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

[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...