Stripers Forever members – It's time for our third annual striped bass fishing survey; over the next days and weeks, starting in New England then moving south, we'll ask all of our members to complete and return this survey.
The information we gather may not be considered scientifically accurate, but it does show trends in the striped bass fishery that will be of interest to fishery managers. The surveys also establishing baselines for future reference. As always, the results of the survey will be reported to our members, posted on our website, and sent to each and every fishery manager on the ASMFC – the appointed body of state representatives charged with the management of striped bass. We'll also have a press release detailing the results of the survey.
We've changed the form a little this year to make it easier to fill out. Please do your best to follow the prompts in the form. When it asks that you delete all but the correct answer, it would be helpful if you could do it that way. No doubt some members will suggest that we use an Excel form, but too many of our members are without this software, making it impractical. If you are subscribed to more than one state please only send us one survey. You should receive a thank you from us that let's you know we received it.
There are two ways you can complete the survey: 1.) The survey is included as part of this email. You can just hit "Reply", fill it out, and send it back to us.
2.) On the Stripers Forever website http://www.stripersforever.org/Home/ you can download the survey as a Word document. You will see it under News and Announcements on the top right of the home page. After completing the survey you can send it to us as an attachment to an email. (our address is stripers@whatifnet.com ).
Every member's input is welcome and encouraged.
Brad Burns
P.S. If you are sending this to your fishing friends - and we hope that you do - please remind them to sign up as members at no charge. We will only tabulate the responses from individuals who are members of Stripers Forever.
2005 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:
8. 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
9. 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
10. If you answered yes what should the minimum size be?
28”, 32”, 36”, 40”
11. Do you think we should have a slot limit for recreationally caught stripers? Yes, No
12. 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”
13. 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%
14. 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
15. 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
16. My personal comments on striped bass management that you have not covered are?
Guides Section: note that your answers above are also appreciated.
17. 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
18. How important is keeping a striped bass to your clients?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
19. How important to your clients is catching a lot of stripers per trip?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
20. How important is catching a really large striper to your clients?
not very important, somewhat important, very important
21. Which is more important to my clients, catching big fish or catching a lot of fish?
Big Fish, Many Fish
22. I am more likely than I was 5 years ago to make new investments in equipment for my striped bass guiding business? Yes, No
My comments as to how the management of striped bass is effecting my guiding business:
| 