Mike,
I think what Greg is saying with the "pimple on an elephants ass" comment is that our trophy season (normally only three weeks long) is not reducing the breeding population by very much.
I have no problem releasing fish. If another slot limit would GUARANTEE another great YOY index, I would support a slot for the next couple of years.
However, I think the main problem is that the breeding stock NEVER gets a break. They get hammered everywhere they go. Let's start with Maryland. They enter the bay to spawn in late March and DNR tries to set the Trophy season date after they have spawned. In most years, this works out pretty well (last year they arrived late). They spawn in early to mid April, and we fish for them until they leave the bay.
But then, those breeders are fished all the way up the coast as they head for their summer grounds. Once they reach Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, etc.; they are fished until they start their trip back to warmer waters. Once again, they are fished all the way back down the coast until they reach their winter grounds (either Va. or N.C.). If they don't remain outside the 3 mile limit, they are fished all winter.
Finally, they start their trek back up the Chesapeake to spawn, where we hit them again for about 3 weeks.
I will agree that I sometimes wince when a fat pre-spawn cow goes in the box. But if all works well, more spawned out females are harvested.
So............, our three week season doesn't reduce the breeding stock by a large number. A 32-43 inch fish (breeder) is never going to breed again no matter whether she is harvested in Md., Del., N.J., N.Y., Conn., Rhode Island, Mass., Maine, Va., or N.C.!!
What I would love to see is a one year C/R restriction on the breeding stock. I still want to fish for them; but maybe everything over 38 inches would be protected (for one year only). Can you imagine how many breeders that were released in every State, would enter the Chesapeake to spawn the following year? How large would the YOY be then?
I HOPE that because we released the slot fish, the YOY was high last year. But we can't be certain that was the main reason for the YOY index. Perhaps, the environmental conditions (water temps and water quality) were perfect for allowing the eggs to hatch and the fry to live. I know we didn't have any major flooding last spring (which normally turns the bay to a muddy mess). Perhaps, the combination of C/R and environmental factors was the answer.
We could do another slot, C/R 75-80% of the breeders; and have environmental conditions kill the eggs or fry resulting in a poor YOY.
Personally, I love catching them. I could accept a season of all C/R. The only problem with that, is DNR has so polluted the process of setting regulations, that I don't trust them to be able to effectively manage the stock. When DNR was asked (by the Charter Boat industry) to ELIMINATE Pre-Season C/R fishing for the few of us who engaged in it; DNR told us with a straight face that we were harming the fish by 1) dragging them behind the boat, 2) forcing them to release their eggs, 3) stressing them out so badly that if the eggs weren't released, they wouldn't fertilize, 4) and finally, the most outrageous claim; that we were "educating" the fish so that they wouldn't take a lure once the C/K (catch/kill) season came in
Additionally, all the while DNR was trying to stop us from C/R trolling the main stem of the bay, they were allowing C/R on the susqahanna flats (the true spawning area)
Then, last season, DNR (at the request of the Charter Boat industry) imposes a "slot limit" on the fishery. This slot forced 75-80% of the pregnant cows to go through all of the horrendous things listed above. And what did we get, a great YOY.
Now, DNR has been asked (by the Charter Boat industry) to set the limit at 35 inches and above for the Trophy season. Why don't we save ourselves a lot of taxes and just let the Charter Boat industry set the regulations
DNR has lost all of my respect (not NRP). Lobbyist run the roost in Maryland. Those with the deepest pockets set the regulations. They have to convince the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission of their actions, but there is no denying who has the ear of Md. DNR.
This is a rather pessimistic view of DNR, but last year, we had to go to them and explain why their passing of the "three rod rule" for tidal waters was a problem. Remember, they had this passed into law
After we explained to them the difference between tidal and non-tidal waters (yes, really) DNR had to set in motion a plan to repeal the law in July; and allow NRP to not enforce the law until it got changed (WTF).
So this is what we are dealing with when DNR sets the legal limits for the seasons in Maryland. What a mess.
5th