OTW "Striper Cup Tourney" Format is Irresponsible to the Fishery

[Mr. Sandman]

I think the entire C&R thing has gone too far. It is not doing anyone any good not even the fish. It is time to bring back catch and keep. According to many "scientific" articles all the fish you release just die anyany so you may as well keep them.

If we don't takem the comm guys will...take all you can while the going is good.

BTW, the 1980s was the best bass fishing in history!!! More large fish were caught then (including several state and world records) then any time in history.

According to official numbers we have too many bass anyway and nothing is in danger because of the fantastic job that the marine fisher depart's do. Go get em! Worry about any problems later.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

BTW, the 1980s was the best bass fishing in history!!! More large fish were caught then (including several state and world records) then any time in history.

According to official numbers we have too many bass anyway and nothing is in danger because of the fantastic job that the marine fisher depart's do. Go get em! Worry about any problems later.

Yes, all there was was big bass, very poor YOY indices, and the fishery collapsed.

Indanite - I'm guessing you have not made up your mind because I can't see which side of the fence you're going to fall off of...

Let's keep this thread as good DEBATE. There is a lot of discussion on this that deserves hashing out more.

I'm pretty confident that OTW had no desire to create a "Kill Tourney" but instead was looking to recreate one of the greatest east coast tourneys in history, the Schaeffer Tournament. While I am personally encouraged by a regional Tourney (undecided if S-B participates as a team - on another thread) I am concerned about the potential fishery impact. Sure, there are plenty of "meat" tourneys around that just about all of us particpate in, typically weeklong / weekend tourneys like MDA, MSBA, Boston Harbor, etc.

So is the question that people would like to see OTW modify & reduce the "Kill Quotient"? And if so, HOW would you recommend it be done?

Increased minimum size ? Not fair to a lot of the noobs or those that can't target in best areas / methods (not that they would win anyway, but they could participate)

Max total of fish weighed in? Set a limit of X amount of fish per month? Set a limit of X amount of fish per person per TOURNEY?

What can be done to make this more conservation friendly?

I am supportive of a Tourney, but I would like to see modifications to reduce the pressure of this tourney and would like to see it further discussed. And, yes, don't look forward to see people cheating in it...

One more thing that I am sure will pi$$ some people off - commercial striped-bass permit holders should not be allowes to submit a fish during their open season. I know, it sucks, start the flame wars, but there is an advantage for them...


BTW - Harpoon makes my favorite beer in the world, doesn't mean I'm going to lay down on the tourney for it ~ regardless of how close it is...

[Backbeach Jake]

There sure is plenty to think about here. I'm amazed at the number of angles to consider. I'm grateful to you guys for pointing some of them out to me. I can be pretty clueless sometimes.

[beamie]

Would there be this much controversy if it were named the Bluefish Cup? or the Dogfish Cup? or the Codfish Cup. Seems to me no one would have a problem with those species weighing in 2 a week.
Big blues aren't that easy to find lately up here. I haven't gotten a blue over 15 pounds in quite a few years. But most everyone that has "Striper fever" could cares less about most other species.

I have never fished a MV tourney, that is a month and a half long, but I don't recall this much talk about all those fish that are killed. Is that derby ok since it has been going for 60 years?

I very rarely enter tourneys outside of the ones within my club. But if there is a dollar involved people with be dishonest.

If OTW wants a tourney fine, give them a chance to work out the bugs. I am sure they will make changes yearly to satisfy differing opinions for various groups.

[Skitterpop]

JohnR

Isn`t it very clear that I am undecided? It is for me.

If they change it so tons of Stripers are not killed needlessly I`ll enter... if not I won`t and I`ll call, write, email, and post my opinions.

And............ most of the suggestions made to how to change the numbers I made early on when many didn`t say peep or that they would enter without question. At the same time I`ve been back and forth and conflicted but bottom line worried about too many Striped Bass being killed.

Respectfully,
Skitter

[numbskull]

The world does not need another reason to kill striped bass, particularly the large spawners. This tournament is short sighted and irresponsible. "Recreating the past" is best left to politicans and old rock stars. On the Water could, and should, do much better for the resource we all have to share.

[TheSpecialist]

NIB.... i could,nt say it better myself ...the other rag does the samething .in i have yet to see PETA at there front door

That other rag keeps a weekly tally at the back of the magazine, that way you know what size fish you would need to beat.


I like the idea of limiting people to so many fish over the life of the tournament.

Although maybe taking a big chunk of the population may not be a bad thing, considering that their food sources are not as plentiful as they should be.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by beamie

Would there be this much controversy if it were named the Bluefish Cup? or the Dogfish Cup? or the Codfish Cup. Seems to me no one would have a problem with those species weighing in 2 a week.
Big blues aren't that easy to find lately up here. I haven't gotten a blue over 15 pounds in quite a few years. But most everyone that has "Striper fever" could cares less about most other species.

Good points but yes, it is a little different. Regs on bluefish are significantly looser than on bass so there is a difference. Cod & Dogfish aren't exactly known for their shorecatch abilitiy. None of the three have anywhere near the glamour and desire of the striped one. In fact, if you look at fish, in our waters, that are available to the usual person, the only thing on par would be freshwater bass. And those tournaments do Catch & Release.

I get 15# or better bluesfish from shore practically every year. I don't weigh them in, even though I would have likely won shore categories of most clubs I am in. Nor do I weigh in Bass that I know would place in tourneys unless I think I will win.

I have never fished a MV tourney, that is a month and a half long, but I don't recall this much talk about all those fish that are killed. Is that derby ok since it has been going for 60 years?

One month long and the system does not encourage the accumulation of points. Sure there are categories and weeklys and dailys but it really gears toward the bigger fish. Is it the most conservation friendly? Probably not. But fish can be donated to the food bank.

I very rarely enter tourneys outside of the ones within my club. But if there is a dollar involved people with be dishonest.

Unfortunately agree.

If OTW wants a tourney fine, give them a chance to work out the bugs. I am sure they will make changes yearly to satisfy differing opinions for various groups.

This is interesting as this is open discussion on this exact topic. OTW watches this site and others and will look, hopefully with an open mind, at this discussion and understand that it is just that, discussion. In fact, I would like to see some of them come on board to discuss... I think this tourney can be good but I would like to see it tweaked to be more conservation minded...

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

There sure is plenty to think about here. I'm amazed at the number of angles to consider. I'm grateful to you guys for pointing some of them out to me. I can be pretty clueless sometimes.

me too Fred

[NIB]

Not about killin lots o fish for total points.Anymore.killed my share in NJ club tourney's.Definetly not a tree hugger though. i love to eat fish.
All kinds.
Not sure i need any pins either.If it becomes something along the lines of shaeffer i might miss out on ownin some when i'm old an gray an


I said this bout a 6 days ago.

Does anybody pay attention to the NIB.

I still admit the Idea of bringin back the history of the tournament as a whole could be a good thing.I ten yr commitment would be nice for starters.I know how do they do that.But a fly by night 2 yr thing would be a real waste of fish an time.Without longevity there is no credability.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

BTW, the 1980s was the best bass fishing in history!!! More large fish were caught then (including several state and world records) then any time in history.

According to official numbers we have too many bass anyway and nothing is in danger because of the fantastic job that the marine fisher depart's do. Go get em! Worry about any problems later.

I think you know what I meant by referring back to the 1980's. You know - the time in the 1980's when few could even catch a bass.

That's a pretty cavalier attitude - "worry about any problems later"...