:humpty:

Sad indeed and you definitely got it figured out and don't forget the captains know the probability of a customer leaving one of the two bass behind is higher versus the one bass only limit.
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I can honestly say I have never met any charter captains that do that .

But I do know some anglers that do not possess a commercial license that sell bass .
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I should say that not all do this, but some do.
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It's amazing that so many people could be selling so many 30 plus pound striped bass so regularly on the black market that just about everybody knows about it, yet nobody ever seems to get in trouble for it.
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it's not only on the black market, some captains and mates have commercial licenses and sell legally in season.

sure thing
and in 3 years you won't be either


go ahead and support your special regulation all you want
I don't understand why you have a problem with one user group trying to keep things on the level while another wants accommodations made for them if available all the while knowing it is not really a conservation equivalent.

Kind of like the democrats bickering with the republicans, the haves and the have nots.

I'll be catching blues again this coming spring much like I did last spring, then maybe I'll torture some schoolies with a flyrod until there are no more stripers left.

I fished for stripers quite sparingly last season! Figured I would let well enough alone! I have enjoyed spending more time in my kayak in freshwater! Lots of fun, quiet....no bickering.....just nice!

Hey mr Buckman your absolutely right there is a ton of anger being sent the way of the charter boat guys and i will tell you why. For the last five years I have seen my catches and those of my friends go down the the drain. All that time we have screamed to any one that would listen "we have a problem". But you guys insist there is no problem. You tell us that the bass have gone off shore, the are in different places, they no longer swim the places that they have frequented for as long as any one can rember. The for hire guys tell us that there is no problem but every big name in our sport says there is a problem. Zeno, John skinner, pat Abate, Bill Wentzel, D.J. muller, dock Muller, Dave Anderson, Toby Lipinski, Lefty Kreh, etc guess all those guys are wrong there is no bass problem. In addition to telling us there is no problem you post hero pictures of fools holding obscene amounts of large cows that they won't eat. Or worse yet rot in a fares freezer or given to the captain who sells them (many captains have commercial licences don't know if this is legal or not) and then they sell the catch. I live in RI and I go to the bass meetings. I was at URIlast night. And I hear your guys ask for special regulations because because you think loosing he second fish will hurt your bussiness. Who do you think you are wall street? Because you are in bussiness you think you have some god given right to a public resource. No you don't. I dont blame the for hires for all of the bass issues. I don't think 18" fish should be taken in Maryland or Jersey guys can take two bass a day with a third with a trophy tag. And I shure don't like poaching no matter whose doing it. But I can't effect what is going on in Maryland, Jersey or The back door of a newport restaurant. But I can keep going to the meetings and writing letters to try to advocate. I know his is a long rambling post guess its the result of a ton of personal frustration. But it's honestly how I feel. I also must say that I know a bunch of charter captains that I respect who care about the fishery ( these are the captains clients take a few fish a year but mostly encourage clients to release bass and take pictures. Thanks for letting me rant and rave.
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Many Charter captains have never been able to grasp the fact that they are selling an experience... not meat. The failure to realize this simple fact and market their charter business accordingly is their own biggest hindrance, and the root cause of their false assessment that business will suffer if they are forced to provide less "meat".

I wonder how many clients of the for-hire sector have been to any of these meetings or written letters etc. expressing their desire and need to have a second kept bass in order to have any interest in fishing/chartering........

Stating a majority of for hire operators supports 2 fish options is simply incorrect. In MA there are THREE Charterboat Organizations representing 900 licensed for hire vessels. Two of the Three (Cape Cod Charterboat assn & Northeast Charterboat Captains assn.) supported 1 @ 28" for all.

At the MA hearings multiple people testified that they were for hire clients and that they supported 1 @ 28

I can't wait until tax documentation is required to renew both commercial & for hire permits. That day is coming sooner than later.

As a charter Cap I support the 1 fish limit.

