Two Blue Stripes Watch Online
Lorri Dent
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an ecologically, recreationally, and economically important species of migratory fish that is found in the Hudson River. Adults spend most of their time in coastal waters and return to the fresh water of the Hudson River each spring to spawn before returning back to the Atlantic Ocean. The Hudson River acts as a nursery for the newly hatched young of year bass and in early fall they begin moving out of the estuary into near shore coastal areas.
Striped bass are cooperatively managed along the Atlantic coast by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Along with other states, New York has required regulatory measures that include monitoring programs, recreational and commercial minimum size limits, recreational creel limits, and commercial quotas to manage and evaluate the condition of the striped bass stock. In 2015, New York was required to reduce harvest due to a decline in the coastal spawning stock and therefore implemented a slot limit (18"- 28" total length) in the Hudson River to protect most female fish. Recently, the 2018 ASMFC striped bass benchmark stock assessment indicated coast-wide populations of striped bass were overfished and experiencing overfishing. To reduce mortality, Addendum VI to Amendment 6 (PDF) of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass requires the use of circle hooks when fishing with bait for striped bass. Catch and release practices contribute significantly to overall fishing mortality and circle hooks work effectively to reduce release mortality.
Since 1985, a 500 foot haul seine and an electrofishing boat are used from April through June to catch spawning striped bass. Length, weight, and sex information is recorded and scale samples for aging are collected from the fish before being tagged and returned to the river.
Beginning in 1979, a 200 foot seine is used from July through November to catch young of year striped bass. The fish are counted and measured and average catch rates are calculated. See a graph of annual catch rates of young of year striped bass.
Do you fish for striped bass in the Hudson River? Join the Hudson River Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program to have an active role in the conservation and management of striped bass. By providing information about your fishing trips and the fish you catch, we can better understand and manage this fishery.
New York State is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to provide catch information from our recreational fishery. We satisfy this requirement with the help of volunteer recreational anglers.
Record your fishing trip information in a physical logbook that we provide (pictured on left) or you can record your trips on your smartphone or computer using DEC's online logbook (PDF; see below). The logbook includes detailed instructions on the information you need to collect, such as the date of your fishing trip, fishing location, and the type of bait used.
At the end of the fishing season, anglers return their logbooks. If you are using the online logbook, you can submit your fishing data after each trip. When all logbooks are returned, the recreational fishery data are analyzed and sent to anglers in a newsletter, providing an inside look into the striped bass fishing season among all participating anglers. Participants also receive the latest news regarding regulation changes and information about our annual Hudson River fish population surveys.
DEC has developed a Hudson River Cooperative Angler online logbook for participating anglers to electronically log fishing trips using the Survey123 App from either a smartphone or computer. The survey is designed to be efficient and user-friendly. To learn more, download the online logbook instructions (PDF) with a link to the Survey 123 App.
In 2016, DEC staff acoustically tagged 100 striped bass in collaboration with researchers at the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory to better understand migration patterns and mortality rates. Acoustic tags give off a signal that can be picked up by mobile tracking units on boats as well as stationary receivers located throughout the Hudson River and along the Atlantic coast. Results from this study determined two spawning groups exist in the Hudson River with each group utilizing a distinct section of the river at different times during the spring spawning run. These two groups likely experience different fishing pressure based on their arrival and departure from the Hudson River.
Length distribution and recreational slot limit (outlined in light blue) for striped bass in the Hudson River. The slot limit was implemented to protect most spawning Hudson River females. Learn additional tips about catch and release (PDF) fishing in New York waters.
ANSWER: The NFHS Rule Book & Case Book do not address the matter directly. However, as long as the coach is not utilizing the bike to pace competitors, provide assistance to competitors, and the riding of the bike is not interfering with the race, no harm is caused and no rule is violated.
