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

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Redsoxticket

If course your in, you wound not bite the hand that feeds you, would you ?
I still like your articles.

You are assuming that I was somehow "forced" into this? Are you that Naive? I joined cause I wanted to. I know the real odds. Saltheart and the rest must have an inside track. Your statement is an insult. You don't know me and your idiotic post proves it.

[Redsoxticket]

*** let's move this back to discussion on the issue, not at a personal level ***

[BigFish]

What happened to the intelligent dialogue?

[Flaptail]

*** let's move this back to discussion on the issue, not at a personal level ***

[Krispy]

Wheres Slipknot to quote me, when you need him?

[Skitterpop]

I was wondering when this was going to storm up unreasonably.

Sunny and getting warmer

[Slipknot]

What's wrong with you people?



enough with the insults and personal stuff Steve, I know someone assumed something, but you don't need to escalate things.
It is not making you look good and the board doesn't need that kind of crap. Debate the subject without name calling please.

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

What's wrong with you people?



enough with the insults and personal stuff Steve, I know someone assumed something, but you don't need to escalate things.
It is not making you look good and the board doesn't need that kind of crap. Debate the subject without name calling please.

Bruce I respect you but no one, not you, JohnR or anyone else is going to stop me from saying what I want when I want especially if someone tries to question my integrity. If the board doesn't like it it too bad for you all but I will not back down from something like that.

Someone questioning that will be responded to, plain and simple. Unlike many others here I do not see things in gray but black and white and will not cudgel and cojole others with happy feelings so we can all "just get along" therefore no apologies to anyone, I stand where I stand, you all can see it with no illusions.

I have been at this way too long and have seen many and been involved in many things related to Striped Bass, thier stock levels and the effect some assume this Tournament would have on the fishery.
People that have only been in the game for five or ten years have no idea of the real scope of this fishery, who it affects and what effects it.

Making that assumption on there part is akin to Hillary Clinton moving to New York and running for senate, she has no real basis, no deep connection to the real issues. I am in it, I still belive in it I have no qualms about it. And I will not tolerate proposed innuendo and questioning of my integrity. I do not care who likes or dislikes me, I sleep well every night.

[Krispy]

$

[Saltheart]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

deleted

Hmmm

Lets get back on track people.

[piemma]

Oh boy! here we go. We haven't had a good war in...what...3 weeks?

[spence]

Paul...you wanna piece a me?

-spence

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by spence

Paul...you wanna piece a me?

-spence

Me and you Spence, 3:00. behind the swingset.

[Swimmer]

Spence move the rumble off a couple of hours so we can sell some tickets to raise money for the site.

Regardless of all the emotion this issue has raised its nice to see so many people so interested in the same the, the well-being of the species.

[DZ]

Nib - thanks for being the first one who brought this to light - I noticed.

Just a few thoughts and observations:

Almost everyone enjoys a good tournament based on the healthy competition and camaraderie it develops. I’ve fished in many, good and bad, over the years. I’ve also have the experience of organizing many others.

It seems the major part of the “Striper Cup” that is generating controversy (as well it should) is the “Aggregate weight/points” divisions. I’d like to state that I, like many others, enjoy a good tournament. I enter a few each season, usually because I feel I may have a shot of winning something such as some new gear (which I probably don’t need). The events I enter are usually beneficial to fisherman and/or society in general.


Some key points of good tourneys:
1. A sense of fairness to all participants – an example of this would be separate categories for surf and boat and equal prizes (in value) for both. I’ve been involved in some where prizes were used fishing gear! (A half filled bulk spool of line in my case)

2. Most well run tourneys had rules and regs that took conservation into consideration. This would prevent over-fishing and the needless entry of bass that had no chance of taking a prize. An example would be a minimum weight entry that is not “easily” attainable. For instance the fishing club I’m a member of requires any bass entered into the club tourney to be 25 lbs minimum. (A poor example would be a tourney that took and kept a fish you entered then sold it to the market next door and the organizers kept the proceeds! True story).

3. If a tourney has a “club competition division” there would be a limit on qualified entries, in other words only a clubs top three bass would qualify in that division. This is done to even the playing field between some clubs which may have a 1000 members and others that may only have 20. Top three bass in total weight wins. This set-up also allows individual clubs to let their members know what size fish it would take to qualify so needless fish are not killed for entry. Example: Club A has three bass entered, 45, 40, and 39 lbs. Its members will know not to keep anything that doesn’t beat a 39 because it wouldn’t count.

4. Most responsible tourneys have a designated charity for proceeds or part of proceeds. These proceeds generally go to some organization that stands for the “betterment of fishing” or is youth or health oriented. I’ve always been wary of any tourney that appears to be a money maker for someone behind the scenes.


A few more thoughts about other posts – don’t get mad about how others feel. Everyone has there own view and freedom to express it. There are members here who are great fishermen with who I enjoy talking/fishing with immensely. We may disagree on topics from time to time but I would never let those disagreements allow me to disparage them in a public thread such as this. I value their friendship too much.

I won't enter the "Striper Cup" as advertised. If you enter a tourney you support the whole tournament - not just the part you like.

DZ

[JFigliuolo]

Yeah, what DZ said.

One thing that I keep reading is "I won't keep anythin under X." That's fine, no really. The PROBLEM is that a number of people won't do that. That's the problem w/the rules as written. It really does encourage people to kill more than most of us find acceptable.

Will I enter? not as the rules are now. There really needs to be a weight minimum and a set number of fish to be entered. I am not slamming OTW, but come on. This seems like a much to obvious issue to miss.

[Sea Dangles]

Thanks DZ;clarity and serenity.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by DZ

.

3. If a tourney has a “club competition division” there would be a limit on qualified entries, in other words only a clubs top three bass would qualify in that division. This is done to even the playing field between some clubs which may have a 1000 members and others that may only have 20. Top three bass in total weight wins. This set-up also allows individual clubs to let their members know what size fish it would take to qualify so needless fish are not killed for entry. Example: Club A has three bass entered, 45, 40, and 39 lbs. Its members will know not to keep anything that doesn’t beat a 39 because it wouldn’t count.

4. Most responsible tourneys have a designated charity for proceeds or part of proceeds. These proceeds generally go to some organization that stands for the “betterment of fishing” or is youth or health oriented. I’ve always been wary of any tourney that appears to be a money maker for someone behind the scenes.

DZ

Great post DZ

I hope OTW can make an addendum to their rules regarding your point number 4 or if they want some variation of it I'm sure that would help. That sounds like a most excellant idea as opposed to the way it is written now, where there is the possibility that club members could theoretically enter 40 bass each in the tournament in order to get enough points for their club to win which IMO would needlessly kill far to many bass that may otherwise have been released.


I also hope that some of the proceeds go to help the fishery or to aid in teaching youngsters about fishing and the right way to do it.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by DZ

Nib - thanks for being the first one who brought this to light - I noticed.


DZ

Denny,
I Bet U noticed the part about mud wrastlin.

[JohnR]

*** let's move this back to discussion on the issue, not at a personal level ***

Guys and gals - the subject warrants good discussion - not crap slinging... Let's keep it at discussion please...

Thanks,

John

[NIB]

But I like Mud wrastlin'

[Saltheart]

I don't know what you mean that I must have an inside track.

Originally Posted by Flaptail

You are assuming that I was somehow "forced" into this? Are you that Naive? I joined cause I wanted to. I know the real odds. Saltheart and the rest must have an inside track. Your statement is an insult. You don't know me and your idiotic post proves it.