For those who don’t know, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has been conducting a catch and release study through the participation of recreational anglers up and down the striper coast. The goal is to learn more about how the gear we use and the conditions we fish in affect the likelihood of a safe release. The program provides charts and tools for recording data that includes the tackle used, the type of hooks, water temperature, duration of the fight, time spent unhooking the fish and the assessed success of the release. These data points are then compiled into charts that are starting to show some clear trends that can aid in teaching the best practices for release.
As an incentive, the program relies upon donors to provide prize packages that are given away in monthly drawings. Every angler who enters a fish is put into the drawing and they draw three names each month to receive prizes. June raffle winners, Earl Pacella (MA), Peter Markow (MA), and Rick Hunter (CT) are all received a PENN Fishing spinning combo and reel cover, some Hogy Lures, a hat from Costa Sunglasses, and gear from 247lures and Al Gag’s Lures in their raffle prize pack.
Keep your eyes on the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries social media pages for the announcement of future winners, dropped at the end of each month of the fishing season. To learn more about the program, or to get involved, please visit www.mass.gov/striper, the program is open to anglers from Maine to the Carolinas and is working hard to sustain striped bass and lead the way on the best possible catch and release practices.
