mark, I couldn't agree with you more !! the pressure is overwhelming at times. the guides are plentiful for sure, and collectively there is o arguing they "ice down" a bunch of fish throughout the year. I will add to your post by saying there are some pretty deadly "civilian striper chasers" out there each weekend, some of them are conservation minded, and some (I understand why, they are fun to catch) will catch and release and catch and release until they run out of bait. I know we have beat the "striper mortality horse" to death on here before. but if me and my partner catch 4 legal stripers and "ice em" , we have only killed 4. the catcher and releaser guy has fought , stressed and ran the risk of delayed mortality on "umpteen" stripers during that same time period. just another obstacle that in my opinion will hamper the goal of a trophy fishery. and some will argue that a 30 incher is a trophy, and I couldn't be happier for that person. But a lot of you guys, mark duayne, bob etc etc remember when you didn't even keep a ruler on the boat, why would you need that thing. im talking about measuring in pounds, not inches.until then I will do like everybody else, keep getting up at 3am, catching bait, rigging 12 rods, fighting the wind, the crowds, the gar and whatever else gets in the way just to get that chance to yell "FISH ON"!!!!