Ah, spring is here. And the bass are almost here. They're just arriving in the Raritan Bay, staging before they begin the annual spawn. And they're making their way up the Delaware, Chesapeake, and Hudson Rivers too, all on their way to try and make babies to keep the species going before its decimated any further.
So I ask, What are you going to do when it comes to striped bass conservation? If you're getting the boat warmed up then you are about to launch it and fish in the bath tub that are the pre-spawning areas and catch those big breeding females on clams, bunker chunks, lilies, plugs, spoons, trolls, umbrellas rigs, and for there few faint hearted anglers barbless single oooh flies.
So now we know, or at least have a list on how you may catch them, what are you going to do in your waders, on your boat, with your guide and charter service when paying anglers show up and want to take home the meat? Now, there are current regulations, which most of us laugh at because numbers are at near ever lows and overfishing, ie over harvesting, is occurring. So are you telling your anglers , no guys, we're now just catch and release, or only one fish per man, artificials only, no culling your catch?
People, anglers, captains, and internet heroes have spent the winter voicing their "conservation" angle for all to see, but will they set their own limits, stricter then the current regulations, to save the striped bass?
I don't think so.
What we will see are less bloody-bass-on-the-boat-shots, or guys with their hands buried deep inside the gill rakers, two per angler, while standing on the local docks, or the shot provided will be what you kept, but not what you actually killed during the trips, which may be one or two trips per day.
I think the true commercial captains have learned not to post pics on social media, only to get skewered by, well, types like me. Just because its legal doesn't make it right. Think for yourself, don't rely on the government to make decisions for you, and let your conscience be your guide.
