here's the scoop:
An important public hearing will be held next week on many proposed
issues for 2010. There are several items that will effect recreational
fishing: fluke, scup, tautog, menhaden.

Anyone who wants to see the process in action or voice your own
thoughts, should try to attend. Everyone is welcomed.

PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNING PROPOSED REGULATORY CHANGES

The public hearing will commence at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 23,
2010 in the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography,
Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882.

Public comment will be solicited on the following proposal:

1. Proposal to continue/expand/ modify the summer flounder sector
allocation program in 2010
2. Proposed changes to the Recreational Summer Flounder Management Plan
3. Proposed changes to the Recreational Scup Management Plan
4. Proposed changes to the Commercial Floating Fish Trap Scup
Management Plan
5. Proposed changes to the Commercial Tautog Management Plan
6. Proposed changes to the Recreational Tautog Management Plan
7. Proposed changes to the Recreational Black Sea Bass Management Plan
8. Proposed changes to the Narragansett Bay Menhaden Management Plan
9. Proposed changes to the General Category Commercial Striped Bass
Management Plan
10. Proposed changes to the Floating Fish Trap Commercial Striped
Bass Management Plan
11. Proposed changes to the Recreational Striped Bass Management Plan
12. Proposed changes to the Winter Flounder Management Plan
13. Proposed changes to the Weakfish Management Plan

The official notice is here:
http://www.dem. ri.gov/programs/ bnatres/fishwild /pn022310. htm

#8 - 11 are important. Geesh I am really surprised there are no other responses to this yet. We talk about people catching fish illegally and get 10 pages filled easily with opinions. Then we talk about a meeting where we can go and learn some facts and get involved in the process and no one talks about it

#8 - 11 are important. Geesh I am really surprised there are no other responses to this yet. We talk about people catching fish illegally and get 10 pages filled easily with opinions. Then we talk about a meeting where we can go and learn some facts and get involved in the process and no one talks about it

My thoughts exactly! I started this thread thinking we could get a group of guys together and go to the meeting.

Just in case no one read the agenda there are 2 really important items.

They are going to screw around with the Menhaden law and the Recreational Striper laws in Rhode Island. Now I don't know what will happen but if I were a betting man I would bet that they nitwits raise the commercial quota on menhaden and only God know what they will do the the Rec Striper limits.

I'm pretty surprised too, Paul - unfortunately I have to work on Tuesday nights and won't be able to attend the meeting

I doubt you'll see many of the barroom biologists who took the time to post lengthy opinions on the subject take the time to go to the meeting...:no2:...but I'd like to be proven wrong

I'll talk to DZ later today who more than likely will be going and get the scoop from him after the meeting

This link may work better:

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pn022310.htm

The public notice states:

"The Department has determined that small businesses may be adversely impacted by the proposed regulations. The public hearing is being conducted to solicit comment on the proposals and to allow public input from small businesses or any cities or towns, which may be adversely affected. Small businesses which are either currently licensed or in the future may seek permission to harvest, buy, sell, or produce seafood products as well as the small businesses that provide services related to those engaged in such industries and small businesses which buy, sell, or produce products or provide services related to fishing are requested to comment on the proposed regulations on how such proposed action can be changed to minimize the impact on those small businesses affected."

Hopefully it will be a step toward conservation measures

Thanks for the heads-up...:kewl:

Hopefully it will be a step toward conservation measures

Thanks for the heads-up...:kewl: One can hope.

Wish I could make it to this ne but wifey will be ou of town for a couple days so Liam and I are batcheloring it (Guy food, XBOX, Fart Jokes - what can be more fun for a 9 year old?)

Look forward to hearing a good skinny on what happens at the meeting.