Comment: Rules 3-2-8a and 4-6-5d state that no competitor may receive electronically transmitted data from a coach or other third party. If such communication is observed by an official, the competitor should be disqualified. While preventative officiating helps to avoid issues in any event, it is obvious that those trying to police wearable technologies by restricting what can be worn by competitors is asking event officials to perform an impossible task. Restricting the wearing of a watch because it contains GPS capability is futile when the same technology is available in the shoe, the sports bra they have on or the ring they are wearing.
ANSWER: No. Ear buds can have bluetooth capabilities and therefore could become a communication device. NFHS Rule 3.2.8a - "Electronic devices shall not be used to transmit information during the race".
1. Question: A competitor has a brand new sports performance watch which provides audible status to the competitor while he/she is competing in a Cross Country Race. The device calls out pace data, stride, speed, endurance data, and advises the competitor if they should speed up or slow down on the "performance curve" that they have established. The device can be heard by anyone in close proximity to the competitor. Is this legal?
Answer: Illegal. NFHS 3.2.8a - "Electronic devices shall not be used to transmit information to the competitor during the race or trial. NFHS 4.6.5f - "It is an unfair act when a competitor receives assistance. Assistance includes "a competitor using an aid during the race or trial.
Comment: Even though this rule is in reference to a coach transmitting wireless communications, this device is transmitting information to the competitor and is therefore illegal, as it is providing assistance. Preventative officiating should take place in advance of the race, by discussing the matter at the coaches meeting, prior to the meet.
1. Question: Our school is scheduled for a Cross Country Meet where Varsity and JV competitors will be competing in a singular race. They will be timed separately and team scores will be kept for Varsity and JV. We do not have enough uniforms to provide all competitors with the Varsity uniform. Is it permissible for the Varsity competitors to wear the Varsity uniform and the JV competitors to wear the JV uniform?
Answer: NFHS Rule 4-3-2a - "All relay and cross country teams members wear uniforms clearly indicating, through predominant color, school logo and color combination of all out garments worn as a uniform, that members are from the same team". However in this meet, the host is combining two races, Varsity and JV, into one competition. Each school is represented by two distinct teams, Varsity and JV. Each distinct team, from the school, must adhere to the rule. Since they are being timed and scored separately, they do not collectively have to adhere to the rule.
1. Question: At our Cross Country Meet we are setting up the Starting Line Area. Is there a recommended distance back that coaches and no-competitors must go to at the two minute countdown mark?
Answer: The NFHS Rule Book makes no reference to the dimensions of the Starting Line Area, only the size of the boxes, at the Start Line. In practice, it is a proactive approach to utilize cones and set up an area 5 - 10 meters behind the Start Line. In this way you have defined the area that the coaches and non-competing athletes must go to. The distance is determined by facility and nature constraints. If possible, utilize 10 meters to clearly differentiate between competitors, non-competitors, and coaches.
2. Question: In our area there is a bladed competitor on a high school team. Does this competitor need any type of special permission or be given any special consideration when competing? Are they allowed to compete with able bodied competitors?
Answer: The NFHS has no specific written policy on a bladed competitor. Consider a bladed athlete as an able bodied athlete and therefore, they would be permitted to compete as such.
3. Question: In a Cross Country Race, a runner approaches the finish line. They (a) do a flip and then cross the Finish Line; (b) do a flip over the Finish Line; (c) cross the Finish Line and then do a flip.
Ruling: Disqualification in case (a), (b), and (c). Rule 4.6.1 - Unsporting conduct is behavior that is unethical or dishonorable. It includes, but is not limited to: disrespectfully addressing an official, any flagrant behavior, intentional contact, taunting, criticizing or using profanity directed toward someone. Rule 4.6.2 Unacceptable conduct by a competitor includes, but is not limited to: willful failure to follow the directions of a meet official, using profanity that is not directed at someone or any action which could bring discredit to the individual or his/her school.
Answer: This action could be viewed as both unsporting (dishonorable or taunting) or unacceptable (discredit to individual or school). In the NFHS Rule Book, the penalty for each is disqualification from the event.