Mass. weighs tougher protections for striped bass

[sokinwet]

A permit $ increase isn't really going to do much more than put a few more dollars in the states pocket at the expense of all fisherman be they full time or p.t. (cost of the permit is deductible under business expenses so the guys selling and paying their taxes get a little relief.) Yes, it may eliminate those guys who still hold a permit but don't fish commercially (no quota impact) and those who might be using the permit to take over their rec. limit, but I still can't believe that's a big number...especially if the price is up! I mean really..if you're doing it for food, 20 lb. x $3 buys you more groceries than a couple of fillets.

"So, what do you want to see? A compromise and we all get to keep fishing or a moratorium?"

I'm all in support of compromise but this bill is what's on the table and it's not about compromise.

[Mr. Sandman]

No compromise. Game fish or Complete moratorium.

[dannyplug1]

Why is a striped bass different than a migritory game bird like a duck or a goose? They are managed by the federal govt. Stripers should be managed by the federal govt and not at the mercy of states that are dominated by those who would kill each other over the last bass (not an original thought, It is a rehash of a paragraph in Dagnaults book eastern tides). Striped bass belong to all the people and should be a game fish. Or atleast there should be a slot limit. The commercials esp in Mass kill the fish with the best genes in terms of survival and egg production (30 fish is just not right)! Just like the deer hunter who allways goes for the big buck and ten years later wonders why their are no deer with nice racks. Knot head you took the best genes out of the population. I know this is a rambling poorly spelled post but I am enraged. I think the bass population is going the way of buffalo and we are to blame!

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

No compromise. Game fish or Complete moratorium.

Gamefish = No Harvest

Complete Moratorium = No Target

SF Legislation = Allocation Grab with almost no mortality reduction

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

...and those who might be using the permit to take over their rec. limit,

FYI...Harvesting over a rec limit to take home is illegal..there is no commercial permit that makes that third fish legal in MA...the commercial harvested fish must be sold and counted on the quota without exception...anyone that tells you different is misinformed....this a HUGE problem and I would bet good money that we hear a rulemaking to fix this and some other issues in the MA system in the coming months