Stripers Forever Members – for each of the last three years we have asked our members to fill out an annual striped bass fishing survey. While this information may not be scientifically accurate,
it does show trends in the striped bass fishery that we think will interest fishery mangers. It also establishes a baseline for future reference. For those of you who are new members and would like to see the results of prior year surveys, just contact us via the website and we will send you the wrap-up statistics. Each year the results of the survey are posted to our website, reported to our members, and sent to all the state fishery managers on the ASMFC – the group of state representatives that manage striped bass – and a press release is issued to announce the findings.
For the sake of consistency, this year’s form is exactly like the one for 2005. Please try to follow the prompts. When it says to delete all but the correct answer, it would be very helpful to us if you could do it that way. Some members have suggested we use an Excel form, but too many of our members are without this software for it to be practical.
Notice to guides and charter captains: there is a special section for you on this form. Your input is especially important to decision makers.
If you go to our Stripers Forever website http://www.stripersforever.org you can download the form, which is simply a Word document. You will see it under Recent News. You can just fill it out and send it to us as an attachment. We have also pasted it below to this e-mail. If you prefer, just hit reply, fill it out, and send it back to us. We will cut and paste it into a Word document on this end. Everyone’s input is welcome. If you are signed up for multiple states you may get this form more than once as we move down the coast. Please fill it out and send it in only one time. We look forward to your participation in this important project.
Brad Burns
Stripers Forever 2006 Survey
My Name - e-mail -
Town - State -
State of the fishery:
1. I fish mostly in the following town and state .
2. I fish from a boat what percentage of the time %.
3. I have fished regularly for stripers for this many years .
4. In my opinion striper fishing in the past five years has changed as follows: (delete the wrong answers, leaving your final answer)
much worse, worse, stayed the same, improved somewhat, improved greatly.
5. The average size of the stripers that I catch now has changed as follows:
much smaller, somewhat smaller, no change, somewhat larger, much larger
6. The number of stripers I catch per hour of fishing time on the water is:
much less, less, about the same, more, many more
7. Because of the changes in the striped bass fishery my inclination to take a professionally guided striped bass trip has changed as follows: (circle one)
less likely, about the same, more likely
Bag and size limits, conservation:
1. Forgetting for a moment current striped bass regulations, and starting with a clean sheet, I think that recreational anglers should be able to keep at least one school striper (possibly different from state to state, but probably between 18 and 28 inches in length) per day for personal consumption.
(delete the wrong answers leaving your final answer) Yes, No
2. If you answered yes to #1, should this smaller fish be allowed instead of, or in addition to, a bass of some larger size? Instead of, In addition to
3. Do you think that recreational anglers should be able to keep only large stripers (at least 28 inches in size)? Yes, No
4. If you answered yes what should the minimum size be?
28”, 32”, 36”, 40”
5. Do you think we should have a slot limit for recreationally caught stripers? Yes, No
6. If you said yes, indicate the slot size that is closest to your preference. (delete the wrong answers leaving your final answer) 20” –26”, 22”– 28”, 24”-30”
7. When commercial fishing is ended, what percentage of the current commercial quota should be saved from harvest as a conservation buffer? The rest would be used to liberalize the recreational harvest. 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%
8. Would you favor legislation that creates a striped bass stamp costing between $10.00 and $25.00 per year with the funds earmarked to buyout the current commercial fishery? Yes, No
9. If you answered yes to #9, should this stamp program end after a fixed number of years, or should the fee continue to fund enforcement and striped bass enhancement programs. End, Continue
Note that SF has no position on this concept but wants to hear member opinions.
10. My personal comments on striped bass management that you have not covered are?
Guides Section: note that your answers above are also appreciated.
1. How has your guiding business for striped bass changed because of the fishery in the last five years? (delete the wrong answers leaving your final answer)
worsened considerably, worsened a little, not changed, improved somewhat, improved a great deal
2. How important is keeping a striped bass to your clients?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
3. How important to your clients is catching a lot of stripers per trip?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
4. How important is catching a really large striper to your clients?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
5. Which is more important to my clients, catching big fish or catching a lot of fish?
Big Fish, Many Fish
6. I am more likely than I was 5 years ago to make new investments in equipment for my striped bass guiding business? Yes, No
7. My comments as to how the management of striped bass is effecting my guiding business:
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