The season begins, and we are off… to what I hope is another good season of fishing on Barnstable Harbor.
Nevertheless, striped bass are considered to be on the decline. Many local fishermen are commenting on this decline. As is ASGA (American Saltwater Guides Association).
One of the goals of striped bass fisheries management is to preserve “year classes”. The basic idea, allow juveniles to grow up and become breeders. Five or six years ago, there were tons of “minis” around. These juvenile fish were about 10-12 inches long. There were quite a few of them. Each year, they would grow a bit eventually becoming the 26″-28″ fish that are predominant last year. This year, it seems they are slightly bigger.
Massachusetts imposed a slot limit starting three years ago. The initial slot was 28″-32″ (one fish per angler) and was reduced to 28″-32″ last season where it remains for the 2025 season. The idea was to allow bigger breeding fish to do so.
Other rules were put in place such as the use of circle hooks when using live bait in an effort to reduce “gut hooking”.
Finally, each state has made its own rules and although there is some consistency in the northernmost states, the Chesapeake Bay has always been an outlier with its own (questionable) regulations.
And finally a second time, there is a lot of concern about the impacts of “catch & release”. Do the fish actually survive “catch & release”?
And we are off…
I have very strict rules on my boat. Single barb less hooks only. I do not allow treble hooks on my boat.
Fish are only lifted out of the water for the requisite photo and/or measurement, otherwise, they are left in the water to be released with little to no contact other than to twist the hook from their mouths.
Clients on my boat are discouraged from “playing” the fish for too long. I use 14 lb. test leaders to ensure that a fish can be quickly brought to the boat for release.
I was very disappointed when I read the recent Striper issue of On the Water magazine where they did not in any way recommend switching out treble hooks for single hooks. The lure companies were complicit. Their fancy lure sport as many as 3 treble hooks on a lure. IMO, On the Water magazine is remiss in their role to teach fishermen how to responsibly handle their catch and ensure the longevity of this fishery.
This is a bit of a rant, but I’m not wrong.