I'm really confused now

[Skip]

Catch and release is bad - but keeping them is good.

[Wild Bill]

Great picture there Skip. The DNR loved you pics last year. I hope they see this one and think about it.

I am totally in agreement with Shawn about not killing the females about to spawn. It has nothing to do with the method of fishing. All legal methods are OK with me. I would rather see the very low C & R mortality this time of year than the intentional killing the females about to spawn. We are not only killing these females but killing the future of our sport.

The Susky flats is very spotty this year with far fewer fish and drastically fewer large fish. Most of the boats are fishing in the middle of the southern end of the flats catching schoolies. I have an idea when the trophy season is over, those who are honest about it will report there were far fewer fish.

BTW, I am not arguing with anyone about my above statement. Arguing on the internet is like arguing in an insane asylum. Even if you win, what have you really gained?

Blast away.

[Old No.7]

I was confused about the same thing this past weekend Skip when i found similiar looking "stuff" inside the rockfish I was cleaning... And yet I'm the one who's wrong for catch and releasing them..weird...
Oh, BTW, I never did catch up with that school of 40's that were laughing at me

[RonaldMcDingle]

Wow, that is a shame to see. Let me preface this by saying, I am not controversial, or trying to be so, but if you are concerned about roe in the females, why are you keeping them? Why not C&R through the season and save the keeping until summer? I am very new to these websites, so forgive my ignorance!

[Slayer]

Originally Posted by RonaldMcDingle

Wow, that is a shame to see. Let me preface this by saying, I am not controversial, or trying to be so, but if you are concerned about roe in the females, why are you keeping them? Why not C&R through the season and save the keeping until summer? I am very new to these websites, so forgive my ignorance!

There's a rather long history behind Skip's posting. In a nutshell, there were restrictions put in place on C&R so that C&K could be strong while at the same time increasing the commercial quotas. Absolutely zero logic/science behind the C&R restrictions.

[reds]

Originally Posted by Slayer

There's a rather long history behind Skip's posting. In a nutshell, there were restrictions put in place on C&R so that C&K could be strong while at the same time increasing the commercial quotas. Absolutely zero logic/science behind the C&R restrictions.

No commercial quotas were increased. As a matter of fact, Maryland's was decreased 6 percent for 2010.

[uncljohn]

Originally Posted by RonaldMcDingle

Wow, that is a shame to see. Let me preface this by saying, I am not controversial, or trying to be so, but if you are concerned about roe in the females, why are you keeping them? Why not C&R through the season and save the keeping until summer? I am very new to these websites, so forgive my ignorance!

Someone missed out on some great sarcasm!

As long as you got it, might as well cook up that roe! Almost as good as shad roe!

Hey has anyone noticed how people are making sure to say "We kept a post-spawn female" in their reports on TF? As if they're afraid of lashback. I'll admit I kept a 37" female w/ roe last weekend. Couldn't really tell she was a she, kindof slender, not all bulging in the belly. That's whjy a max size limit would be better than "keep only males".

[reds]

Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Great picture there Skip. The DNR loved you pics last year. I hope they see this one and think about it.

I am totally in agreement with Shawn about not killing the females about to spawn. It has nothing to do with the method of fishing. All legal methods are OK with me. I would rather see the very low C & R mortality this time of year than the intentional killing the females about to spawn. We are not only killing these females but killing the future of our sport.

The Susky flats is very spotty this year with far fewer fish and drastically fewer large fish. Most of the boats are fishing in the middle of the southern end of the flats catching schoolies. I have an idea when the trophy season is over, those who are honest about it will report there were far fewer fish.

BTW, I am not arguing with anyone about my above statement. Arguing on the internet is like arguing in an insane asylum. Even if you win, what have you really gained?

Blast away.

You have said numerous times, that you don't keep Striped Bass, so your opinions are biased against catch and keep.

BTW, I am not arguing with anyone about my above post. Arguing on the internet is like arguing in an insane asylum. Even if you win, what have you really gained?

[Wild Bill]

Originally Posted by reds

You have said numerous times, that you don't keep Striped Bass, so your opinions are biased against catch and keep.

