tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post3507932281647364461..comments2024-03-15T08:52:03.058-04:00Comments on ONE ANGLER'S VOYAGE: BY THE NUMBERSCharles Witekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16752632941300366580noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post-54963996851515236662016-07-22T14:54:33.179-04:002016-07-22T14:54:33.179-04:00Not sure that I agree that people see changes on t...Not sure that I agree that people see changes on the water before they show up in the data. Sometimes, yes. But using striped bass as an example, there are typically two or three assessment updates that come out between the benchmark assessments; it's only the benchmarks that come out every five years. In addition, we get the Maryland young of the year index, which comes out every fall and is probably the best single predictor of future abundance. Summer flounder, scup and black sea bass are updated every year, with reports on recruitment, etc. You could see the current problem with summer flounder coming in the numbers well before we saw it in the water. Reef fish have a lot less data available, so there, I think that you're right. But even then, being able to look at recruitment, and being able to distinguish between a couple of strong year classes and a broader recovery, is a big help.<br /><br />Anyway, the bottom line is that the folks who like to attack regulations by attacking the data stream are, for the most part, barking up the wrong tree.Charles Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752632941300366580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4896836091935734799.post-11836080560185547182016-07-22T08:18:24.182-04:002016-07-22T08:18:24.182-04:00I think a lot of know that since stock assessments...I think a lot of know that since stock assessments are only done every 5 years, the observations on the water are more timely. Remember all the striped bass anglers yelling about the decline in fish and their geographic range shrinking and calling for a ONE fish limit? Well, when the stock assessment was finally done we had objective evidence.<br /><br />In contrast in the South Atlantic, the recovery of the Black Sea Bass outraced the stock assessment as well. They were everywhere BEFORE the stock assessment caught up. Anglers were upset and now they have a year round season and the fish number was just upped to 7 fish at 13 inches. Black sea bass are quick to sexually mature, so the recovery was rapid.<br /><br />Contrast Black sea bass with Atlantic Red snapper who live decades. The on the water info is they are "everywhere". Yet these fish grow quickly, take several years to sexually mature and since they live so long the stock (age) structure has not filled in with the older fish. It is well known that the older females produce many more eggs than the younger females and they will be required for full recovery. The cries are to open up the fishery before the stock is recovered, and I understand this-it hurts to release a 10lb snapper!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805723335157054129noreply@blogger.com