Commercial Bass Fisherman read this

[ERO83]

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/dm...arings/striped-bass-public-hearing-notice.pdf



We need Mass commercial fisherman to come out and speak their minds! If you're not already a member check out Massachusetts Commercial Striped Bass Association. We need to keep this fishery alive!

https://www.facebook.com/masscommbass

 

[tunaless]

Great ideas

Hopefully it gets passed, keep the price up, allow a more consistent market, spread the fishing out in the state, probably increase the # of licenses that sell fish, as fishing in their area may be better with an earlier start date, then in the middle of the summer. Cross your fingers. If they were really smart, they would just mimic New Yorks system, and we leave the breeders alone.

 

[twister]

if you go and vote for the earlier season, remember that RI's season opens 6/6 and may last a month so there will be fish being sold. though reducing the trip limit would help stabilize the price and allow the market to sell the fish better. It may be a wash over your season.

 

[myentourage]

Prohibit for-hire permit holders from engaging in commercial striped bass fishing with
clients aboard ;


I don't get it i thought this was already a rule. You cannot mix recreational and commercial in the same trip.

 

[ERO83]

no they can double dip as they say. gotta get out to the hearings and speak if you want to be heard thats a fact.

 

[twister]

I know they do not allow that in RI odd that they would allow in Mass. I do know a number of charter guys that do let their clients fish for their limit of bass and other fish and they get busted for it too.

 

[Capt Dave]

I don't get it i thought this was already a rule. You cannot mix recreational and commercial in the same trip.

Rule is you can't have rec sized fish (ie 28") on board if your selling commercial fish. So as long the the charter boat only has commerical sized fish on board, the customers can take thier share (2/person) and the charter boat can legally sell the rest.

Not too much different that a commercial boat going out to catch thier 30 fish with 4 guys on board.

 

[myentourage]

Rule is you can't have rec sized fish (ie 28") on board if your selling commercial fish. So as long the the charter boat only has commerical sized fish on board, the customers can take thier share (2/person) and the charter boat can legally sell the rest.

Not too much different that a commercial boat going out to catch thier 30 fish with 4 guys on board.

Yeah thats bullshit thats exactly what im talking about. so the charter boat captain will use that as a selling point for the general public to go on his boat, he will give his customers more than 2 fish their allowed because he made it to the dock and there is no epo's around. I'm sure those customers will come back to him before they go on another boat and catch the 2 fish they are suppose to.

Oh yeah and those fish that he is giving to his customers never make the commercial quota but he is fishing under commercial regulations on the water though. Those 4 guys fishing commercially, their fish will eventually make the market and go under the quota. Here ya go:


Vessels permitted as both for-hire vessels and commercial vessels may not engage in
commercial fishing activity while engaged in for-hire fishing activities [CMR 7.01 and
7.10].

 

[Super Suck]

The charters fish will come out of the 30 fish but have to be checked in first.

 

[Irish Jig 78]

"Vessels permitted as both for-hire vessels and commercial vessels may not engage in commercial fishing activity while engaged in for-hire fishing activities [CMR 7.01 and
7.10]".

Entourage: Couldn't agree more. Not to begrudge anybody trying to make a living but you can't be both...you're either commercial or you're recreational.

 

[Irish Jig 78]

"The charters fish will come out of the 30 fish but have to be checked in first".

Checked in? Checked in where? When you go to sell your fish to the dealer, it's not as though you then take a few and toss them into the back of a cooler destined back to Holyoke after the number of fish is recorded.

It's a pretty clear distinction;
-Charterboats take recreational anglers out fishing under recreational reg's for recreational purpose.
-Commerical vessels fish for the sole purpose of selling their catch.

 

[myentourage]

The charters fish will come out of the 30 fish but have to be checked in first.

Im sure the phrase "checked in" is really going to go a long way.

 

[Capt Dave]

First, let me say I agree with separating commercial/recreational activities, the two shouldn't occur together. I'm just pointing out that is what is allowed today.

Back in 2004/05, there was the same proposal. Charter boats from the cape fought it and won, that's why it's a proposal again. Hopefully it will be accepted this time.

Along the above, they should re-instate the original control date of March 2008, a season opening date of June 1st and reduce the days and limits.

They should also look at reducing the recs to (1) fish and increasing the size limit. One of the stupidest thing the state did was making the rec limit less than 32".

 

[Irish Jig 78]

Along the above, they should re-instate the original control date of March 2008, a season opening date of June 1st and reduce the days and limits.

QUOTE]

Hey Dave, I was trying to refresh my memory on the 2008 control date and was surfing some old archives and came across this, the MA DMF Commercial Permit Application;

" Commercial Affidavit: I certify under the pains and penalties of perjury that all information contained in the application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I acknowledge March 6, 2008 as a control date for commercial fisheries conducted using hook-andline, longline or other hand gear within waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, excluding the commercial striped bass fishery. I understand that future access to fisheries conducted using hooks (longlines, rod & reel, or hand gear) may not be guaranteed and may be subject to eligibility criteria for determining levels of access to and allowable harvest of these fisheries based on historic harvest levels of a vessel, person or other criteria".