It is true I no longer keep any striped bass personally for myself or neighbors, etc.. Most of my buds do not either, however, I do occasionally take guys who want to keep their two fish later in the year and I let them do it on my boat. I have nothing against killing a few fish to eat, but do not think we should be intentionally killing roe laden females ready to spawn. I think that is very short sighted. It is like eating the seed corn.

The above statement is a clarification of my position. I am still not going to argue about the wisdom of killing pre-spawn females. Some think it is fine and others do not. As the larger fish get scarcer, a few more guys will come down on the side of preserving the breeding stock. Other guys will never see it.

[B-Faithful]

I have a PDF of a presentation made by the dnr to the stake holders regarding last years trophy season. It is a rather good presentation. If someone wants a copy emailed to them, send me a pm

Here are a few key points to it though:

• The spawn typically lasts until mid June according to DNR.
• However May 16-June 15 typically shows less than 10% of MD's migratory harvest.
• Vast majority of migratory fish harvested in 2009 by far were between 34" and 40" long.

Other dymanics that we know:

• On average between 2002 and 2008, 85% of fish harvested during the spring trophy season are female.
• On average between 2002 and 2008, half of the females harvested during the spring trophy season have not yet spawned or are ‘pre-spawn’. The pre-spawn fraction is variable – ranging from 63% in 2005, to 30% in 2008
• Recreational fishing has a 1 Billion (according to ASA) to 1.3 Billion (according to DNR) dollar socio-economic impact to the Maryland economy
• While the breakdown of the seasons is not known it is estimated that the trophy season has the largest ecomomic impact to recreational fishing. (evidence through this is found in revenue and trips taken by with the charter industry over any given 2 week period - also visably evident through participation)
• Fish harvested through the late fall and winter are also carrying roe
• Coastal winter fishery has and estimated harvest of between 200,000-800,000 fish (fish arent accounted for caught in the EEZ)
• Other states harvest far more striped bass recreationally than Maryland. (in millions of lbs according to NOAA for 2008 - MD at 2.6, NY at 7.0, NJ at 4.7, Mass at 5.5)

Given that our managers are obligated to manage the resource to maximize its benefits, How can we manage for the future while maximizing today. While I certainly do not believe this should fall squarely on the shoulders of Maryland, we may have to address how reductions can be made by us in the future.

Personally, I dont believe in the concept of pre-spawn fish as they all are prespawn. Whether they are harvested off of Mass in the summer or NC in Jan, they are prespawn. Providing enough fish remain in the population to sustain itself, enough will get through for there will be a successful spawn. This includes Maryland. Given the harvest numbers, I am not sure the Maryland trophy season is doing the most damage, especially given the 1 per person creel not matched anywhere.

Should Maryland need to reduce its harvest numbers in order to allow more fish to spawn, I would like to see a no-take slot limit. Given the numbers shown above, I think a slot that targets where most fish are taken may reduce the chances one may keep a fish while still providing for a good opportunity to catch a fish. It is important to note that while I agree catch and release is a great tool in keeping access open, the opportunity to harvest a fish is attractive to many more anglers. This is evident in the participation levels after the trophy season opens. This is why a no-take slot would be beneficial in my opinion. It would greatly reduce the impact of the harvest while still providing for that opporuntity to keep a fish. I actually believe Maryland could extend the season length with an appropriate no take slot to preserve the spawn. This would have the potential to increase the economic benefit to our state from the use of the resource while protecting more for the future. I also think it would help in the catch and release mind-set amoungst anglers who dont full appreciate the sport without keeping a fish. In other words, I think anglers who still have the opportunity to catch and keep a fish would still find themselves enjoying their time on the water if they were able to catch fish in the hunt for a "keeper" or true "trophy". While the no-take slot may affect their opportunity to keep a fish, it has not reduced their opportunity to catch a fish.

I will also disagree that debating on forums is a waste of time. While we can poo-poo them all you want, managers are watching and reading. This was very evident to me during the whole preseason catch and release debate. I think forums are great tools to change hearts and minds and make good cases for your causes if you take the time to argue your points well and thoroughly.