Yeah, Cap, we'll see what we see, I guess

BTW, check yer PM's

I attended the Menhaden Advisory Panel mtg earlier in January. It was well attended by mostly those people against the seiners. RIDEM admitted they dropped the ball on monitoring the biomass in the Bay last year (bad spring weather had limited plane flyovers-DEM flys with spotter plane). This year, RIDEM has the state helicopter at their disposal if cloud/fog ceiling drops real low. The state Menhaden Plan requires that menhaden harvesting ceases when the biomass in Bay drops below 50%. It doesn't begin until it hits 50% again. Also, this year RIDEM has added another requirement that harvesting can not begin until biomass reaches a certain " floor" limit...which has not been determined yet (one of the RIDEM people told me that may be set at 2 or 3 million pounds). So those are good points. The bad points are that other boats may partake in harvesting menhaden in the Bay this year. The reason being that the herring (traditionally the lobster bait of choice) fishery has changed drastically, and lobster bait is harder to come by, hence the reason other boats may get involved. That's why the biomass trigger of the State Menhaden Management Plan is so important.
A call for the safe areas (no seining) to be expanded, i.e, close the upper Providence River, was proposed by several audience members, but was opposed by the advsory panel. I believe the panel would go for that, but its a hard sell for the one seiner that has worked the Bay for over 30 years...he has given up a lot of other areas in the past (Greenwich Bay, certain areas of West Passage to a closed portion of the summer, other parts of the Providence River, etc)...and the upper Providence River is like "shooting fish in a barrel" for the seiners.

The big problem in the menhaden fishery last year was two fold, not a lot pogies entered the Bay (probaly because of low salininty due to wet spring) and another seiner fished last year. The other seiner was from Gloucester, and created a lot of controversy because of his arragant and belligerent behavior towards fisherman up in the River....but thats a whole other issue for another discussion.
The public hearing would be a great place for your feelings to be known to the Marine Fisheries Council on this hot issue.....

I was also @ that meeting jmac was @ & also one on striped bass

I believe ;Jmac] may have a better mind>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that a couple of the proposals that are going to be brought up .........are . possible boat length or/and holding cap.
More flying by our DEM with the helo / to also count .

this is the the major topic .was net size & its ging to be submitted that we currently has a net size in place .but what was suggested is that / prior to fishing the nets will have to be measured & certified in size ..on land / with a fee & some sort of tag will be attached to it / also A special colored . ex. neon yellow / float will be attached every 30 or 50 , etc feet on the net so . it could be measured how much of net is in the water & its size .. by a quick view my air .. or by boat ;;

I know there there are a couple of other proposal s that are going to be brought up /// But I believe this is the one that the council is going to recommend .
If I,m incorrect .. .. think whose typing this ?>??>:confused:

flounder is going to be recommended 19" rec /6 fish

bass the same as is
tautog the same .
Scup I think /up 1/2 "

the season ..opening & closing W-T=F knows ;

commercial recommended to open 06/06/10 :fishin:

Those 2 posts are way to readable to be clammer speak... I didn't even need a decoder ring.

JF;

I,m sorry . my mind slipped into [real people] mode . I,ll really try & not let it happen again :smash:

i wonder what the proposed changes to the rec striped bass regs is all about?

EB

I believe there are no changes >>>>:confused:

EB

I believe there are no changes >>>>:confused:

11. Proposed changes to the Recreational Striped Bass Management Plan




hmmm.

You can get a summary or the detailed proposal from the DEM's website. Here is a summary of the important species.

Item 11 – Proposed changes to the Recreational Striped Bass Management Plan:
(See PART XII)
Option 1 – Status Quo

Item 7 – Proposed changes to the Recreational Black Sea Bass Management
Plan: (pages 56-57)
Option 1 – Most restrictive measures – 12.5 inches/25 fish bag limit/June 1- June 30
and Sept.1 – Sept. 30, or less restrictive measures if possible


Item 6 – Proposed changes to the Recreational Tautog Management Plan:
(page 35)
Option 1 – Status Quo


Item 3 - Proposed changes to the Recreational Scup Management Plan:
(pages 52-53)
Option 1 – Most restrictive measures - 11 inches/10 fish bag limit/June 12-Sept.26, or less
restrictive measures if possible

Item 2 - Proposed changes to the Recreational Summer Flounder Management
Plan: (pages 19- 21)
Option 1 – Status Quo
Option 2 – 19 inches / 6 fish bag limit / May 1 through December 31
Option 3 – 19.5 inches / 6 fish bag limit / May 1 through December 31
Option 4 – 20 inches / 6 fish bag limit / May 1 through December 31
Option 5 – 20.5 inches / 6 fish bag limit / May 1 through December 31
Option 6 – 19 inches / 6 fish bag limit / May 1 through July 31, and August 15 through
December 31 - (recommended by the Division)

Well I will be there.

