MDC Public Comment Meetings -New SMB Regs

[Dan Kreher]

see info below from Craig Fuller with the MDC.

Lots of opportunity for public comment opportunity both in person and via e-mail. So let your voices be heard!

As you know, we are currently planning to conduct public meetings to gather citizen input and make adjustments to the proposed Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass regulations as needed and appropriate.  Those meetings will take place in October of this year and will be located throughout the Ozarks. This is the same process that we have used with other key topics like Deer regulations, the Blue Catfish regulation on Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks and the Elk reintroduction.

 

The public meetings will be held from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and, have been scheduled as follows:

 

9/29-Van Buren at The River Centre at The Landing.  110 E. Carter, Van Buren, MO 63965

10/1-Kansas City at Burr Oak Woods CNC.  1401 NW Park Road Blue Springs, MO 64015

10/5-St. Robert at the St. Robert Community Center.  114 J.H. Williamson Dr. St. Robert, MO 65584

10/6-Farmington at the Memorial United Methodist Church in the Parlor Room.  425 North St. Farmington, MO 63640

10/8-St. Louis at the Powder Valley CNC.  11715 Cragwold Road Kirkwood, MO 63122

10/13-Springfield at the Springfield CNC.  4601 S Nature Center Way Springfield, MO 65804

10/15-Neosho at the National Fish Hatchery.  520 Park St. Neosho, MO 64850

10/19-Columbia at the Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center.  3500 E Gans Road Columbia, MO 65201

We are working to take public comments on-line via our public web page at www.mdc.mo.gov and that should be up and running soon.

 

I look forward to your participation as we work together to improve and continue Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass fishing in Missouri.

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

 

Craig Fuller, Fisheries Management Biologist

Missouri Department of Conservation

2350 S Jefferson

Lebanon, MO 65536

417/532-7612 x224

Craig.fuller@mdc.mo.gov

 

 

[Brian Jones]

On line comment section is now set up on MDC website.

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Smallmouth bass and rock bass -- also called goggle eye -- are very popular with anglers on Missouri’s Ozark streams. However, research by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that both species grow slowly and that many do not reach a quality size before dying from natural causes or being caught by anglers.

As a result, many anglers surveyed by MDC have reported that fishing quality for rock bass has declined over the past decade. Many anglers also have responded that the minimum-length limits and daily limits for smallmouth on rivers and creeks varies and can be complicated.

According to MDC fishing regulations, there is no existing statewide minimum length limit for rock bass, but some rivers and creeks in MDC Special Management Areas have an eight-inch minimum. Smallmouth bass have a statewide minimum length limit of 12 inches with a six-fish daily limit, while MDC Special Management Areas have a minimum length limit of 15 or 18 inches with a daily limit of one or two fish.

As a result of research and angler feedback, the Conservation Department is proposing changes to fishing regulations for these two popular game fish that would help grow smallmouth and rock bass while simplifying regulations for smallmouth in MDC Special Management Areas.

For rock bass, MDC research shows that a majority of anglers favor a single, statewide minimum length limit. MDC is proposing setting it at seven inches.

For smallmouth bass, the proposed changes would maintain the current statewide length limit of 12-inches with a daily limit of six fish, but change all Special Management Areas to a 15-inch minimum length limit with a daily limit of one smallmouth bass.

Proposed regulations would also create a new Special Management Area on the Current River and expand the Special Management Areas on the Big Piney, Big River, Jacks Fork, and Meramec rivers.

MDC is seeking public input on these potential regulations changes and will host a series of open houses around the state to provide more information, answer questions, and get public comments. The Department invites anglers and others to stop by the following open houses between 6 and 8 p.m.:

• Sept. 29 in Van Buren at The River Centre at The Landing, 110 E. Carter St.;
• Oct. 1 in Blue Springs at the MDC Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road;
• Oct. 5 in St. Robert at the St. Robert Community Center, 114 J.H. Williamson Drive;
• Oct. 6 in Farmington at the Memorial United Methodist Church, 425 North St.;
• Oct. 8 in Kirkwood at the MDC Powder Valley Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road;
• Oct. 13 in Springfield at the MDC Springfield Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way;
• Oct. 15 in Neosho at the National Fish Hatchery, 520 Park St.; and
• Oct. 19 in Columbia at the MDC Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center, 3500 E. Gans Road.

MDC is also accepting public comments online at mdc.mo.gov/node/9092 or through U.S. mail to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Attn: Policy Coordination, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

 

 

[Dan Kreher]

Just posted some comments via this portal. Easy to use. 

 

Thanks for uploading this link.

[Lancer09]

May just have to go check out the KC one. 

[Guest]

 deleted

 

[fishinwrench]

Comments sent.  But if they don't start getting out of their air conditioned trucks, get some mud on their shoes and cuckle-burrs on their pant legs, pop in on a few gigging partys that are not at a public access, ect.  then changes in regulations are just words on a website or pamphlet.  

While fishing I have only seen an agent outside of a MDC access once in 40 years, and have NEVER seen one get more than 30 yards from his truck.  I don't expect that to change either.  

[MOsmallies]

My comments have been sent as well. I told them I don't know what the perfect regulations are but I gave them some suggestions and also urged what Wrench mentioned. Enforcement is key. I keyed on illegal gigging and poaching. They really do need to patrol the main gigging rivers at night including areas only accessible by private ramp. They need to be proactive instead of reactive when it's usually too late. Stricter regs will help but enforcement is vital! I hope they get inundated with messages from hard-core catch and release anglers. I doubt many of the meat hunters will share their thoughts but who knows. We need to outweigh them handily so they can see who these fish mean more to!!!

[Brian Jones]

I gave the following suggestions:  

shortened gigging season and MUCH stricter enforcement.  Also, suggested some sting operations and check points similar to those during the Spring Turkey season and Firearms deer season.

some sort of protection for the smallmouth that winter in the upper part of Clearwater; especially since the lake has no minimum length on black bass.

Drop the length and creel limits on Spotted Bass on the Gasconade River system.  Whether or not they want to believe it, the spots are moving up the river in droves and it's only gonna be a matter of time before they are as big of a problem there as they are on the Meramec.  

[joeD]

Dear Smallmouth Anglers:

    Thanks for your input. Your zeal for smallmouth bass regulations is admirable, a credit to Missourah outdoorsmen, and has been duly noted. We are working diligently on your behalf, and the interest of all other of our citizens. It is hard and demanding work, with no easy answers. We will continue to pursue avenues that benefit all Missourah citizens. We thank you for your interest in our wonderful and shared outdoors. 

Yours, 

The MDC Team.

(Not a real letter)

But it will be.

[tanvat]

Fishinwrench is right on.  In 25 years and hundreds of days on public waters (holy crap, how did that happen) of needing a license to fish in Mo. I have been checked exactly zero times.  Zero.  Oddly, the only time I've encountered state game and fish personnel who asked about a license was last month on a backpacking trip in Wyoming.  These guys walked in a few miles into the backcountry to check around while here in Mo. with WAY more fishing pressure on WAY more accessible streams its nada, zilch, zero.  If, for instance, MDC really wanted to make sure that folks weren't violating the regs. on the upper Jacks or fishing with trout worms below Baptist like the guy I saw several times last weekend (who also chucked his mangled plastic baits into the river when he asked if I was catchin' anything), then you'd think that over the course of  150 or so days on those rivers over the course of 25 years someone would have at least checked my license or something.   I really do not think that it is a manpower issue, its a want to issue. 

 

And joeD, I think MDC should pay you for drafting that letter b/c it is perfect bureaucrat-speak: lots of words but no content.