a cooler. I will enter and fish for S-B, as it is the 'club' that I am most active in and get the most out of. If I contribute a couple fish to the 'club's' total for the Cup, great. If I get a personal best, yes I will enter it and hope for a pin and a chance at a weekly prize. Twenty weeks is a long tourney and the great majority will not come close to entering two fish every week.
That said, I personally am of the opinion that the striped bass stock is in extremely good shape, though the stock of >50# fish may be a smaller percentage than back in the day. Please do not take that to mean that I believe everyone should kill their allowed two fish a day every day. I just don't think that this tournament will put undue pressure on the stock in the long run/big picture.
Just wondering, how many fish do you think you will weigh in over 20 weeks??? I would guess that I would be weighing maybe five to 8 fish, and that's IF S-B enters a team. But those would be five or eight I would have killed anyway, NOT in addition to my yearly total just because of the tournament/

Good points from two knowledgeable gents.
I think the Schaeffer had it's day, at the right time.
Not for today's world.

I won't be participating, not that I'd have a snowballs chance at winning, mind you, I just can't support more pressure on the fish.
As much as I cannot support more pressure on access points.

Point taken, and yes you are correct, not mandatory... But, how many will sign up, and do just that, thinking only of a shiny new truck or boat, or pins, trophyies etc?..... You know the nature of that kind of beast.

Those that join in the contest, good luck, have fun.

i like that idear,ill talk to the otw staffers @ rissa show ,,,run it buy i,m,,,,to see that they think ?????remember i,ts the first year and the rules may need twenking....bassfishing was for money,aswell as the prizes and trophys the thinking was a little different in the 40-50-60 s bass selling added to the beach and boat mens a little change in there pocketsfor gas + goodies the bottom line is are you in or out??roll with the wave..{put up, OR shut up} .... "i,m in "...:ss:

I would love to be on the SB team, and I'm sure the other Bomba is in as well.
Let us know...
If not, yall better look out for Team Bomba.
Later,
Rick

Naragansett is now having a tourny almost the same as this one, Small this year then full blown next year, see them at the show this weekend, free beer to

Dz is a wise and knowledgeable fishman who's view should be considered before S-B commits to this Cup.
If I was the leader of this board I would consult with the sharpie members and possibly non members (Frank Daignault, etc.) to discuss the pros and cons.
It is easy to be a follower and adhere to the OTW Striper Cup's grand marketing strategy but a leader will believe in doing what is right for the bass fishery.