News Updates

New! John Rice artwork for auction

May 8, 2013 by sfadmin

Stripers Forever members – we have an exciting auction of two original John Rice watercolors. John is a fisherman, and his work is always popular because he captures scenes that go right to the heart of what we love about this sport. The quality of John’s work represents one of the best art values available. Our last auction of his paintings saw some of the best bidding of this auction season.Both of the paintings are 111/4 X141/4 watercolors of surfcasting for striped bass. One is inspired by the rocky shores of Northern New England, and the other is under the cliffs at Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard. We think you’ll agree that these are really terrific. Check them out.

Rice The Sharpie

Rice Under Gay Head

Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission Unfair Representation

April 30, 2013 by sfadmin

At their April 4^th meeting the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission MMFAC – which together with the Director has the power to set regulations in MA state waters – discussed and voted on a petition by Stripers Forever signed by upwards of 700 of our members, that would have reduced the recreational and commercial harvest in MA by 50%. In an open acknowledgment that things are not good with striped bass, and that ASMFC mandated reductions will likely be required next season, the commission refused to act now. This is, of course, the pattern with saltwater fishery management. The lack of proactive conservation, and management designed to accommodate harvest instead of safeguarding the species, is why our ocean fisheries are in a shambles.

This is nothing new to many of you, but we are pointing it out in detail in this e-mail to help everyone understand why we have taken our arguments to the MA legislature instead of working primarily through the regulatory process. What we found in analyzing the makeup of the MMFAC was that with the exception of one head boat owner the rest of the commission are all commercial fishermen – even commercial lobbyists.

Dean Clark has prepared a document called Why Get The Legislature Involved in Wild Striped Bass Oversight. You can find it attached above. It is an eye opener. Stripers’s Forever will be investigating steps in MA to correct this situation.

WHY GET THE LEGISLATURE INVOLVED IN WILD STRIPED BASS OVER

Nantucket Island and Merrimack River Guided Trip Auctions!

April 23, 2013 by sfadmin

Stripers Forever members – we have a Massachusetts striper fishing double-header to offer at auction! Captain Hal Herrick of Nantucket and Captain Dave Rimmer of Plum Island are both very experienced captains in their respective areas, and both of these fishing locations are absolutely top notch!

The waters surrounding Nantucket are filled with surging tide rips and extensive sand flats that are a pivotal part of the striper migration in early summer. Nantucket is also one of the prettiest places on earth to go fishing.

The Merrimack River, home of the famous Joppa Flats, and the Plum Island beach complex including the Parker River, comprise what may be the most important estuarial area for striped bass in New England. Fishing there has continued to be terrific even as the number of striped bass has thinned in most places during recent years.

Each trip is for auction separately, and you’ll be able to get good dates and perhaps even book some other days if you are coming in from out of town.

All the proceeds go to benefit the game fish and conservation efforts of Stripers Forever.
Thank you. Brad Burns

Harold Herrick Nantucket

Rimmer SF charter donation 2013

Vedavoo Chest Pack Auction

April 7, 2013 by sfadmin

Vedavoo has a selected Stripers Forever to receive donations from the auction of a one of a kind Vedavoo Chest Pack built from materials from Recycled Waders. Since we are located in MA we thought your organization was a perfect fit! We are doing this as a silent auction and are doing so in conjunction with a few other charities we believe in and want to help support.

You can visit the main auction page HERE and your the Stripers forever page at this LINK. https://vedavoo.com/reel-service-project-stripers-forever/. Bidding opens April 1 and will close on May 1.

SF Economics Bills SB-1452 & HB-2506

March 29, 2013 by sfadmin

Fred Jennings Phd and vice chair of Stripers Forever MA prepared the attached written testimony in support of SF’s bill that would compel the Commonwealth of MA to study the socio economic effects of the decline in the MA recreational striped bass fishery. The text of the bill appears below:Resolve to Study the Loss of Revenues of the Commonwealth

Whereas the National Office of Science and Technology National Marine Fisheries Office studies recreational fishing participation

And whereas a recent study of recreational fishing participation in Massachusetts showed that 2011 recreational fishing participation had dropped from 1,258,124 individuals in 2006 to 897,115 in 2011 – a 29% drop

And whereas out of state individual anglers had dropped from 484,288 in 2006 to 292,701 in 2011 – a 40% drop

And whereas Southwick Associates did a study in 2005 estimating that the total economic activity generated by recreational Striped Bass fishing in the Commonwealth in 2003 was $1,158,000,000

And whereas using 2003 estimates by Southwick, a decline from 2006 to 2012 of 29% of individual recreational fisherman would equal a loss of $390,000,000 in economic activity for the Commonwealth and a concurrent loss of hotel, motel, sales, meals, alcohol, gas and other taxes and revenues to the Commonwealth

Therefore be it resolved by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts that the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in conjunction with the House and Senate Joint Committee on Revenue shall conduct a study of the decline of the recreational fishery with particular emphasis on the Striped Bass and the concurrent impact on the revenues of the Commonwealth

And be it further resolved that said study shall be completed by December 15, 2013 and forwarded to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries with recommendations to enhance the revenue generating capacity of the recreational fishery.

ACTION NEEDED

Please send emails to both: The senate chair, Michael Rodrigues (michael.rodrigues@masenate.gov) and the House Chair, Jay Kaufman (jay.kaufman@mahouse.gov).

Tell them the commonwealth is losing millions in tax revenue because of the mismanagement of the striped bass fishery and it needs to be addressed and fixed. Ask them to support Bills SB-1452 and HB-2506.

FBJ Prepared Testimony for SF Economics Bills 24 March 2013

MA Action Alert

March 9, 2013 by sfadmin

ACTION ALERT
On March 8, 2013, a petition signed by approximately 750 concerned anglers was delivered to Paul Diodati, Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), requesting that the commercial and recreational harvests of wild striped bass in Massachusetts each be reduced by 50 percent for the 2013 season
You are getting this email because you have expressed concern for wild striped bass. We are asking you to put that concern into action by emailing Director Diodati and informing him of your support for this long over-due conservation measure.
Scientifically and anecdotally, it is well known that the striped bass population has been declining for at least five years. Recruitment of newly spawned striped bass has not kept pace with fishing mortality along the entire coast. The recreational harvest in the coastal fishery has declined by 75 percent since 2005 and the striped bass population will continue to decline until harvest restrictions are put in place.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has voted against coastwide fishing mortality reductions as recently as 2012. That vote came as a surprise to Director Diodati because he had proposed the motion for fishing mortality reductions!
The director is fully aware of all the problem with striped bass and he needs your encouragement to do the right thing. From 1995 to 2002, Massachusetts enacted statewide regulations that were more conservative than the ASMFC allows. Massachusetts needs to step up again this year and be a leader in striped bass conservation.
Whether you live in Massachusetts, travel to fish there, or are simply concerned for the overall quality and sustainability of the striped bass fishery, please send Director Diodati an email and tell him you support the requested harvest reduction outlined in the petition that he has just received.

You can write your own message to Director Paul Diodati or just copy and paste the message below into an e-mail. Send your message to paul.diodati@state.ma.us.

Sample e-mail:
Dear Director Diodati – I ask that you act immediately and affirmatively on the recently submitted petition~to reduce the commercial and recreational harvests of striped bass in Massachusetts by 50 percent for the 2013 season.~ With the striped bass population and associated~fishing in~a troubling decline, now is the time for Massachusetts to step up and be the leader in the protection of this valuable natural resource.~
Please don’t let future allocation issues prevent you from doing what is right for striped bass now.~
Sincerely:
(your name here)