Stripers Forever Maine – SF does not endorse candidates for public office. We do, though, try to visit prospective candidates to solicit their commitment to support striped bass game fish and we encourage our members in other states to do the same. George Watson and I visited Chandler Woodcock, a candidate for Governor of Maine last week. We received a strong endorsement of our goals, and include a
statement from the candidate below. In fairness, Governor Baldacci has kept his promise to then CCA Maine leader Pat Keliher to keep striped bass as a game fish in Maine. He has not responded to our past letters, however, in which we asked him to support New England and/or coast-wide game fish status for striped bass and the leadership of his DMR has certainly not been aggressive in promoting the concept of striped bass game fish even though it is the law and dominant philosophy here in Maine.
Brad Burns
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experiences fishing for stripers in Maine with my son Seth and friends of mine.~ I have been a life-long fisherman here in Maine and like thousands of Mainers, I enjoy the pursuit of sea-run species like striped bass and Atlantic salmon.
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I believe that striped bass should be classified as a game fish throughout its migratory range, which extends from the Carolinas to Maine. Within that range, 6 states, including Maine, have declared stripers off limits to commercial harvesters while the remaining 7 have some sort of commercial fishery. It is clear that the overwhelming social and economic value in this fishery is generated by the three million plus recreational anglers who fish for stripers and by the tackle, guiding and tourism industries that they support.
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As governor, I will do my best to ensure that striped bass remain classified as game fish here in Maine and I will direct our marine resources executives to fight for regulations in the appropriate fishery management councils that will promote a quality recreational fishery for stripers. Because stripers know nothing about state boundaries during their migration, I will support efforts to make them a game fish coast-wide and I will encourage my fellow New England governors to join me in this effort.”
Chandler Woodcock
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