Time for slot limits? It looks like we have arrived at the this problem. Mar 11 • 6:00 PM RIDEM Public Hearing point where there is no denying that What if a slot was established that on multiple recreational species. the Atlantic striped bass stock is in allowed recreational anglers to keep Corless Auditorium, URI Bay Campus trouble. one fish between (example) 18 to 32 For the past couple of years, inches. Every striper 33+ inches had Mar 19 • 6:30 PM Board of Directors members have said that there aren’t as to be released. many large striped bass around. There One member said that even though March 22-24, 2019 New England have been plenty of small fish, but recreational anglers could be forced to Saltwter Fishing Show numbers of the 30+ pound fish have release all those larger fish, commercial Mar 25 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly dwindled. fishermen take fish that’s a minimum of Seminar It was no surprise when word came 34 inches. What about all the large fish from the ASMFC Striped Bass Technical they will still be killing? Well, the fact Apr 8 • 6:30 PM Kayak Committee Committee that the 2018 benchmark is that the commercial striped bass Spring Meeting, Gregg’s, N. Kingstown stock assessment shows that the female quota in RI is very small (10%) and has spawning stock biomass for 2017 was very little effect on the total population. Apr 15 • 6:30 PM Fly Fishing Committee below the threshold, and that the stock One solution could be with the use Spring Meeting, Gregg’s N. Kingstown is “overfished” and is experiencing of special “trophy” striped bass tags overfishing. issued by DEM. A tag would allow an Apr 16-18 N.E. Fisheries Mgt Council, Mystic, CT For the fisheries biologists to come angler to keep one fish over 32 inches. out with those overfishing words is a Each angler could get one tag per year Apr 23 • 6:30 PM Board of Directors big deal. that is non-transferable. Most The report also noted that unless recreational anglers never catch/keep Apr 27 • 9:00 AM Fly Fishing Committee the harvest was reduced, “the a 33+ inch striper anyway. But more fishing at 100 Acre Cove, Barrington probability of female (spawning stock important, this would restrict the biomass) being below the threshold in “sharpies” who catch dozens Apr 29 • 7:00 PM RISAA Seminar 2023 was very high, equal or close to (hundreds?) of large stripers each year. 100%.” One problem will be that the charter Apr 29-May 2 ASMFC Spring Meeting, Arlington, VA The threshold is at the point where boats would object. Will charter the stock would begin to collapse and customers want to pay $600+ to be able May 4 • 10:00 AM Kayak Committee unable to sustain itself. to catch one striper less than 32 inches? Annual Meet & Greet, Goddard Park It’s time to stop pretending Maybe the charter boats would get a everything is fine with striped bass. limited number of trophy tags to use. May 7 • 6:30 PM Fly Fishing Committee One of our members, Tom Poirier, The biggest issue with a slot limit if fishg the worm hatch, Charlestown in a recent email said, “Why are we ever adopted is that it would need to killing the big breeding females? The be applied coastwide. There’s no way May 11 • 9:00 AM Kayak Committee management is backwards!” RI anglers couldn’t keep 33+ inch fishing the worm hatch, Charlestown He said it’s time for a slot limit. stripers when the next state over does. May 14 • 6:30 PM Fly Fishing Committee Although I had always been a catch Other solutions may come forward fishing the worm hatch, Charlestown & release striper fisherman, I’ve never in the following months, but for sure, been a fan of a striped bass slot limit. I something needs to be done. May 20 • 7:00 PM RISAA Seminar figure it would only contribute to Recreational fishing thrives on fish wiping out all of the fish within the slot abundance..... and sooner or later, those fish would be We are all more likely to go fishing The Official Newsletter of the gone and not be the big fish of if there is the chance we will find and Rhode Island tomorrow. catch fish. No fish = No fishing. If fish Saltwater Anglers Association But now I’m rethinking this. If we abundance dwindles, so will the sport Published Monthly don’t protect the large breeding of recreational fishing. Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers females, the whole future stock could We all have a responsibility to do Association, Inc. just collapse. whatever is necessary NOW for the P.O. Box 1465 I’ve talked to several members about sake of striped bass fishing in the Coventry, RI 02816 FUTURE. - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / March, 2019