To pinch or not to pinch?

[labried]

Yes it is fresh water although they do cover landlocked Stripers. I am not posting limits just how to measure "total length."

[Billy]

I pinch..... booty........................ female booty

[J&B]

from
VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"PERTAINING TO THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS"
CHAPTER 4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ


E. Total length measurement of striped bass shall be in a straight line from tip of nose to tip of tail

[Finfever21]

Its not worth it throw it back it its that close....

[cuhollow]

REGULATION: 2008 RECREATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS

Measurements.......................Size limits are total length measurements; fish must be measured tip of nose to tip of tail, except black sea bass, which are measured from tip of nose along the centerline of the body, to the center of the tail.

I have never heard of pinching and always thought the measurement was to be made with the fish in a natural position.

[Darren]

from
VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"PERTAINING TO THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS"
CHAPTER 4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ


E. Total length measurement of striped bass shall be in a straight line from tip of nose to tip of tail

Looks like you are dead on and I was wrong. I used the links on the VMRC web page earlier to view the code and it appears the VMRC did not copy it in it's entirety. Lesson learned, from now on just go straight to the state code and not the VMRC page.

[redneck7]

REGULATION: 2008 RECREATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS

Measurements.......................Size limits are total length measurements; fish must be measured tip of nose to tip of tail, except black sea bass, which are measured from tip of nose along the centerline of the body, to the center of the tail.

I have never heard of pinching and always thought the measurement was to be made with the fish in a natural position.

That may be the case, but when he goes in my cooler, he might freeze in a rather "unnatural" position. I doubt the man is going to let me allow him to thaw and then measure to see if my fish is too long or short.

One could just say if it's that close to the slot, or too short or whatever the worry is, then just throw him back, but I'm a college student who works over Christmas break, so every time I get to go striper fishing is a 'precious time' to catch 'precious meat' to take back to Blacksburg, so if it's legal (by a millimeter) then it's legal and I'm eating it.

So that being said, is there a definite answer on whether to pinch or not to pinch? That snipit of code doesn't specifically say one way or the other does it?

[bakehook]

the vmrc boys (and girls) use a measuring stick where they push the fish nose up to the right angle and then put the tail in a "natural position). after a fish is in your cooler along w/ ice and other fish who know what the length will be. i will never keep a fish either over or under the slot unless i have at least 1/2" to play with and that makes me nervous. just because you are having a nice day that doesn't mean the "man" is also. the few times i have been checked i have been happy to have a small safty margin. it really doesn't cost you much meat to play it safe.

[labried]

All I can tell you is do a search on how to measure "total length" or how to measure bass. I think you will find your own answer. And a 40+ incher will never be a problem.

[labried]

How to Measure Fish

Striped bass are included in the "total length" fish.