Great meeting last night! Thanks to DNR for coming and explaining how they will enforce the new regulations as it related to Lake Murray. I feel all of the questions were addressed and now we can move on and still enjoy the fishery within the realms of the new regulations!
I also wish to thank DNR, Jim and the others involved in scheduling last nights meeting. We can all now be good stewards in spreading “accurate information” on the new regs to the fishing community. Also glad see new faces and several new members join last night.
VanMan
When someone that was there gets a few minutes, would you please post a brief summary of some of the highlights of what DNR had to say? I made it to the parking lot before having to head home to tend to a leaky roof.
Thanks,
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Each person on the boat has the right to catch five stripers. You can release or keep them but they all count toward your five. If you and I fish together we each have a five fish limit, it is not ten for the boat.
joby wetzel
quote:
Originally posted by striperskiffWhen someone that was there gets a few minutes, would you please post a brief summary of some of the highlights of what DNR had to say? I made it to the parking lot before having to head home to tend to a leaky roof.
Thanks,
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
In addition to what Joby posted. You may still fish with as many rods as you want as long as you haven’t met the five fish limit. In other words, even if you’ve already caught 4 you can still have 10 rods out until you’ve caught that 5th fish. If, by chance you have a multiple hook-up you will not be cited provided that excess stripers are immediately released and you stop striper fishing.
The question was also asked about switching over to catfishing after you’ve limited out on stripers. DNR stated that is perfectly legal as long as you are truly pursuing catfish. The example was made that you can move shallow into depths where catfish are usually found and use cut herring for catfish. But you can’t stay where you were catching stripers and just “say” you are now pursuing catfish. Don’t be stupid.
Definitely worthwhile and gives much more clarity to the law and the enforcement of it. Maybe it was asked last night and I missed it - I thought about this on the ride home… but one more scenario: Let’s say the Captain for whatever reason or just by chance has caught his five fish and his kid has caught 4 of his own and still looking for number 5. Is it legal for the captain to bait a hook and cast a bait out? (I’m cut baiting in my mind!). I know that they (DNR)aren’t trying to stop a kid from catching his fifth fish, but I also heard that technically, you can’t pick up that rod (or even crank the reel to set the hook) if a fish hits and you have already caught your own limit, so what is the law on actually casting the bait out? My son can’t cast with much precision yet so it’s not really an option for him to do it. Maybe the answer is: don’t catch your five before your kid limits out. 
Tight lines!
Billy
—Team Pitt Crew–
Sailfish 236CC
Billy, What I understood was that if you each had your five and you rebaited and continued to fish that location and brought a striper to the boat you would be in violation. I don’t think deploying a bait will get you an invitation to the policeman’s ball, it’s the act of catching the striper that seals the deal.
That sounds reasonable, Jim. Thanks. Hope this law produces more and bigger fish for us in 2 to 3 years when we hopefully see the benefits. The DNR guys were very helpful last night and cleared up a lot of questions.
(Also, don’t forget to post some info on the cpr class you mentioned last night. I would be interested because I’m planning to attend Sea School this year and need to get certified. Hope it generates some interest because it’s a skillset that we all should acquire, especially since the training has changed recently. Could save a life one day.)
Billy
—Team Pitt Crew–
Sailfish 236CC
I think they said if you have your 5 and another crew member only has 4 you are not allowed to even touch the rod to hand off on the next pulldown as that would be a violation of the “attempting to take”. I would also think that baiting a line and recasting would definitely fall under “attempting to take” They did say however that they understand helping a youth that may not be able to handle the fish solo. Like stated so many times before as long as we use a little common sense we will be OK.