Chuck, if you talk to DZ tell him to look for me and I'll keep an eye open for him.

I have to be in CT :( I used to go to all of the RIMFAC meetings and hearings. But they are always on weekday evenings.

Well I will be there.

Chuck, if you talk to DZ tell him to look for me and I'll keep an eye open for him.

Will do, Paul

Going to try and make it down for this one. Its 1 thing to post online about how wrong someone else is or their policies etc flattering yourself with your whitty writing at the keyboard. Its another to stand up and be counted.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Vic:
look for me. if we all can sit together maybe we can get thgeir attention.

working til 5 but I'm going to try and make it down.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

By the time they get done with "previous business" and all the other BS it will be 6:45

I believe the best way to get their attention is to submit your comments in writing prior to meeting start. capt. Mike would know for sure.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

that has already been done to the marine fisheries counsel .

they agreeded to support one / but anything that was submitted has to be presented anyway .

I don,t know what & how much infulence it will have tomorrow ;

EB .......... unless there is a slam/bam under the table ...............

if you wanna belive what you hear /// it was stated that the YOTY class is ok ??? they have changed the way they come up with it .also stated was that the stripers is not in any stock troubles to both rec & commercial were recommended >.status quo ;;;

My thoughts exactly! I started this thread thinking we could get a group of guys together and go to the meeting.

Just in case no one read the agenda there are 2 really important items.

They are going to screw around with the Menhaden law and the Recreational Striper laws in Rhode Island. Now I don't know what will happen but if I were a betting man I would bet that they nitwits raise the commercial quota on menhaden and only God know what they will do the the Rec Striper limits.

Who'd a thunk it was about fishing.

I believe the best way to get their attention is to submit your comments in writing prior to meeting start. capt. Mike would know for sure.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Its always better to submit cogent written comments, particularly a week or so before the meeting, that way they get into the RIMFAC members' meeting binder and they can think about them before the meeting starts.

If you look at my post above the Status Quo is the recommended option for the recreational striped bass regs. They are proposing a different starting date for the commercial season, but IIRC that is the only change for commercial striped bass.

IMHO these things are "done deals" long before the hearing starts, unless you can find either a problem with the wording of the proposed regs (which I have) or find that it is somehow illegal (which I have never found).

Vic, Clammer and I attended the meeting. Really nothing of any consequense to report other than 3 nitwits who run gill nets tried to put a provision in the commerciasl laws to allow the gill netters to keep 5 bass a day. They were promptly informed that the gill net laws are enacted by the legislature and not the fisheries guys. Case closed. Also looks like a longer season for Fluke and Scup. I think Vic was taking notes.`
Menhaden was a long debate but it looks like the bait netters can take up to 120,000 pounds a day until 1 million to 1.5 million pounds are caught. 50% of the total Bay biomass.

paulie .WTF did you go ????

I left after the rec bass session. Roads were real bad once I got to Smithfield. All snow and coming down hard. Already about 3 to 4" up here in Hill Country

Thanks for the report Paul, and to Vic and Clammer for going. How was the overall REC turnout?

Thanks!

John

john, there were maybe 10 recs all told. most of the guys were comm with Arc bait and the gill netters heavily represented.

The Rec Stripers will stay at 2 fish 28" with vitually no discussion.

Menhaden was a long debate but it looks like the bait netters can take up to 120,000 pounds a day until 1 million to 1.5 million pounds are caught. 50% of the total Bay biomass.

they could have saved their energy, I'd bet 20 pogies dont show up in the bay this year. The population has declined the last 3 years or so and the lack of peanuts has been drastic. I'm not blaming the commerical/bait nets or anyone, it may just be cyclical, but I think we're nearing the bottom of the cycle and pogies will once again become of part of bay striper lore - "man, you should have seen the bunker back in 2003-2009. Those were the days"

Just my 2 cents. Kudos to you guys for attending the meeting.

I think we're nearing the bottom of the cycle and pogies will once again become of part of bay striper lore - "man, you should have seen the bunker back in 2003-2009. Those were the days"

Just my 2 cents. Kudos to you guys for attending the meeting.

I hope your right. :devil2: