ASMFC meeting yesterday - striped bass

Originally Posted by reds

Any idea what the rec limit is now???

Maryland law, yes law is 42.5% recs.... 42.5% commercial. The proposal is for ocean fish and ocean commercial catch, not the bay.

BTW the sportfish status has been tried before. It won't happen here.

Yes, but if the increase in the ocean fish is increased, aren't they taking from some of the fish that will come up the bay to spawn? Indirectly affecting all Rec fishing (Charters and private boaters)???

Why increase it when the data presented shows a decrease in the rec take and increase in commercial take over the last 3 years? (I know we have gone back and forth on that but that is the data I have read and am sticking by until you send me data to the contrary)?

[Doggydaddy]

It seems crazy to increase the commercial quota when they have no idea what kind of impact the EEZ poachers are making on the Rockfish numbers.

[reds]

Originally Posted by Baldzilla

Yes, but if the increase in the ocean fish is increased, aren't they taking from some of the fish that will come up the bay to spawn? Indirectly affecting all Rec fishing (Charters and private boaters)???

Why increase it when the data presented shows a decrease in the rec take and increase in commercial take over the last 3 years? (I know we have gone back and forth on that but that is the data I have read and am sticking by until you send me data to the contrary)?

Since the moratorium was lifted the rec harvest has increased 700 %. The commercial harvest has increased about 25%. It all in black and white on the ASMFC website, all you have to do is look it up. The data you have read comes out of a magazine, read it from the horses mouth.

Sure they would be taking from some of the fish that come in the bay, but aren't the rec's doing that now? My understanding is they don't want the quota increased, they just want a bigger share of what is being caught.

Fish Nut said. "The question is why would they want to increase the quota. It is my understating that they have not reached there max quota in years."

Read the info on the ASMFC site, your understanding is not correct.

[B-Faithful]

It is important to note that my understanding is that the desire is to not increase the size of the pie, just change the size of the slices along the coast. It wouldnt directly impact the Chesapeake Bay, only the coastal fishery. However it would show a mindset that commercial fishing for striped bass is gaining in value to ASMFC, NOAA, and the Dept of Commerce. I dont see how it can be justified given the far greater socio-economic value of the fish as a gamefish vs. the commercial market. It is clear that if anything the trend should continue to grow for the recreational allocation at the expense of the commercial side as there is no indication that market needs arent being met for the fish commercially. There are many clear indications that the needs for the fish on the recreational side arent being met.

Reds, While i am not sure where I stand on gamefish only status, you said it has been tried in Maryland. I am a born and raised NJ boy so I missed those actions and cannot find anything on that. Was there a legislative bill at one point and time or was it something that was attempted through DNR?

Originally Posted by reds

Since the moratorium was lifted the rec harvest has increased 700 %. The commercial harvest has increased about 25%. It all in black and white on the ASMFC website, all you have to do is look it up. The data you have read comes out of a magazine, read it from the horses mouth.

Sure they would be taking from some of the fish that come in the bay, but aren't the rec's doing that now? My understanding is they don't want the quota increased, they just want a bigger share of what is being caught.

Fish Nut said. "The question is why would they want to increase the quota. It is my understating that they have not reached there max quota in years."

Read the info on the ASMFC site, your understanding is not correct.

I will read the site, I assure you of that. But you are talking 700% since the moratorium, when the harvest was.....0???? I am sure you are right, the data I am looking at, yes from a Magazine shows a decline in Rec harvest and discards and increase in Commercial Harvest and discards in the LAST 3 YEARS!!! I read, yes from a magazine, that the data above was presented at ASMFC. Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get to the bottom of it..

Believe me, I am not anti comm at all..but I am for common sense to be applied.

and yes, I agree with Dennis said Recs need to stand up and come out, I agree...but if last winter during the C&R was any indication, I doubt that it will happen....most will just sit here and *****...I'll be at all that I can make for sure..

[reds]

Originally Posted by Baldzilla

I will read the site, I assure you of that. But you are talking 700% since the moratorium, when the harvest was.....0???? I am sure you are right, the data I am looking at, yes from a Magazine shows a decline in Rec harvest and discards and increase in Commercial Harvest and discards in the LAST 3 YEARS!!! I read, yes from a magazine, that the data above was presented at ASMFC. Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get to the bottom of it..

Believe me, I am not anti comm at all..but I am for common sense to be applied.

and yes, I agree with Dennis said Recs need to stand up and come out, I agree...but if last winter during the C&R was any indication, I doubt that it will happen....most will just sit here and *****...I'll be at all that I can make for sure..

Here's some applied common sense.
#1 We have been in a recession for the last 3 years. Recs don't have the money to fish. Charters are off because of it, tackle sales are down. Boat sales are in the toilet. Surprise, surprise the rec catch is off.

#2 Commercial Ocean Striped Bass harvesting has a quota (unlike the recs),
the harvest can only go up to the quota. If it is exceeded, the overage comes off the next year.

Originally Posted by reds

Here's some applied common sense.
#1 We have been in a recession for the last 3 years. Recs don't have the money to fish. Charters are off because of it, tackle sales are down. Boat sales are in the toilet. Surprise, surprise the rec catch is off.

#2 Commercial Ocean Striped Bass harvesting has a quota (unlike the recs),
the harvest can only go up to the quota. If it is exceeded, the overage comes off the next year.

Part #2 I buy.
part #1 I dont buy...I saw more boats out last year than I've seen in my time on the bay. People may not be buying new boats, but they are using the ones they have. People are getting more efficient at catching fish. if 10% less people are fishing, but the remaining 90% are 50% more efficient, you are looking at more fish caught. I don't buy the recession is the cause for the Commercial catch % going up

people I know of that couldnt buy a bite 3 years ago are catching their limit damn near every trip now...why, because they are learning, mostly via the internet..

but again, why raise the quota? Show me a good argument why, as of yet I have not seen it...why not leave it alone? whether it be MD Bay or Offshore? I can only assume you are a Comm by your defense of this, which is fine, but the only motivation and response I can see is more $$$

[B-Faithful]

Originally Posted by reds

Here's some applied common sense.
#1 We have been in a recession for the last 3 years. Recs don't have the money to fish. Charters are off because of it, tackle sales are down. Boat sales are in the toilet. Surprise, surprise the rec catch is off.

I think while overall you may be correct there are some key things to consider.. Despite the down economy fishing license sales have been up in Maryland. According to mrfss data, there were more rec trips taken in Maryland in 2009 than the previous year (I havent checked to see data revolving around other areas). Also areas like VA beach are seeing huge economic growth around the recreational striped bass fishery. Hotels, charters, restaurants, etc are now busy in the winter months where they were generally quiet only a few years ago. Recreational fishing is a 1.3 Billion dollar industry to the state of Maryland according to DNR and 1 Billion according to the American Sportfishing Association.

Lets face it, striped bass on the commercial market is facing the same economic battles as restaurant industry is way down, prices for striped bass on the commercial market are stagnant at best, etc.

[Shawn Kimbro]

I really hope there is a better reason to vote for increased commercial harvest besides getting recreational fishermen off their asses. By that logic, I should go out and dump used cylinder oil in the Bay so it'll motivate somebody to support a no discharge law!

[Fishamajig]

Originally Posted by Shawn Kimbro

I really hope there is a better reason to vote for increased commercial harvest besides getting recreational fishermen off their asses. By that logic, I should go out and dump used cylinder oil in the Bay so it'll motivate somebody to support a no discharge law!

Not really. What the ASMFC members did was this: rather than us make the decision for the constituency, let's solicit public comment from the public BEFORE we make a decision. That is all this is about.

Dumping used motor oil in the bay would be unethical and illegal! (Plus I know you wouldn't do it!) Putting an issue of striped bass allocation before the public is a very sound democratic process!