The Virginia Marine Resources Commision is having their meeting about the 3 proposals to reduce the Striped Bass harvest in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay for the 2007 Fall season. This meeting is open to public comment about these proposals. The meeting will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at the Marine Resources Commision-2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Va 23607.
So here we go folks. Get up early, call in sick, do whatever it takes and show up to this meeting and be heard. I'm calling in sick and driving 3 hours just to be there and hopefully be heard. They are claiming that in 2006 the recreational fishermen (and women for sure) harvested 2,425,547 pounds of Striped bass. Where they got that number from is beyond me.
SHOW UP, SPEAK YOUR MIND, BE HEARD, DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough is enough. quit bitching about it and show up to the meeting.
See you there. P-2

I am there there there!!!!! Them son of a comercial netters need to get hit!!!! not us!!!!

See you there Striperhunter I. Bring your friends too. We all need to do our part.

A word to the wise from someone who has attended these meetings - Educate yourselves on the issues and be ready to justify your position. Just saying" I wanna catch more stripers" is better than not going, but might not get you very far. You need to have specific details on where additional fish are going to come from. a quick rundown:
Virginia's annual share of stripers is called it's quota, and that is set in stone by the Fed using the best available science to estimate the maximum sustainable yield. Thus the quota is the maximum amount that recreational and commercial fishermen can catch in a given year combined. The state then allocates that quota to recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen in a percentage of the overall quota.
The current allocation (I believe) is 50% for commercial fishermen, 50% for recreational fishermen. The recreational fishermen have overfished their allocation consistently and that's the reason for the tighter recreational limits. It works the same way for flounder except the allocation there is 60% for commercial fishermen and 40% for recreational fishermen. And there once again it's the recreational fishermen who have consistently overfished their allocation, causing tighter regulations. I know that's not what you want to hear, but the truth is that commercial fishing is tightly regulated, even moreso than recreational fishing and there are cheaters on both sides of the fence.
So basically, in order to catch more stripers, you're going to have to justify taking catch away from the commercial sector. I certainly think the increased numbers of recreational fishermen and the money they spend justify re-allocation of at least some of the quota. And one last thing. Newport News is the "home field" for the commercial boys. They will be at the meeting too, ready to counter everything you say. Tight lines and good luck!

Good advice....thanks

Marlin,

I agree with everything that you've stated. MY biggest concern is the "BY-Catch" That the commercial boys are allowed. It is sickening to see the multitudes of dead fish every time these nets get dragged. Also, if there is not something done to restore the menhadden population that has been on a consistent snow ball for years now. I believe not only will the striper population continue to decline, but we will see more and more "Red Tides" and thousands upon thousands of "fish Kills" each year. With theses very important "filter fish" Which help filter the bay's waters, the bay will continue to get worse and worse. I want to see a healthy bay so tha my children's children will be able to make many worderful memories on the bay together as my daughter and I have.

I hear ya Striperhunter. My personal opinion is that all gill nets should be banned in Virginia waters. Florida did that years ago and all of their fish populations have rebounded tremendously. Capt. Dave Wright on High Hopes regularly attends these meetings and fights for recreational fishing rights. He also sponsers this board. You guys might want to contact him and see if you can coordinate your efforts. He's a great guy and real knowedgable in all sport fishing issues. Good luck and tight lines.

Don't know if it's over yet but did anyone go? I was planning on it but couldn't make it.

I wasn't there but word is the commission voted / upheld the 1 striper limit for the Bay season from 10 December till the end of the year....Coastal will not be changed....bob

Just curious how do they determine the harvest for the recs? As stated we are not as tightly regulated so how can they determine what our harvest is?

Does any one know what they decided on in the meeting today? Thanks!

Thanks Bob

I couldn't go either, but I looked it up as soon as I got back online after being on the road all week...

9. PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed amendments to Regulations 4VAC20-252, "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass”, to establish management measures for the 2007 Fall recreational fishery. APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY A NO-TAKE SLOT LIMIT BETWEEN 28 AND 34 INCHES WITH A ONE FISH PER DAY LIMIT FROM DEC. 10 TO DEC. 31. THIS OPTION WAS FAVORED OVER CLOSING THE STRIPER SEASON A WEEK EARLY, ON DEC. 25.
[ Audio Item 9 ]

here's the link http://www.mrc.state.va.us/commission_summaries/cs0907.shtm

They throw chicken bones into a pot of boiling water. If the bones float and a dog howls, well you get the drift.