Angler Paul
03-02-2005, 04:39 AM
I thought it was about time to voice my opinion on the controversies involving the striped bass regulations. Just about all the reasons for the difference of opinions between the RFA and the JCAA have been published many times. For the record, I strongly favor the proposal to allow us to keep two stripers 28? and over as opposed to the current law which allows us to keep one striper from 24? to under 28? and one 34? and over. I appreciate all the work that has been done by both the JCAA and the RFA on behalf of recreational fishermen.
However, I am disturbed by the way the RFA conducted its striped bass survey and more disturbed by the way it was interpreted. I believe the results showed that the majority of respondents favored 2 stripers at 28? and over. I do not believe that by adding the two options that favored slot fish together shows that there are more fishermen that prefer having a slot fish. More likely there were a good number of fishermen who chose the option to have a larger slot fish and a second striper at 33? and over, as a compromise even though they may have actually preferred two fish at 28? and over. Because of the way the questions were worded none of us will ever know for sure what the RFA?s membership really wanted.
I have read the criticisms of a statistician who pointed out the flaws of how the survey was conducted and how he felt the questions should have been asked. I can narrow all of this debate down to one question. Simply ask the recreational fishermen if they prefer to have a law, which allows them to keep one bass from 24? to less than 28? or a law which allows them to keep one bass from 28? to 34?. Obviously, we cannot have both this year as it is going to be one way or the other.
I also read about how the current law is confusing and has caused a lack of compliance. While this is true, unfortunately there is going to be more non-compliance but for another reason.
I usually fish for stripers 75-100 nights a year and have my finger on the pulse of what is going on striper wise. Many of the surfcasters I know are livid over the current regulations. Being able to keep only one bass 34? and over is hard on trophy fishermen and those that like to participate in tournaments. It is a rare day or night that the first bass you catch is the largest. Some of the fishermen I know are so fed up that they almost don?t care what the regulations are and they are going to keep what they feel is right regardless. I have heard others say that if they are restricted to only one bass they will ?release? the smaller one whether it is dead or alive so that they can keep the larger one. However, I want to make it clear that I do not condone this type of activity but you have to know something is seriously wrong when you start hearing things like this.
Although I am pleased with the efforts of the JCAA to have the law changed to allow two stripers at 28? or larger,I do not like the position they have taken so far in regards to the bonus program. They believe that the size limit for the bonus card should remain at one fish over 28?. This will create an enormous demand for the cards, as it will be the only way fishermen can keep a striper from 28? to less than 34? if the current law does not change. The JCAA is aware of this and has taken a position that the fairest way to distribute the cards will be by a lottery system. In my opinion this is outrageous. Since it?s inception in 1997 the program always automatically issued new cards or tags to the participants in the program who had sent in their striped bass records for the previous years. I even went a step further by painstakingly researching my personal fishing diaries back into the mid-70?s and submitted them to the State. Now I might not get a card because someone else who never had a card before wants to have one so he can keep a 28? bass. A fairer method of distributing the cards is to issue them on a first come ? first served basis with those who submitted last year?s records at the top of the list.
The State is lacking the needed funding to keep the program going and although the JCAA is to be commended for donating $3000. to the program they are still insisting on bonus card size limit that will severely tax the program. With a lottery system even those fortunate enough to be chosen will most likely only receive one or two cards for the entire year. The solution to this conundrum is really quite simple. All that has to be done is to raise the size limit for the bonus card to 34? if the current law remains the same. If the slot fish is eliminated and we are allowed to once again keep two stripers at 28? and over, the bonus card size limit could again be lowered to 28?. In either scenario all fishermen will most likely have unlimited access to additional cards and the State will not be overwhelmed with requests for cards. Further, the law would be simplified and compliance more likely. I know there will be a number of individuals who will insist that people want to use the bonus tag for 28? fish. However, for the next round of surveys simply ask one question. Do you prefer possibly receiving no bonus card at all or possibly one or two cards which will allow you to keep one or two bass from 28? to under 34? for the entire year OR do you prefer a 34?size limit where you are assured of initially receiving two cards and the strong likelihood that you will be issued another one when you use one of those you initially received?