From my interpretation of this, that 3/2008 date doesn't apply. Am I wrong? Really doesn't matter to me either way - been permitted since mid-90's - just trying to understand how they're looking to apply this 3/2008 date. As I recall, I believe the actual control date for bass was in 2003 brought about by an emergency action...thoughts?

 

[myentourage]

Along the above, they should re-instate the original control date of March 2008, a season opening date of June 1st and reduce the days and limits.

QUOTE]

Hey Dave, I was trying to refresh my memory on the 2008 control date and was surfing some old archives and came across this, the MA DMF Commercial Permit Application;

" Commercial Affidavit: I certify under the pains and penalties of perjury that all information contained in the application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I acknowledge March 6, 2008 as a control date for commercial fisheries conducted using hook-andline, longline or other hand gear within waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, excluding the commercial striped bass fishery. I understand that future access to fisheries conducted using hooks (longlines, rod & reel, or hand gear) may not be guaranteed and may be subject to eligibility criteria for determining levels of access to and allowable harvest of these fisheries based on historic harvest levels of a vessel, person or other criteria".

From my interpretation of this, that 3/2008 date doesn't apply. Am I wrong? Really doesn't matter to me either way - been permitted since mid-90's - just trying to understand how they're looking to apply this 3/2008 date. As I recall, I believe the actual control date for bass was in 2003 brought about by an emergency action...thoughts?

You know whats pretty funny is that for the past three years i have not had my catch report in on time (Oct 15) and i thought they wouldnt give me the striper endorsement the year after and they do every time. They always say that failure to get your reports in on time will forfeit your endorsemnt the year after and they never do. So maybe if they did what they say, they wouldnt need a control date. I dont fish for stripers i just dont like the fact that for-hire is mixed with commercial on the same trip simply for the fact that you cannot do it with any other species. What makes stripers different?

 

[Jay c]

You know whats pretty funny is that for the past three years i have not had my catch report in on time (Oct 15) and i thought they wouldnt give me the striper endorsement the year after and they do every time. They always say that failure to get your reports in on time will forfeit your endorsemnt the year after and they never do. So maybe if they did what they say, they wouldnt need a control date. I dont fish for stripers i just dont like the fact that for-hire is mixed with commercial on the same trip simply for the fact that you cannot do it with any other species. What makes stripers different?

So you don't have any skin in the game, but you're campaigning to take money out of our pockets?
On what, some convoluted principal?

Nice...

Btw - it's not just Stripers, every charterboat in New England that catches a giant sells the fish. Lines are blurred there as well.

 

[myentourage]

On what, some convoluted principal?

I don't know how else to explain it, when me and 76 other charter fisherman get a letter from the director saying we are not allowed to have clients on board and engage in commercial fishing (scup and seabass). Then find out that an addendum is coming up to stop striper for-hire captains to not engage in commmercial fishing with clients on board kind of makes you pissed off to say the least. Then to find out that it has been going on years with the knowledge of the DMF. If you are one of for-hire captains doing this sorry to hear but if the shoe was on the other foot im sure it would be the same outpoor. Do to one as you would do to the other, no offense to the striper guys trying to make a living this way but thats just being fair.

 

[Jay c]

Sorry that you can't sell your catch on a charter - we got that letter too. Doesn't effect me because I rarely heads down to buzzards. But I feel for the guys it adversely effects.
But DEM does give you a significantly increased bag limit because you charter so that you can book more trips - sure as sh*t don't see that with Stripers. And you can also run those two "1/2 day" trips with the same people that you all market.
If I ever came back to the dock, ran 12 fish up to the cars and took the same guys back out again, I'd have my nuts in a sling.

Btw - I don't care that you scup boats do this - more power to you. But if my business doesn't effect yours, stay out of it. Unless of course you have a better reason than spite.

 

[myentourage]

Sorry that you can't sell your catch on a charter - we got that letter too. Doesn't effect me because I rarely heads down to buzzards. But I feel for the guys it adversely effects.
But DEM does give you a significantly increased bag limit because you charter so that you can book more trips - sure as sh*t don't see that with Stripers. And you can also run those two "1/2 day" trips with the same people that you all market.
If I ever came back to the dock, ran 12 fish up to the cars and took the same guys back out again, I'd have my nuts in a sling.

Btw - I don't care that you scup boats do this - more power to you. But if my business doesn't effect yours, stay out of it. Unless of course you have a better reason than spite.

Scup charters are not doing 1/2 day trips starting june 15th the fish are too far out and it is not possible. Unfortunately Striped Bass are a little more watched than other species because it can definately be abused due to cases like this.

BTW i would stay out if it if the DMF didn't know about it. But when we are treated like we were and the DMF is allowing this to go on its pretty much a slap in the face to us scup guys. Especially when they have good reason to do it with the bass guys, they are fighting to get more commercial quota. Oh yeah the commercial scup quota hasnt been met for about 8yrs.

 

[Capt Dave]

[/FONT]

Irish, correct, the 3/08 control date exeptmed striped bass but it looks like they may want to add it now.

The original control date (2003?) for striped bass expired since it was not used.