The Hook a Cure Fishing Tournament is committed to providing a fun family atmosphere through the thrill of a competitive fishing tournament while practicing and encouraging humane treatment that provide this experience.  We are NOT a "Kill" Tournament and try to mitigate harmful and wasteful practices where ever possible! To that end, we have a proposed set of guidelines that would like each participant to read and do their best to follow.

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1. For the 2022 tournament, Catch & Release practices will be strictly voluntary, except where it is already Massachusetts regulation.

2. We encourage all participants (Boats & Surf) to utilize Catch & Release tenants.

3. As of 2020, the use of a gaff on a Striper measure less than 28 inches in overall length is prohibited. We encourage the use of nets vs gaffs to mitigate stress & damage to the fish.

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https://www.mass.gov/service-details/recreational-saltwater-fishing-regulations

 

If the fish will not survive beyond certification, we are asking participants to NOT throw back dead or injured fish.  It is unlawful in Massachusetts to discard legal sized bass. Instead do one of the following:

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1. Donate it back to the 2022 Hook a Cure Fishing Tournament for restaurants, other participants and/or bait. 

2. Take it home for themselves.

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Please also take the time to review the New Striped Bass Conservation Regulations set forth in 2020 by the State of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

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1. Effective immediately, it is unlawful for any fisherman to gaff or attempt to gaff striped bass measuring less than 28 inches total length, and for a commercial fisherman fishing on an open commercial striped bass fishing day to gaff striped bass measuring less than 34 inches total length.

2. Effective 2020, recreational anglers not fishing aboard for-hire vessels will be required to use inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits. This will include fishing with whole or cut natural baits while in possession of striped bass as well. This circle hook mandate will not apply to natural baits attached to an artificial lure to be trolled, jigged, or casted and retrieved (e.g., tube and worm). Nor will the mandate apply to any natural bait affixed to a treble hook and fished using the snag and drop technique. A hook is considered to be an in-line circle hook only if it is manufactured so the barb of the hook is in-line with the shank and bend of the hook and is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a circular or oval shape.

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For more information regarding the management of striped bass in Massachusetts, please visit our website (www.mass.gov/marinefisheries) or call DMF at 617-626-1520.