There was a long discussion about this vis-a-vis NY on Noreast recently. The consensus is that high grading is illegal, simply because you would be in possession of more than two fish during the time between when you caught one and released the other. But its not crystal clear.
Location: I live in the Villiage of Hyannis in the Town of Barnstable in the Commonwealth of MA
Posts: 2,795
"Striper tubes" are used a lot in the landlocked SB fishery. They enable anglers that want to weigh in fish and then release them to actually do so without killing their catch. I for one have harvested fish that I wish I could have weighed ad released. The tubes currently will only hold fish successfully up to I beleive 36". This is why FLW installed the slot limit for their tournament. We can not complain about kill fish tournaments and then criticize the first organization that wants a 100% catch and release tournament.
I also know that fisheries managers are interested in the use of these tubes but do not have the money to study that use in oceanic SB. I think it is a no brainer to grant the exemption to FLW and require them to make information gathering for the purpose of reveiw by MA DMF Biologists a part of that exemption.
Acting on behalf of MSBA and as a member of the DMF SB Advisory Panel , I encouraged that an exemption be given to the FLW tournament for more than the above reasons.
"It is impossible to complain and to achieve at the same time"--Basic Patrick (on a good day)
MakoMike - in MA there is nothing unclear about culling
To prohibit the practice of high-grading, recreational fishermen may not retain legal-sized striped bass and release said fish in favor of another larger legal-sized striped bass captured subsequently. It shall be unlawful to keep striped bass alive in the water by attaching a line or chain to the fish or placing the fish in a live well or holding car.
I posted this recently, but years ago I met a rank novice fisherman at "my spot" who had gotten there ahead of me and had a legit #50 pound fish alive on a stringer, "in case I catch a better one". It still hurts to this day.
Hybrid Mode
