TIME TO ACT! (again) Proposed Rule for Block Island EEZ

Right now, my favorite game fish is not in a good way. Striped bass have had more than their fair share of hardships and right now they may well be dying a death by 1,000 cuts. And, though most recreational anglers won't admit it, we have a lot of blame to take in the matter. Recreational anglers aren't fishing for striped bass in a sustainable way. The few places that still harbor large numbers of big female breeding age striped bass are heavily networked, heavily pressured, and far too many fish are being killed. So, when I learned that NMFS is considering a new ruling that will permit recreational striped bass fishing in the Block Island Transit Zone, a segment of the federal exclusive economic zone, my heart sank. This would be another cut. It would be a pretty significant cut, one that would bleed profusely for years.

On it's face this may seem like a nice thing. New water open to recreational fishing? GREAT!
No. This is bad. This is very bad. The waters of the Block Island Transit Zone are a vital holding place for large schools of breeder striped bass at a time when they are much less accessible outside the EEZ, in late summer when the water temperatures are warmer. The real reason anyone has pushed for the opening of striped bass harvest in the EEZ is to increase their ability to kill more big bass when it becomes more difficult to do so in already legal water. And right now anything that allows anyone to kill more stripers, especially big stripers, is a monumentally stupid idea. So, I stand firmly opposed to this rule, and anyone else that cares about these amazing fish should too. Now is the time to take action. Please follow the link below and comment on the proposed new rule. Make it clear that the Block Island Transit Zone of the EEZ should remain closed to all fishing of striped bass, recreational or otherwise. The deadline is November 19th. Please share this far and wide.

www.regulations.gov