For the first time in New York’s history, a slot limit is in effect for recreational striped bass fishing. With it have come a set of problems unique to slot limits used to manage other species in other parts of the country. Slot limits have been effective in managing species like snook and redfish down south but they are entirely different fisheries than the striped bass fishery in the Northeast. Striped bass in our region are targeted by party boats and large sportfishermen, along with small center consoles. Releasing 30 to 50-pound stripers in a way that insures they recover is made more difficult in boats that don’t allow you to be able to revive these big fish because of their high freeboards. Some anglers attempt the process by holding the fish in a net, others simply drop them overboard. Because some might swim away, doesn’t mean they survive. It can take as long as 10 to 15 minutes to revive these fish and help offset the effects of lactic acid buildup. I’m hearing from way too many anglers frustrated by watching their trophy catch floating away on the surface after release. That situation will get worse as water temperatures continue to climb.
Unhooking fish is also a problem for anglers fishing from large boats because it usually means the fish has to be brought aboard. One solution is to have a long handled hook disgorger at the ready, and to use circle hooks when bait fishing. Unquestionably, the best release is accomplished by not removing the fish from the water, yet very few boats are equipped with a hook disgorger that allows the fish to be unhooked in the water. That needs to change, and so does the reliance on snagging and dropping when the fish are on schools of bunker. Snag your bunker and switch it over to a circle hook. Next season you will have no choice when circle hooks for baitfishing for stripers becomes law.
Another big difference between the Northeast and down south is our major surf fishery, and releasing big bass in the surf comes with its own set of problems. Try reviving a 40 pounder in even a moderate surf – good luck. How about from the tip of a jetty? To expect anglers to stop fishing areas where they have the best chance for success just isn’t going to happen.
Since we are stuck with the slot limit, the question becomes what can we do to minimize the mortality rate on these large, female bass? As I noted earlier, never removing the fish from the water is the best way. If you have too much freeboard to reach the fish, invest in a hook remover that allows you to reach the fish. For any bait fishing – live, chunks, or clams – use only circle hooks. If you take a fish out of the water for a photo, wait until everything is in place so that the fish is out of the water for the least amount of time possible. Do not lift the fish vertically. These big fish are susceptible to having their organs displaced when held vertically out of the water. Keep your hands out of the gills. Support the fish horizontally with one hand on the fish’s jaw and the other under its body just forward of the anal fin and try to keep time out of water to less than a minute. If you insist on weighing a fish, buy or make a sling that will support the fish horizontally.
The 28 to 35-inch slot has us fishing on fish from the three most recent good year classes. They are the future of the fishery. That makes it imperative that we do all we can to ensure the survival of the large females making up a large part of the catch and release fishery. That will require all of us to do our part.
