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Comment on Changes to the Striped Bass Rules & Regulations |
Posted on 10/07/2008 |
| CCA Virginia urges you to take this opportunity to comment on your preferences for the 2008 December striped bass fishery. You should send your comments by October 24th at the latest so they can be considered at the October 28th Commission meeting. To comment, see the instructions at the end of this post.
CCA Virginia Alert On Striped Bass Regulations for 2008
VI. CHAPTER 4VAC20-252-10 ET SEQ., “PERTAINING TO THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS”
The Commission proposes modifications to the upcoming December 2008 Chesapeake Bay recreational striped bass fishery. The current regulation establishes a 1-fish limit, from December 10 through December 31, and that one fish can be either 18 through 28 inches or 34 inches or greater, in total length. The Commission will consider options that lessen the number of days of the 1-fish limit, establish a 2-fish limit fro the entire month of December, or maintain the current provisions of the regulation.
Chesapeake Bay Quota
The Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Striped Bass (February 2003)
Amendment 6 implements a separate management program for the Chesapeake Bay due to the size availability of striped bass in this area. A Bay-wide quota for resident striped bass is established for the Chesapeake Bay and shares are allocated to Maryland, Virginia, and the PRFC. In 2007, the bay-wide quota of 9,479,441 pounds was allocated among the three jurisdictions. (Based on historical harvest, Maryland is allocated ~52%, PRFC ~15%, and Virginia ~33%). Each jurisdiction then allocates portions of the quota to its recreational and commercial fisheries (Table 9). In 2007, the bay-wide harvest was over one million pounds less than the bay-wide quota.
There are three scenarios that will be considered for the October 28th public hearing:
a) Maintain the status quo: 2008 regulations will be the same as 2007;.
b) Shorten the 22-day period when a 1-fish limit is in effect; or,
c) Establish a 2-fish limit throughout December.
Changes to other restrictions from the 2007 season and not under consideration and they would remain in effect:
Chesapeake Bay Fall Season-October 4 through December 31
Minimum Size Limit................18 inches
Maximum Size Limit................28 inches*
* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be 34 inches or larger; no fish may be kept between 28 and 34 inches.
Other Virginia restrictions: Anglers may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or when fishing in fish in multiple jurisdictions. Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.
Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the 3 mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
CCA Virginia recommends option (c) above of establishing a two (2)fish limit throughout the month of December for the Chesapeake Bay. Because the 2007 harvest was 1 million pounds below the target and because increased fuel prices and an uncertain economy have curtailed fishing activity so far in 2008, CCA VA believes there is little risk of over-harvesting in 2008. CCA VA also recommends the use of non-offset circle hooks when fishing with bait or live bait for striped bass to eliminate the chance of injuring or killing fish that you plan to release. A circle hook is defined as a non-offset hook with the point turned perpendicularly back to the shank.
TO COMMENT-----------------------------------------------------
Your comments can be emailed, faxed or mailed to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission using the information below.
1. Email: jack.travelstead@mrc.virginia.gov
2. Fax: 757-247-8101
3. Postal Mail:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
Attn. Jack Travelstead
Please include your name, address, phone number and email address so that your comments can be validated by VMRC. If you use email, please copy your comments to comments@ccavirginia.org so CCA Virginia will know if comments submitted support the CCA recommendations or not. This will help CCA’s representatives represent you accurately and effectively at the VMRC meeting on October 28th.
This Angler Alert was provided as a public service by the Coastal Conservation Association Virginia (CCA VA). Feel free it to forward it to your friends and associates. If you have any comments concerning this issue, or would like to have your name added/removed from the distribution list send an email to info@CCAVa.org The stated purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. CCA VA is a 501 C-3 charitable organization whose goal is CPR for fish…Conserve, Protect and Restore marine resources for the benefit of all Virginians. Please visit our website located at http://www.ccavirginia.org/ for more information about CCA Virginia.
Frank A. Kearney III Co-Chairman CCA VA Fisheries Management Committee FAKIII@bigfoot.com
Larry Snider Co-Chairman CCA VA Fisheries Management Committee
skimmerva@aol.com
CCA Virginia Website http://www.ccavirginia.org/
CCA Virginia Email CCAVA@cox.net |
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Est. 1961
