SurfRats.com

[BassHoll]

John,

Sounds like you need to come visit us in October and catch something big and green with stripes or something with teeth!

pretty cool on the gun policy though!
_________________
Tight Lines,

BassHoll

[Diamondwrapper]

I haven't seen a freekin' starfish either.............
_________________
John MSA 791 LIBBA 440
TEAM GREEN


Good things come to those who BAIT

[BassNuts]

[Diamondwrapper]

Ken,

Just found out that the bride is getting a knee replacement in the middle of September. I think a trip north will be out of the question for this year. She'll be a little cranky if I don't help her out.
_________________
John MSA 791 LIBBA 440
TEAM GREEN


Good things come to those who BAIT

[tiderunner70]

Personally I would like to see Striped Bass full recognized under Gamefish status. Striped Bass are no doubt the most important species to the majority of surfcasters. We can find them in our rivers, bays and in the ocean as well. There range was once vast and now sadly dwindling today.

There is nothing quite like the smile of a child’s face reeling in a Bass from one of our local docks. The size alone of the Stripers is sure to excite our young ones when they catch one and possibly hook them into fishing for a lifetime. If proper protective measures are not in place and enforced, the species will not be around for future generations.

It is unfortunate that many commercial fishermen in the past almost wiped the species off the map by over fishing. If it was not for the moratorium and gamefish status in other states, and the EEZ we would have never seen a recovery of the Bass like we have today. Hopefully we will never have to end up with a moratorium ever again. If we do end up with another moratorium some of them will just move on to the next species and look to exploit that stock as well. The writing is undoubtedly on the wall for serious issues in the future. Not necessarily another moratorium but it could be possible.

We have several issues we currently have to deal with. Some are fairly new such as the disease Mycobacteriosis and others are the same old story. The range of the fish is dwindling and the Juvenile Abundance Index is down. Also poaching and the black market sale of the fish are arguably if not actually an all time record high. It is extremely sad that poaching and the black market sales are not figured into the equation of the commercials harvest. One year commercial fishermen claim they cannot fill their tags so they request a roll over from year to year and only a matter of months later they call for a coast wide increase. They are also looking to push to legalize directly targeting the Bass and trawling for them as well. If they do get what they are pushing for, the Bass will be no doubt in for serious trouble in the very near future.

As far as economics go the math is simple. The Striped Bass are by far more beneficial to the recreational sector and our economy than the commercial. The comm’s don’t even come close when you look into that aspect.

Most importantly it is about preservation and conservation of our resource. We all want these fish to be healthy and around for many future generations to enjoy like we do today. Perhaps the easiest and best way to ensure these fish will be around for future generations would be to grant them the gamefish status they deserve.

By the way this is my personal opinion and not the official stance of any organization that I may belong too or represent.
_________________
Tom Farrell
weakfishin@yahoo.com
631-475-1133 x120

Vice President-New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing

MSA
LIBBA

[tiderunner70]

To answer the comm who asked what about the people that live elsewhere that want to eat the fish farm raised fish will do them just fine. There will be no difference in the taste of the farm raised fish versus the frozen fish they are used to eating.
_________________
Tom Farrell
weakfishin@yahoo.com
631-475-1133 x120

Vice President-New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing

MSA
LIBBA

[tiderunner70]

[pakalolo]

What a biggotted, inane statement! No where in your pitiful diatribe do you mention the best interest of the bass stock! The recs do most of the damage to the bass but you want to stop commercial fishing , how does that help the bass population?As to the directed trawl fishery I'll try one more time to explain it to you using small words this time. If the draggers are allowed to work on bass they will be able to fill their tags in less tows. Less tows = less bycatch. Less tows on the beach = less damage. The way it is now, they are allowed a limited # of bass per trip this = more trips to fill their tags, BASIC MATH!
We all have a right to the resource and the commercial guys supply the non fishing stakeholders with their fish. As for you your comment on farm raised fish , pitiful, just pitiful.

[tiderunner70]

[tiderunner70]

deleted
_________________
Tom Farrell
weakfishin@yahoo.com
631-475-1133 x120

Vice President-New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing

MSA
LIBBA

[Speedo]

[Bass Assassin]

To All comm's, When the last fish is caught then you'll realize that money can not be eaten!!!!!!
_________________
"Fish 4 Life!"

GATEWAY STRIPER CLUB

[Vito Orlando]

[pakalolo]

I am no relative of yours thank God, so lay of the Son reference. Man, you and Willy can only resort to personal attacks when you have no comment on the content of a different opinion. Your fight boils down to taking a user group out of the equation so the recs have all the bass to themselves. Absolutely pitiful and pathetic. Have fun playing fisherman, the guys who actually WORK on the water for a living are getting quite a laugh out of your whining.

[tiderunner70]