Quote:
Originally Posted by Scup  Bob and Mag,
Your numbers are probably questionable as well. Connecticut, is a non commercial state as far as striped bass are concerned. I do catch quite a few bass each year, but I am going out as recreational fisherman, not a commercial fisherman. I think what may have you upset is the horrible flick we saw concerning massive seining operations on the outer banks. Even our local neighboring states that allow commercial striper fishing have to tag the fish they bring into CT and have strict guidelines and quotas to follow. A Connecticut wholesaler cannot accept an untagged bass. That 73% number is going to go all over the place depending on what state we are talking about. Here in Connecticut there is nothing that I know of that we can do about the questionable laws our southern neighbors have. As far as only one fluke in 25 not making it when tossed back, well I think that is a low number as well. I would wonder how the DEP came up with that number? A pin fisherman is basically a rod reel guy anyway so it simply does not matter to the fluke being tossed back who caught him. The mortality rate is not determined by who caught the fish, but by the method used to catch the fish. This is where the commercial guys get into trouble with drag operations and gill nets as no one is going to argue with you over the mortality rate here. However, the statement made that rod and reel people cannot keep the commercial industry going is also very true too. |
Correct, think of these highly migratory species in a coastwide sense, but also think about this: every study done on summer caught striped bass shows a very, very high mortality rate for released fish. Commercial fisherman are not out there for fun, they are out there to get there quota and stop. I have seen firsthand what the recreational fleet kills when fishing clam bellies...maybe not a popular method where you are, but elsewhere it is intense. The shorties float up almost within the half hour, more the longer you stay and watch...countless others die hours or days later that get eaten very, very quickly. Check this quick thread out on a very good indicator as to eventual release mortality from summer vs, winter caught striped bass:
Striped Bass Hooking Mortality and Physiological Responses of Striped Bass Caught in Freshwater and Held in Live-Release Tubes
I wish that I could get more people to delve further into our fisheries and become a bit more educated so that these discussions could focus on real world thoughts for solutions to our plight, rather than me having to deal with the mis information rampant in the recreational fisheries......Please don't take that as criticism of anyone individual, again think coastwide and angler intensive....