New Bass regulations most likely?

[The Kid]

Originally Posted by Billy V

Re-0pen everything back up and then start with management.

x2

[Amish Ed]

Yeah, slot limits set a size range. This gives smaller fish the chance to breed and leaves bigger breeding stock alone as well.

I do think that sport boats contribute to the problem. Reducing bag limits would definitely take off pressure. Related to that, in 5 years as a deckhand I never once saw a sea lion eat a bass. I'm sure it happens, but I've thrown a lot of bass at sea lions and never had a taker. But, they sure do reek havoc on a lot of other species. They need to be controlled, they are way over populated.

[blitzburgh]

Originally Posted by The Kid

x2

X 3. I don't know why it took them this long to figure out that MANAGEMENT works.

[Mr. Adventure]

For management to work they would need more enforcement, and hard to find the money for that. I imagine fiscally it's much cheaper to close an area to fishing than enforce limits. I wonder how much they'd have to raise the price on a fishing license.

[kobra]

The bag limit should have been reduced a long time ago.

[Amish Ed]

Enforcement of a lower bag limit would be no different than what they do today. At the very least the sport boats would follow the law and save a lot of fish.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Mr. Adventure

For management to work they would need more enforcement, and hard to find the money for that. I imagine fiscally it's much cheaper to close an area to fishing than enforce limits. I wonder how much they'd have to raise the price on a fishing license.

I think it would be more difficult to manage closed areas than bag limits. The sport boats will throw more fish back, like they should have been doing long ago. Personally it's a good start, and I think people are realizing how much impact the loss of jobs to the state may be.

[Mr. Adventure]

I wasn't thinking about sport boats. I've never been on one but imagine they do a good job Of policing themselves.

[Amish Ed]

Sport boats definitely keep within the regulations. There is really hefty fines for them if they get caught screwing up.

[taggermike]

More regulations?? I thought the MLPA closures were going to solve all our fish population issues. Just give the closed areas time to work and they will be showering the surrounding open areas with loads of big bass. Right? Right? Any body? Mike

[Bennyblanco]

lower bag limit and increase size.
one more thing to add,get rid off the technology no fish findersspecially on cattle boats.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by Mr. Adventure

I wasn't thinking about sport boats. I've never been on one but imagine they do a good job Of policing themselves.

Not as good as you may think. Some encourage catch and release others not so much

[Amish Ed]

C&R is not a law though (unless you have your 10). I was speaking about following the law. I know when I started C&R when I fished sport boats the crews were not happy. Then I'd tell them I'd keep track and let them know my count, that helped. Tipping before the boat left the dock helped more. Fish counts and tips are what it's all about.