Here are DFG's proposed Striped Bass reg changes

[Mike McKenzie]

Topic of discussion Tuesday night...

Media Contacts:
Marty Gingras, DFG Region 3, (209) 948-3702
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a draft of proposed regulations changes related to anadromous striped bass. The draft language, which is now available at https://nrmsecure.dfg.ca.gov/FileHan...cumentID=39586, would authorize additional harvest of striped bass.

Due to extensive interest in the issue, the scheduled public workshop at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 has been moved to a larger venue. The new location is the Rio Vista & Isleton Club, 295 South 7th Street, Rio Vista, 94571.

The basic proposed changes are as follows:

* Raising the daily bag limit for striped bass from two to six fish.
* Raising the possession limit for striped bass from two to 12 fish.
* Lowering the minimum size for striped bass from 18 to 12 inches.
* Establishing a “hot spot” for striped bass fishing at Clifton Court Forebay and specified adjacent waterways at which the daily bag limit will be 20 fish, the possession limit will be 40 fish and there will be no size limit. Anglers fishing at the hot spot would be required to fill out a report card and deposit it in an iron ranger or similar receptacle.
* Changes to the sport fishing regulations for the Carmel, Pajaro and Salinas Rivers to allow harvest of striped bass when the fishery would otherwise be closed.

DFG is also recommending an adaptive management plan that will help assess how the new regulations influence the fishery.

The proposal and management plan will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission for consideration at its December meeting.

Mike

[OceanSunfish]

Thanks Mike.

BTW, the poachers are not going to notice a difference in the regulations...... sad.

[Darian]

WOW!!!! Might as well remove all limits in the priority areas. I was trying to keep an objective point of view on this but I'm absolutely amazed that DFG would agree to an increase in bag limit of 20 fish daily with possession limit of 40 fish Surely they must've realized that this essentially creates what amounts to a commercial fishery at the hot spot and "specified adjacent waterways...." Wonder how broad the application of what constitutes specified water will be. Not sure anyone needs "....an adaptive management plan...." to assess the impact of this to see what the result will be.

I'd like to get hold of a copy of the settlement to get at least some idea of the rationale involved....

[KD]

Lowering the size limit to sub spawning size?!!
THEY want TO eventually KILL OFF every one of them!!
BBass are next.

Maybe the new (hotspot?) punchcard will only be 4ft long!

[ssy]

Topic of discussion Tuesday night...

Media Contacts:
Marty Gingras, DFG Region 3, (209) 948-3702
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a draft of proposed regulations changes related to anadromous striped bass. The draft language, which is now available at https://nrmsecure.dfg.ca.gov/FileHan...cumentID=39586, would authorize additional harvest of striped bass.

Due to extensive interest in the issue, the scheduled public workshop at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 has been moved to a larger venue. The new location is the Rio Vista & Isleton Club, 295 South 7th Street, Rio Vista, 94571.

The basic proposed changes are as follows:

* Raising the daily bag limit for striped bass from two to six fish.
* Raising the possession limit for striped bass from two to 12 fish.
* Lowering the minimum size for striped bass from 18 to 12 inches.
* Establishing a “hot spot” for striped bass fishing at Clifton Court Forebay and specified adjacent waterways at which the daily bag limit will be 20 fish, the possession limit will be 40 fish and there will be no size limit. Anglers fishing at the hot spot would be required to fill out a report card and deposit it in an iron ranger or similar receptacle.
* Changes to the sport fishing regulations for the Carmel, Pajaro and Salinas Rivers to allow harvest of striped bass when the fishery would otherwise be closed.

DFG is also recommending an adaptive management plan that will help assess how the new regulations influence the fishery.

The proposal and management plan will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission for consideration at its December meeting.

Mike

How stupid is that proposal!

Whats next..........The DFG wardens being run by the Humane Society/HSUS?

Stupid politics!!!!!

[Mrs.Finsallaround]

OK - so, all of that said.... WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE TO VOICE THESE OPINIONS?!?!?!

Paul and I are trying to figure out how long it would take us to get down there after work from Natomas.... Without the boat, we're thinking we could make it

[Darian]

I'm planning on attending but have little confidence that anything said while there will result in changes to the proposal as it still is based on the need to meet terms of "the settlement". Also, this meeting has all the potential of turning in to an emotional shouting match. Not my cup of tea....

All is not lost, however. there're still more opportunities for a chance to make changes to the proposal at the F&G Commission and the USDC where the final version must be approved.

Hmmm,.... Not sure if there have been any changes the the process of adopting admin regs or not but they were all required to be submitted to the State Office of Admin Law for review/approval before adoption. If that's still the case, there's another step in the process for input....

[Darian]

Just to add some fuel to the fire, after reading the proposed changes to the regs, it looks to me as though a cumulative (2 day) possession limit would 52 fish with no size limit in the hot spot. So, if I chose to fish the hot spot and catch a daily bag limit of 20 fish of any size, I could then leave the hot spot and go to another part of the Delta and catch another 6 fish above 12" in length. Total for the day would be 26 fish. The next day I could do the same thing for a total 2 day possession limit of 52 fish.

Now, if I'm a guy who would sell my catch to a restaurant for instance, I could potentially sell my entire catch at the end of the second day and begin the same process over again, ad nauseum.