Also, I admit, my mate and I have, once or twice a year, taken a fish or two for us to eat when we have been on a charter, which IS legal to do. Other times our clients may give us a few fillets as they didn't need all the fish. But, even with a one fish limit I'm not worried that I won't get a fillet or two, and I'm not worried that it will hurt my business. What I'm worried about is continuing to take 2 times 6 passengers, plus 2 for captain and 2 for mate, and the commercial take - bluefish and sea bass trips in the future.
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It is shocking once you understand just how frequently it is happening. This practice is very regional from my experience and displays the piracy that most true commercial fishermen are noted for. The Mom And Pop type of charter operation seem like less likely perps.
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But nobody drops a dime or confronts these Pirates?

Everyone knows how much you risk if you get caught poaching.
You could loose your permits, your Capt's license, Your drivers license, Your vessel operators permit, maybe even your gear. Along with a whole bunch of other stuff.
Plus The buyer risks a lot also. A restaurant could loose it's right to operate. A fishmonger could loose it's right to operate.
on and on and on Risk vs Reward is not even close

But the proposal, as currently worded, would specifically ban that practice.

You assume honesty.
I think Diogenes would still be searching with his lantern today.
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There really is not much risk when you consider how widespread it is vs. the number of times somebody has been caught.
Bon Apetit
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I was speaking with a local Fish Trap operator about the black market for R&R fish immediatly after RIs meeting. He mentioned that its RAMPANT in the RI fish houses. He has reported it but it gets little action if any at all.

It's about 30 years overdue, and by the way, most other states already have had it for at least that long.

Imagine having to document that at least 50% of your gross income comes from commercial fishing? We'd never have a closed season. Legitimate comms could sell bass all year long, and still maybe not meet the quota.

Mike, I know you don't believe it but I personally know of 2 restaurants in East Prov RI that buy black market fish regularly and have for over 30 years.
I know the guys who sell to then. 15 pounds, 30 pounds, doesn't make any difference. Who your gonna tell?? DEM?? By the time they get there the fish are gone.

In my harbor the commercial guys police each other. And if you don't believe it then try to do a little illegal selling and find out what happens if the commercial guys find you selling black market.

You might as well not even come back to the harbor.
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It happens

Nobody is advertising it?
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LoL.
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?...FGg5iejDFbw%3D

an opportunity for RISSA member to help amend their leadership's current nonsensical "official stance"

Does not being a member disquAlify my opinion as recreationl angler?
For those that Arent members of risaa, who in their right mind would now join given their support of granting 2 fish to charters?
Anglers HAVE been heard from, over and over and Over again...
I see this tactic all the time at work... Ask me my opinion, before they go ahead and do what they are going to do anyways... All so they can pretend that they involved me in the process.
Sorry... My faith has finally been lost... All of it. And im not buying the "hey guys! Lets hear from you" survey.
Do whats best for the fish , and you wont need a survey.
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it is a bit bassackwards...the leadership loves to boast the thousands of anglers that it represents but are clearly trying to work around the wishes of many of them in order to accommodate a few, who ironically, bit the hand that offered a compromise the other night...too funny....perhaps now they do what is right

reminder, as Dennis mentioned public comment is extended until 12:00 PM on February 26th. and they have been receiving A LOT of public comment I'd added an email address here it is


INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS:
Written comments concerning the proposed regulations may be submitted to

Peter Duhamel, Division of Fish and Wildlife Marine Fisheries office, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, RI 02835 peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov

i'm glad for the risaa membership survey, better late than never. i'm sure they received a lot well well deserved flak from members.

You bet it happens.
Tip of the proverbial ice berg.
Small potato for instance and I turned a blind eye to what the locals were up to.
In the back beach glory days there were many restaurants from p town to waltham you could trade a few bass for dinner and drinks for two.
Was common practice.
Neptune's hideaway, (long gone) give the owner a bag of fluke fillets and she'd let you have the room for a few days.
Dunes edge (again long gone) at the time would take a bucket of snorkeled up sea clams and give you a campsite for the night.
Yankee bartering, people will always find a way.
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Well Said Scott !