I practice Catch and Release. Basically 100% of the time. I may keep a Bass at some point, but it is truly an exception. I do “preach” C and R, but understand that it is legal to keep a Bass, and I do know it is within that persons right to do so. Excessive killing I am against. Eat what you keep. Think of the future, it is good for everyone to have a thriving Striped Bass Population.
Stripers Forever is one of the true organizations that have their interests inline with the recreational Striped Bass Fisherman. Their goal is to preserve stripers by eliminating the commercial fishery for them in the seven states that still allow it. The goal is not to allow recreational fishers to absorb that quota, rather it is to conserve these fish for future generations of recreational anglers. This is a good thing for the Striped Bass and the recreational Striped Bass Fisherman. This is tottally different than the Recreational Fishing Alliance that soley has the interests of the charter boat and party boat industries and only wants to protect or increase their allowable catch. They do not care at all about preserving the Striped Bass population.
Striped Bass should be a game fish. No commercial fishing. Limits on killing should be enforced and the recreational harvest decreased. A healthy Striped Bass population provides a solid boost to the economy.
