Rockfish catch question

[sweetfish]

I see that rockfish management focuses on poundage of catch, so much for recs and so much for commercial fisherman. But the bulk of the commercial catch in Maryland is in January and February. Does catching 10 5-pound fish in September have the same impact on the population as 1 50-pound female full of eggs caught in January or February? I am not a marine biologist but I can’t believe that is good management. Any thoughts by someone who knows something about the rockfish biology?

[mremmfish]

I'm not a marine biologist but those 10- 5lb. fish are one day going to produce many more eggs than that 1 50lb. female. The whole industry needs to be looked at. Allowing for the bulk removal of any species of fish in the bay/ocean needs to be addressed. Everybody needs to do their part to insure survival of the rockfish.

Mike

[done workin]

My opinion is that any fish that reaches breeding age, should be rewarded by being hands off. Emphasis on THOSE THAT REACH IT.

This is what has worked for other species.

Take the 5# and let the 50# make more 5#. It’s a good cycle and provides for both a very harvestable population as well as a trophy population for picture taking and bragging purposes.

Take the breeders out and you cut the chain.

Yes, taking the smalls don’t allow them to grow up, but there are those that do make it to the 28” or so breeding length/age that have to be protected.

And before somebody bashes me on the length, do your own research on the age of sexual maturity and then look at the length and age charts and tell me at what length a rockfish is considered to be sexually mature. I promise you, at 28” they are “of age”.

Chris

[andypat]

I'm not a marine biologist but those 10- 5lb. fish are one day going to produce many more eggs than that 1 50lb. female. The whole industry needs to be looked at. Allowing for the bulk removal of any species of fish in the bay/ocean needs to be addressed. Everybody needs to do their part to insure survival of the rockfish.

Mike

Fish more pan fish.

[andypat]

"Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream."W.C. Fields.jpg LOL! Getting ready to go after some pan fish right now.

[27 sailfish]

FWIW: Md commercial has a 36 inch max. size limit.

There has been some poaching - ie: Cutting inch or two off tail to " shorten " a bigger Rock.

[mremmfish]

Fish more pan fish.

I love fishing for perch. After my allowable stripers I stop and target perch. When they are plentiful, I try to only keep 10" and bigger. I can still fill a cooler with them.

Mike

[iFishMD]

What came first? The chicken or the Egg.

Small fish = more spawning potential in the future
Big fish = Already spawned a bunch of times but can spawn again now


Edit to give my college coach's definition of "potential" = haven't done squat yet....

[crabby and son]

When the striper fishery is in decline as it is, every fish matters........... Gary

[Capt.Nick]

The summer season closure will be in July this year instead of Aug. so that should help save many wasted floaters . They school up more in July and many fishermen complained that the weather was hotter in July and that it should have been closed in July instead. They will get their wish and help save what's left of our Striped Bass.