Okay, here's the deal...As a full time Registered Maine guide and charterboat Captain who's sole source of income comes directly from the marine resources of the Great State of Maine, I can easily recognize the fact that a big part of the future success of my business, Super Fly Charters, as well as the success of many other full time Guides/Captains businesses, hinges on sound fisheries conservation management....Specifically regarding Striped Bass. Therefore I feel that it is my responsibility to stay informed and to help inform others on the management issues facing Striped Bass anglers...So from time to time I'll be reporting/ranting on conservation issues & you'll just have to grin and bear it during these boring blog posts!!!
Here is some Recent News from "Stripers Forever"
Stripers Forever members - from time to time we pass along reports on illegal catches that make the news. This report, in particular, illustrates the problems that commercial fishing creates for any accesible species, such as striped bass. Check out this link
These folks were caught twice in a week: first for being over their annual quota and second for a 3-ton, yes that's right nearly 6,000 pound illegal catch! To add real insult to injury, the maximum fine for the second offence is $500 - just a tiny cost of doing business. We think jail would be a more appropriate punishment for these repeat offenders along with forfeiture of license and gear. Furthermore, the official calculation of illegally caught striped bass is zero against the commercial quota . That's right, zero. This ought to give you an inkling of why the real condition of the striped bass population is not reflected by the ASMFC stock assessment science. If you start out with faulty input, you end up with faulty results.
The remedy is to make striped bass a game fish and to end commercial fishing for them everywhere. We have said from the very start of SF, the legal commercial fishery simply facilitiates the illegal one. As long as there is a price on the head of stripers, the temptation to break the law to catch and sell them illegally will overwhelm any enforcement efforts.
(many would consider the above info to be flawed data)Check out Capt. John McMurray's Lateral line Blog Post...Agree or Disagree???...Capt. McMurray raises some very interesting points.
This topic seems to spur many interesting heated debates on the online message boards of which, I try my best to stay out of, however...We at Super Fly Charters remain committed to the pursuit of coastwide gamefish status for Striped Bass...what do you think?
Maine Striper Fishing Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com
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