Action Alert Hearing on HD717 and 716
ACTION ALERT…HEARING NOTICE
Stripers Forever Members
In preparation for our up-coming Committee Hearing to be held on Nov. 6th at 1:00 PM for HD717 and HD716 in meeting room A-2, Stripers Forever will be meeting with members of the House and Senate Committee on Natural Resources, the Environment and Agriculture during the week of 10/28 – 10/31. Below find meetings that have already been set up. As more meetings are confirmed, we will update this list. Your participation will be welcomed.
The purpose of this notification is to afford you the opportunity to attend one of the meetings if you live in the town or district of the Representative or Senator or if you have a personal relationship with them. Please be aware that meeting may end up being with the legislator’s staff since the schedule can be unpredictable during session. You will meet with our lobbyist (Henri Rauschenbach) 15 minutes beforehand to go over the strategy for the meeting. If you want to attend a meeting contact Henri as soon as possible at henri.rauschenbach@gmail.com.
The meetings scheduled so far are:
Sen. Michael Rush (D-Boston)(Room 504) – Tuesday 10/29 at 2PM
Sen. Dan Wolf (D – Cape & Islands) (Room511-B) – Thursday 10/31 at 1:30PM
Sen. Ben Downing (D-Berkshires) (Room 413-F) (with aide) – Thursday 10/31 at 2:30PM
Rep. Anne Gobi (D – Spencer) (Room 473-F) – Monday 11/4 at 4:30PM
Rep. Paul Mark (D – Hancock) (Room 472) -Wednesday 10/30 at 1:00PM
Rep. Matt Beaton (D-Shrewsbury) (Room 167) – Wednesday 10/30 at 2:00PM
If you cannot attend a meeting we urge you to contact legislators on the committee and ask them to support HD 717 and 716 which will in effect remove recreational anglers from the commercial fishery and reduce the quota correspondingly, and will sunset the entire fishery by 2025. The second bill will require that striped bass tagged by commercial fishermen be tagged immediately at the point of capture. The message should be short and direct. Something like this:
“My name is XXXX and I live in TOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. Striped bass are important to me. The fishery has declined greatly, and stripers need to be better managed. I urge you to vote for HD717 and 716.
Here is a list of committee members and their contact information. Please let them know that you want striped bass to be conserved.
SENATE MEMBERS Phone Email Residence
Sen. Marc Pacheco (D) Chair 617-722-1551 Marc.Pacheco@masenate.gov Taunton
Sen. Michael Rush (D) Vice Chair 617-722-1348 Mike.Rush@masenate.gov Boston
Sen. William Brownsberger (D) 617-722-1280 William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov Belmont
Sen. Dan Wolf (D) 617-722-1570 Daniel.Wolf@masenate.gov Harwich
Sen. Ben Downing (D) 617-722-1625 Benjamin.Downing@masenate.gov Pittsfield
Sen. Robert Hedlund ® 617-722-1646 Robert.Hedlund@masenate.gov Weymouth
HOUSE MEMBERS
Rep. Anne Gobi (D) Chair 617-722-2210 Anne.Gobi@mahouse.gov Spencer
Rep. Paul Schmid(D) Vice Chair 617-722-2210 Paul.Schmid@mahouse.gov Westport
Rep. Robert Koczera (D) 617-722-2582 Robert.Koczera@mahouse.gov New Bedford
Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D) 617-722-2210 Ann-Margaret.Ferrante@mahouse.gov Gloucester
Rep. Paul Mark (D) 617-722-2013 Paul.Mark@mahouse.gov Hancock
Rep. Mary Keefe (D) 617-722-2210 Mary.Keefe@mahouse.gov Worcester
Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D) 617-722-2210 Carolyn.Dykema@mahouse.gov Holliston
Rep. Gailanne Cariddi (D) 617-722-2130 Gailanne.Cariddi@mahouse.gov North Adams
Rep. Christopher Markey (D) 617-722-2450 Christopher.Markey@mahouse.gov Dartmouth
Rep. Matthew Beaton (R ) 617-722-2230 Matthew.Beaton@mahouse.gov Shrewsbury
Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R ) 617-722-2976 Susan.Gifford@mahouse.gov Wareham
Thank you for lending a hand to our efforts. Dean Clark Co-Chair, MA
Lou Tabory on The State of the Striper
Recently, in Fly Fishing In Saltwaters Magazine, striper fly rod expert Lou Tabory expresses his thoughts on the state of the striper, and expresses his fear that it will take another crash like the 1980s to pass the best possible solution, which is game fish designation. A copy of the article is attached.
Lou Tabory Fly Fishing In Saltwaters July 2013
Berkeley Striper Club Spring Tournament
| Berkeley Striper Club Spring Tournament Benefits Our FisheriesThe Berkeley Striper Club will be holding its 10th Annual Spring Tournament 5/31/13 – 6/8/13. The tournament will be for striped bass and bluefish. The boundaries have been expanded this year to include all New Jersey waters. The only restrictions are that no fishing is allowed from piers, bridges or boats.Merchandise prizes having a total value of over $10,000. will be awarded. The fees to enter are $15. for the bluefish category, $20. for the striped bass category or $30. to enter both. There will be 1st to 20th place prizes for bluefish and 1st to 20th place prizes for striped bass. Those not interested in the merchandise prizes may opt to enter the various cash categories. Of course you may enter all the categories if you prefer. The door prizes and food that we will have at our awards ceremony will make your entry fee well worthwhile even if you don’t weigh in a fish. All those who enter the merchandise categories are guaranteed to win at least one door prize. The awards ceremony will be held at the Seaside Park Municipal Building on 6/9/13 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
All the money raised is earmarked for our Fisheries Defense Fund and is then donated to organizations that protect or enhance our recreational fisheries. To date our club has donated over $25,000. to these organizations. Stripers Forever has been our biggest beneficiary. For those who may not know, SF is the Internet group seeking to make striped bass a no sale or game fish along the entire east coast rather than just in certain states like New Jersey. We have also donated a large amount of money to the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance and lesser amounts to other organizations.
Those interested may download an application, check out the prize list, rules registration and weigh-in stations as well as and obtain other information by visiting www.berkeleystriperclub.org or by contacting Paul Haertel at (973)943-8201 or anglerpmh@aol.com. Mail in registrations are currently being accepted but you may also register at various tackle stores from Long Branch to Brigantine. |
New! John Rice artwork for auction
| Stripers Forever members – we have an exciting auction of two original John Rice watercolors. John is a fisherman, and his work is always popular because he captures scenes that go right to the heart of what we love about this sport. The quality of John’s work represents one of the best art values available. Our last auction of his paintings saw some of the best bidding of this auction season.Both of the paintings are 111/4 X141/4 watercolors of surfcasting for striped bass. One is inspired by the rocky shores of Northern New England, and the other is under the cliffs at Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard. We think you’ll agree that these are really terrific. Check them out. |
