Stripers Forever CT - last week we asked you to contact Rep. Richard Roy regarding his bill to allow commercial striped bass fishing in CT. Representatives from SF visited with Rep. Roy last week, and he has also received many calls, e-mails and letters from constituents. We believe that we may have changed his mind on this bill, but if you haven't contacted him yet, please do so at once. All of the information is still on [Link]stripersforever.org under Recent News. However, this bill is not the only threat to striped bass in CT this year. Two additional bills to allow gaffing and spearing of striped bass have also been proposed. Stripers Forever is writing the legislators with our objections to these bills which include:
Striped bass have no damaging teeth; many veteran guides and anglers have landed thousands without ever carrying a gaff. There is absolutely no reason to wound these fish with a gaff in order to land them.
Striped bass are heavily regulated by size restrictions. It is impossible to measure striped bass before gaffing or spearing, especially in the murky waters of Long Island Sound, and the wounds from either of these instruments can make the successful live release of these fish impossible.
CT has long been a leader in the conservation of striped bass. To suddenly allow commercial fishing, gaffing or spearing with the pressure the striped bass resource is already under is turning back the clock on conservation in CT.
Spearing striped bass is an unfair fishing technique. Divers have found stripers to be very friendly and unafraid; they often will take food directly from their hands Spearing them is unsporting.
Striped bass are already under too much pressure. The bimass is shrinking which is harmful to the traditional guiding and tackle industries that depend on quality fishing. The last thing we need is new sources of mortality
The conventional technique of rod and reel fishing is open to everyone and provides for the most conservation-oriented approach to this fishery.
Here are the reference numbers and sponsors of these bills. Their names are links that will provide complete contact information.
Sen. Maynard - sponsor of SB # 272 to allow spearing and gaffing of striped bass
Rep. Reynolds - sponsor of HB#5803 to allow spear fishing for striped bass
Remember: E-mail, and Write, and Phone Call!
What else can you do? If you are as upset with these bills as we are, take the same steps above with your local legislator – and if you know them personally, by all means go see them, explain your concerns, and ask them to help convince Sen. Maynard and Rep. Reynolds to withdraw this unwise legislation as soon as possible. You can find your CT legislator at this link.
Also, forward this e-mail to all of your fishing friends. Ask them to take the same action(s) and to go to the Stripers Forever website and become members – free as always – so that we can help them stay on top of this issue too.
While we urge you to use your own words, please…don't be insulting or negative towards these legislators. Dwell on the facts above and the benefits of a robust recreational fishery for striped bass.
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