Well, maybe when the Striper population reaches threatened numbers, we'll end up filing for protected status for them....

[STEELIES/26c3]

I really don't like 'that other place'

but there is some positive awareness and good, on-topic discussion being had there:

http://www.fishsniffer.com/freshwate...oposals-2.html

Yes, I'll be in Rio Vista on the 8th.

M

[steelie]

Mr. SSY, how did you know that.



PLACERVILLE — In a plot as insidious as anything you've ever seen, the California Department of Fish and Game has gone into partnership with the largest anti-hunting group in the nation, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The DFG has been infiltrated by the world's largest anti-hunting group, HSUS, which is dedicated to outlawing hunting of all types, and is even now focusing on outlawing the raising and hunting of game birds, using dogs for hunting, and even having farm animals and household pets. They are now helping to fund the DFG, are being trained at the DFG warden training school, and are even teaching classes to DFG wardens.

In began simply enough with a $5,000 donation to the DFG Game Wardens to help with feeding their canine program about 2 years ago. That in itself was enough to raise the ire of California sportsmen and women and outdoor groups. But that was also enough for HSUS to buy their way into the DFG's graces, and head Law Enforcement officer of the DFG, Nancy Foley, has now gone far beyond that in her association with HSUS.

HSUS "Law Enforcement Officers" are now being trained in the California DFG training Center in Paradise, Ca., and working under the auspices and authority of the California DFG. They are now, believe it or not, actually instructors training line officer DFG wardens!

If that's not enough, Jennifer Fearing, the California Senior State Director of HSUS was elected to the CalTIP Foundation Board of Directors at their last meeting on Oct. 6, 2011. The HSUS already has a Secret Witness Program for poaching with a standard reward of $2,500. Is the DFG pleased? Apparently so: "This is the kind of support that we have needed for 30 years. Please be happy for the Wildlife Resource and the CalTIP Foundation….I am," said Charlie Moss, Chair of the CalTIP Foundation.

Imagine the "Got Meat" commercials hiring a vegan for their spokesman; or the fur industry asking for the endorsement of PETA. That's exactly the same thing as the California Department of Fish and Game accepting the nations largest anti-hunting organizations, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), as a partner.

What is the Humane Society of the United States, exactly? First and foremost, they are not an animal "welfare" group, which is concerned about the health and well-being of animals. They are an extreme animal "rights" group, which believes that animals have equal rights to human beings.

HSUS spends millions of dollars annually to economically cripple meat and dairy producers, eliminate the use of animals in biomedical research labs, phase out pet breeding and to eliminate zoos and circus animal acts. They are against anyone having pets, even fish in aquariums. They demonize hunters as crazed lunatics, and are against any hunting in any form, despite its acceptance by the vast majority of people in the United States who are just fine with it, as long as it's done legally and with a sound scientific and biological base.

According to HSUS President, Wayne Pacelle, "We will see the end of wild animals in circus acts, and we're phasing out animals used in research. If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would." Pacelle carefully uses the word "sport" in all his diatribes, intending to convince people that hunters are only out for "sport," and that it has nothing to do with enjoyment, to help curb animal populations, and for the ultimate goal of putting meat on the table.

According to ACTIVISTCASH.com, the budget for HSUS in 2008 was $97 million. Of that, $27.5 million was spent on fundraising, $28.0 million on Campaigns, Litigation and Investigation, and $38 million on salaries. The remainder of their budget that year, about $5 million, was spent on travel. Zero dollars were spent on anything pertaining to the health and welfare of animals. In fact, their budget would be enough to fund every single animal shelter in the United States, and yet they don't own or operate a single one!

This is the organization that the California Department of Fish and Game has teamed up with, and Foley thinks it's just fine. In her own words, Foley said "We are again very grateful to the Humane Society of the United States for their support of the wardens' efforts to combat the increase in poaching. We look forward to continued collaboration on this issue." And now, HSUS has actual law enforcement officers here in California, trained at the DFG Training Center at Butte College in Paradise, and some of those officers are actual instructors, teaching DFG wardens!

How can someone who is hired by an animal-rights group, and believes animals have the same rights as humans, be teaching a Fish and Game enforcement officer? According to one attendee in one of the classes, the instructor showed a photo of hounds chasing a wild boar and said it was "animal cruelty." Until some in the class reminded the instructor that it was legal.

What the Humane Society of the United States has done here, is buy the Department of Fish and Game, and it's support, for a few thousands dollars. The DFG recently issued a news release that was headed "Department of Fish and Game and the Humane Society offer Reward for Mountain Lion poachers." That in itself is very troubling, that the DFG is lending its name and credibility to an animal-rights, anti-hunting group. What's worse, is that HSUS is given a form of credibility by that, when they are not at all a credible organization, at least not in the eyes of sportsmen and women.

Sportsmen should be afraid that there are actually HSUS law enforcement officers now in California, acting as "special investigators" under penal code section 830, and apparently under the auspices of the DFG.

The California Department of Fish and Game is a state agency responsible for the fish and wildlife of California, and is funded in great part by the sale of fishing and hunting licenses to sportsmen and women in California. They, and all Californians who believe that fish and wildlife should be managed by sound scientific and biological principles, should be infuriated that such an element as the Humane Society of the United States, who do not believe in such principles, should be associated with a state agency such as the DFG.

The partnership should end, and it should end now.