GUYS, DO YOU THINK WE (NEW JERSEY) SHOULD BE PROPOSING THE SAME OR TO THE LIKE? WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THE BELOW? I AGREE WITH MOST BUT NOT ALL OF IT!
Proposed rulemaking:
Chapter 42 - Striped Bass
42.01 Statewide Striped Bass Size Restrictions, Harvest Methods
1. Method of Taking.
A. It is unlawful to fish for or take striped bass in the waters of the state territorial waters, except by hook and line. It is unlawful to use a gaff to land any striped bass.
B. It is unlawful to use multiple (more than two) barbed or barbless treble hooks on any artificial lure or flies while fishing for striped bass in territorial waters.
C. It is unlawful to use any hook other than a circle hook when using bait. For purposes of this chapter the definition of circle hook means “a non-offset hook with a point that points 90º back toward the shaft of the hook”.
D. Any striped bass legally taken from the territorial waters shall be immediately released alive into the water from which it was taken, or killed at once. Any striped bass killed becomes part of the daily bag limit in accordance with Chapter 42.02.
2. Size Restrictions.
It is unlawful to take or possess striped bass which are less than 20 inches long or greater than 26 inches total length but less than 40 inches total length. It is unlawful to possess striped bass unless the fish are whole with head on and are between 20 and 26 inches total length or 40 inches and greater total length.
42.02 Striped Bass - Limits, Personal Use
It is unlawful for any person to fish for, or take or possess striped bass in or from territorial waters the waters of the state, except for personal use. The sale of wild striped bass caught for personal use or by commercial fisheries promulgated in other States or jurisdictions is prohibited in the State of Maine. It is unlawful for any person to take or possess more than one (1) striped bass each day which may be between 20 and 26 inches in total length or 40 inches or greater in total length. Note: No other changes are proposed in Chapter 42.
Additional information:
During the month of February, 2010 the Maine Department of Marine Resources held two striped bass scoping meetings to discuss recreational angler concerns of declining striped bass catches in Maine and most states along the East Coast. Many of the comments indicated that striped bass fishing in Maine and states located south of Maine have observed declines in both commercial and recreational catch rates. According to Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey data recreational catch rates for Maine have declined since 2004. Analysis of preliminary data indicated that catch rates have declined by 93% during that 5-year period.
The Department is required to work within the framework provided by the ASMFC Management Plan that limits options when considering state management plan changes and has explored rule changes that could protect striped bass, including native striped bass populations in Merrymeeting Bay and provide positive recreational angling opportunities for those that fish for striped bass. There was a considerable amount of discussion in the scoping sessions concerning the catch and release mortality of striped bass in Maine. Many attributed this mortality to fishing for striped bass with bait and the use of J-hooks while bait fishing. Fishing for striped bass with bait is an efficient means of catching striped bass during the spring, summer, and fall and a popular method of catching all sizes of striped bass. There is an area closure where bait and gear type are regulated during the spawning season to limit the effects of bait fishing and hooking mortality on native fish during the spawning season. One area where improved conservation could occur is reduction of the discard mortality for striped bass caught and released by recreational anglers. ASMFC calculates discard mortality as 8% of the total number of striped bass caught and released each year. Bycatch mortality alone ranges from thousands to hundreds of thousands (320,000 in 2004) of striped bass each year in Maine. In 2008 discard mortality for striped bass in Maine was 37,079 individuals. Reducing the discard mortality will have a conservation effect for all ages including large striped bass >40 inches. Survey data collected in 2008 indicate anglers released 75% of these large fish.
Working within ASMFC guidelines and after listening to the comments at the scoping meetings the Department proposes these regulatory changes pertaining to limits of the type of hooks, bait, high grading and technical clarifications. These conservation practices are in line with recommendations in the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Plan. These efforts will conserve striped bass of all ages and across all regions of Maine without further limiting recreational fishing opportunities for striped bass fishing in Maine.
