For the past 38 years, David Showell has owned Absecon Bay Sportsman Center. When he bought the marina in 1985, stripers, aka striped bass, didn’t even exist in our South Jersey waters.
Despite hundreds of trips on the back bays catching flounder, weakfish, bluefish, panfish etc, Dave never hooked a striper.
Today, stripers are thriving. So why is the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission pushing for more heavy-handed restrictions?
Atlantic States Marine Commission, Striped Bass Addendum II .
In Showell’s opinion, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recommendations are not relevant to the South Jersey Striped Bass Fishery.
Showell: Current biomass of striped bass is much larger than reported by current science.
That’s according to hundreds of first hand reports from anglers coming into the Absecon Bay Sportsman Center.
New Jersey’s Recreational Striped Bass Fishery.
The current population of striped bass could easily support a daily limit of one, reasonably sized fish per person.
A 3-inch ‘keeper’ slot for stripers in the foreseeable future? I believe the science has failed us.
Dave Showell
The current ‘slot size’ limit of 28 – 31 inches, puts un-needed restrictions on recreational anglers.
Throw-backs (mortality rate) actually kill more stripers. It’s better to harvest a ‘short’ for consumption.
I am absolutely sure, there are more stripers in the population today, than at any time in my life.
Sincerely,
Capt. David Showell
Owner Operator: Absecon Bay Sportsman Center
609-484-0409
