If you can make it to Rio Vista to address your concerns please do. They want scientifically facts to present to the Fish and Game. I think we should see the fish #s prior to the dams and aqueducts being put in and see how fishing deteriorated over the years of less and less waters in the River systems. Some of you might not care right now but guess who is next on the list as a "predator"? yupp the florida strain largemouth bass!!! If you let the farmers win the striped bass, then Largemouth bass are next and when you deplete the fish and the fishing goes downhill and less people are fishing, the farmers win because there will be no opposition to them taking more water. just a little FYI fellas on whats to come to the fishing we love to do, practice catch and release on stripped bass too!

Yeah, its divide and conquer tactics. They'll take out stripers first, then move onto LMB, another "non native predator" that predates on ESA listed species. By dealing with one group of opposition at a time, they preclude the need to fight a unified opposition. And eventually, with no sportfishing opposition left, and ESA listed species extant for that matter, they'll be able to easily take what they want.

Anybody who can make it to the meeting, please do so. Even if you can't, lend your support any way you can. Oppose the peripheral canal and this poorly considered regulation change. This is going to negatively influence every charter business, bait shop, coastal/delta community and individual fisherman in the greater SF bay.

We have to stand up for ourselves, any way we can. We can't afford to let others take up the fight for us; we have to stand together. The other side likes to play us off against the other, and its had some success. Some salmon guys have been subverted. Hashem Nahid, a member of the board of directors of the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California, has openly advocated for the destruction of Northern California fisheries and increased water exports. Many "experts" who "know more than anyone else about the delta" have been notably silent about their official position. Don't let them play us like this; speak up.

Practice catch and release and preserve this great historical west coast fishery we have. Some of us will fight them in the courts of law; others will fight them in the court of public opinion and expose them for what they truly are. Together, we may even make a difference.

If you want to read up more, here is a link.

http://www.fishsniffer.com/freshwater-s ... osals.html

You need to write to the CAFG Commission and voice your concerns. It will such a failure when we have no striped bass and Salmon still in depleted #s. Its a lose/lose situation we have in front of us as fisherman.

Bro I know we see eye to eye on a lot of subjects, couldn't have said it better. Everyone needs to stand together on this one and do what you can via in person or email.

email i sent off.....

To whom it may concern,

I am writing you this letter because I am concerned on the proposed rule change that the DFG is going to be issuing to CFAG for review on Striped Bass regulations. I do not believe that there should be any changes made to the Striped Bass regulations, as I feel they are not the problem. I am an avid fisherman and I want all fish to thrive and have a good foundation for future generations of fishermen. I think you know this but it is more of a water issue than anything else, fish need water to spawn and procreate. Let me address some current issues and flaws I see happening with the proposal change.

* Our Salmon Smolt hatchery program needs more thought put into it, I feel the thought process and research has not been done properly. These smolts are raised in hatcheries and are used to grouping together in a school and being fed food daily(not natural), unlike a wild salmon smolt that doesn't school and has it's natural survival skills working in its favor to survive. They have been releasing these smolts in a area where it is known that striped bass are thriving during there freshwater/saltwater commute. Not sure who is behind the thought process on this release but it is not very smart to do that for many reasons. Dropping Salmon smolt where Striped Bass are migrating to at a specific time of year is like dropping chickens in a closed fence to a pack of wolves. I propose you release the smolt where the Striped Bass are not in big numbers, that way these schools of smolt can have time for the instinct to kick in and get away from a school and make its commute to the ocean. I am sure with a little research it is not hard to figure that out, on specific times of the year where Striped Bass are migrating to and from.

* I feel that our California Sea Lions which are a federally protected species will have to adapt to the loss of food the Striped Bass provide them. I know that Sea Lions feed actively on Striped Bass, what would happen to the Sea Lion population if you take a great resource of food away from them? It is instilled in their genetic making to feed off Striped Bass for 100+ years and now you want to take that away from them? They will have no choice but to adapt and feed off the very fish we are also trying to protect with this proposed rule change. I think we should do some more research before we affect this Eco System as a whole.

* Striped Bass have co-existed with our Delta Fish since the late 1800's and the DFG has reports where all fish thrived in big numbers. What has changed? The water, but I am sure you know all this. In these very reports they mention that they cannot measure the damage a Striped Bass does and they believe its not much. We need more programs and research to be done to make sure we have enough water for these fish we are trying to protect to spawn and procreate and thrive naturally. If that means holding the water for a specific amount of time so they can spawn and the eggs can hatch and smolts can go on their natural life cycle as a wild fish.


These are my points of most concern, and I hope as professionals and in best interests of our Eco System we make a decision that is well backed up with information and facts that will help our fishery.

Thank You

Man is his own worst enemy. Ultimately his decisions then are where we are now.
If the wheels not broke don't fix it. Increase the limit by 2 fish a day , place slot limits in place.
And stop pumping water south and build some reservoirs in the the mountains for watering the crops

This is a situation where US as sport fishermans to still catch and release regardless if DFG changes any of the slot limits

THIS!