Today, 08:10 AM
In case you missed it they changed again
Joe love was on Ike Live last night and was very confusing he said he wasn't after tournament anglers but they were the only people he could impose rules on without going through a year long regulation process?? He also said that the changing river, storms, and pollution were key factors in the decline of fishing but again nothing he can do about that except go after tournaments. Then he added that the bucket brigade guys were a very small group that again he couldn't do anything about without the year long regulatory issue.
At one point he was just short of blaming the tournament anglers for causing the Large mouth bass virus in the upper bay but backed off when Pete asked if he was blaming the tournaments for that. I say take the year and figure it out and get it right
1. slot limit year round of 1 fish over 15" even during the spawn for everyone who keeps fish.
2. waivers for tournaments to allow a 3 fish over 15" limit from April 1st through June 16th then 5 over 15" the rest of the year
3. all tournament participants must release the fish after weigh-in a reasonable distance away from the weigh-in site. (distance to be determined) this is in place of a release boat.
4. large limits over 10 lbs shall be split up into 2 bags during transport to and from the weigh-in
5. all tournaments must impose a increasing penalty for dead fish. Example 1 dead fish .5lbs 2 dead fish..1lb ..3 dead fish =DQ ANYONE CAUGHT CULLING DEAD FISH WILL BE REPORTED TO THE DNR FOR LOSE OF FISHING LICINSE FOR 1 YEAR AND POSSIBLE FINE.
I think this may be something that could work some of it is harsh and can be tweaked .Any other ideas please help out so we can continue to do what we love ...Fish and take care of our catches
Here are the revised DNR tournament conditions for black bass tournaments in Maryland:
Largemouth Bass Management Action
The Department has received a considerable amount of valuable input (verbally and in writing) from our constituents over the last week regarding the black bass tournament memorandum dated March 15, 2016. The Department is responsible for the health of the black bass resource, and the Department has determined that immediate conservation action is necessary. After careful consideration, the Department is modifying the fishable slot tournament permit condition for tournaments scheduled on the Potomac River and Upper Chesapeake Bay from June 16 through October 31. Below is a summary of the modified approach that provides tournament directors two options when applying for a permit, both of which help reduce fishing mortality. This is a needed step that should hasten the recovery of these stressed fisheries.
Tournament directors that have not received a permit for 2016 can choose between one of two options for a tournament permit where the tournament will be held in Maryland on Potomac River or Upper Chesapeake Bay from June 16 through October 31. Option 1 requires the tournament director/participants to adhere to the slot limit permit condition (i.e., possession limited to a 12 inch minimum size, 5 fish creel, with only one fish which may measure 15 inches or bigger). Option 2 requires adherence to special conditions that minimize fish stress, thereby reducing fishing mortality. Option 2 allows possession limits specific to statewide regulations during this time period. Details are provided below:
Option 1: the following language is added to the director's permit: For tournaments held from June 16 to October 31 at Maryland weigh-in locations on the Potomac River or Upper Chesapeake Bay (Susquehanna, Northeast, Elk, Susquehanna flats), participating anglers are limited to a 12 inch minimum size and a possession limit of 5 bass (largemouth and smallmouth combined), only one of which may be 15 inches or greater (per angler, per day). Therefore, an angler can weigh-in 5 fish over 12" but only one of these fish may be 15"and bigger.
OR
Option 2: the following language is added to the director's permit: All rules and conditions within the Special Conditions for Black Bass Tournaments must be followed and among these are: a) Allows anglers to participate within existing possession regulations (5 fish creel, 12 inch minimum size, no maximum) for tournaments held from June 16 to October 31; b) Requires directors to recover exhausted bass following a tournament and redistribute them to approved locations; c) Requires all anglers to possess a free participant permit; d) Requires other actions to improve survival of large bass.
Tournament Permit Requirements
The permittee is required to: 1) ensure that supplies and equipment for tournament are in good working order; 2) ensure that bags used to transport bass do not leak; 3) ensure that largemouth bass are maintained in well-oxygenated conditions; 4) ensure that bass are covered by water when transported by bag: 5) ensure that bass are not held in a bag with water for longer than 5 minutes without a water exchange; 6) ensure the legal disposal of dead black bass; and 7) ensure that results are reported by the date specified on this permit.