Paul Haertel
However, I am disturbed by the way the RFA conducted its striped bass survey and more disturbed by the way it was interpreted. I believe the results showed that the majority of respondents favored 2 stripers at 28? and over. I do not believe that by adding the two options that favored slot fish together shows that there are more fishermen that prefer having a slot fish. More likely there were a good number of fishermen who chose the option to have a larger slot fish and a second striper at 33? and over, as a compromise even though they may have actually preferred two fish at 28? and over. Because of the way the questions were worded none of us will ever know for sure what the RFA?s membership really wanted.
I have read the criticisms of a statistician who pointed out the flaws of how the survey was conducted and how he felt the questions should have been asked. I can narrow all of this debate down to one question. Simply ask the recreational fishermen if they prefer to have a law, which allows them to keep one bass from 24? to less than 28? or a law which allows them to keep one bass from 28? to 34?. Obviously, we cannot have both this year as it is going to be one way or the other.
I also read about how the current law is confusing and has caused a lack of compliance. While this is true, unfortunately there is going to be more non-compliance but for another reason.
I usually fish for stripers 75-100 nights a year and have my finger on the pulse of what is going on striper wise. Many of the surfcasters I know are livid over the current regulations. Being able to keep only one bass 34? and over is hard on trophy fishermen and those that like to participate in tournaments. It is a rare day or night that the first bass you catch is the largest. Some of the fishermen I know are so fed up that they almost don?t care what the regulations are and they are going to keep what they feel is right regardless. I have heard others say that if they are restricted to only one bass they will ?release? the smaller one whether it is dead or alive so that they can keep the larger one. However, I want to make it clear that I do not condone this type of activity but you have to know something is seriously wrong when you start hearing things like this.
Although I am pleased with the efforts of the JCAA to have the law changed to allow two stripers at 28? or larger,I do not like the position they have taken so far in regards to the bonus program. They believe that the size limit for the bonus card should remain at one fish over 28?. This will create an enormous demand for the cards, as it will be the only way fishermen can keep a striper from 28? to less than 34? if the current law does not change. The JCAA is aware of this and has taken a position that the fairest way to distribute the cards will be by a lottery system. In my opinion this is outrageous. Since it?s inception in 1997 the program always automatically issued new cards or tags to the participants in the program who had sent in their striped bass records for the previous years. I even went a step further by painstakingly researching my personal fishing diaries back into the mid-70?s and submitted them to the State. Now I might not get a card because someone else who never had a card before wants to have one so he can keep a 28? bass. A fairer method of distributing the cards is to issue them on a first come ? first served basis with those who submitted last year?s records at the top of the list.
The State is lacking the needed funding to keep the program going and although the JCAA is to be commended for donating $3000. to the program they are still insisting on bonus card size limit that will severely tax the program. With a lottery system even those fortunate enough to be chosen will most likely only receive one or two cards for the entire year. The solution to this conundrum is really quite simple. All that has to be done is to raise the size limit for the bonus card to 34? if the current law remains the same. If the slot fish is eliminated and we are allowed to once again keep two stripers at 28? and over, the bonus card size limit could again be lowered to 28?. In either scenario all fishermen will most likely have unlimited access to additional cards and the State will not be overwhelmed with requests for cards. Further, the law would be simplified and compliance more likely. I know there will be a number of individuals who will insist that people want to use the bonus tag for 28? fish. However, for the next round of surveys simply ask one question. Do you prefer possibly receiving no bonus card at all or possibly one or two cards which will allow you to keep one or two bass from 28? to under 34? for the entire year OR do you prefer a 34?size limit where you are assured of initially receiving two cards and the strong likelihood that you will be issued another one when you use one of those you initially received?
Paul Haertel