Quote:
Originally Posted by Headhunter
The sole purpose is not revenue. I am sure the TWRA could use it and maybe all the money from the tag could go to striper/hybrid restocking, but moreso to prevent the abuse of the striper/hybrid fishery. It is almost impossible to prove, there is a large group that targets striper/hybrid almost every day of the year and they are selling them.
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I understand what your saying, and yes, the idea behind that makes sense, but if there will not be an increase in patrols by the TWRA to check for the permit, then the majority would not purchase it, im not saying that is right, im just saying thats probably how it would go. Also, what i see as a possible issue would be "what makes me a striper fisherman" that would need me to buy the stamp if i dont plan to keep them? Tackle, rigging, location, bait/lures?
I can drift live shad up and down the river all day long with a basic live bait rig down deep for the sole purpose of catch and release stripers in the summer, i do it every year in Melton Hill. That just so happens to be the exact same set-up alot of cat fisherman use too, me included. If the TWRA pulls up to me, see's me drifting live shad, i can tell them no, im not fishing for stripers, im fishing for cats.i have no stripers in the boat, but they cant rightfully ticket me since they have no proof im targeting stripers, if they see me catch and release one, well i cant control what fish eats my live bait. that may sound childish to some, but thats how these things work, ive seen it myself in michigan, hell ive done it! (not proudly, but i was young and just wanted to catch some spawning bass). now some methods, like planer boards are a different story or topwater, but in my opinion there is enough of a grey area to allow people to still target them most of the year, but not have enough evidence to prove they are in the wrong, unless they keep them.
Im not trying to shoot down anybody else's idea's here or argue with anybody, but its not as simple as creating a high dollar stamp and hoping the honor system works ya know.