Definitely the emotions because there's no logic to be seen.
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Its not ASMFC's "job" to dictate to the states what they must or cannot do.

I couldn't tell... Seemed like they prescribe what they are supposed to do

Except with zero accountability
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Important meeting going on right now in Mass where they are making a decision to recommend 1 or 2 fish bag. If Mass go's 1 RI will be the only NE state to recommend 2 fish. It will be our last chance to convince Janet Coit to not take the RIMFC recommendation because there would be no perceived advantage in other NE states over RI. Stay tuned.

Just for the record if Ma goes 1 then I agree RI has to go 1 too . The charter industry in my area will be toast anyways . Guess we can all put our permits in use and fish commercial to make up for lost revenue .
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From MSBA's Facebook page


Patrick Paquette

14 mins
.
MSBA Govt Affairs Update: The MA Marine Fisheries Commission just voted UNANIMOUSLY to accept the Directors recommendation to set 2015 striped bass regulations: ONE FISH @ 28 inch minimum size FOR ALL RECREATIONAL ANGLERS. This includes passengers on a for hire vessel. Thank You to all who supported the effort to bring reasonable regulations to striped bass fishing in MA.

What makes you so certain you are going to loose business ? What's the difference between 1 or 2 fish per person??? People pay for the sizzle not the steak ;)
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We do a great job with the sizzle . Even have a grill on board and cook an amazing lunch. Let's hope we can do it the same with out the steak . Believe me I hope you guys are right .
I won't let the clients who told us they were going to wait to see on the decision before they booked a trip get me down
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Could always move ops to RI I hear the block is off the hook
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When you do a charter , do you do target multi species ? That's the sizzle IMHO. A little of everything. Ok, so a person can't take 4 bass filets home, but he can take 2 bass filets , some fluke filets a few whole sea bass and a couple blackfish. That's an experience!
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LOL

We do but as you know ground fish is done for us . Fluke are not easy to come by in our waters ( we are north of the cape ) pollack is an option but that's another 20 mile run most times . Shark is usually our combo , sometimes tuna .
Most times we at least offer a fantastic whale watching.
The boats south do have many more options. That's one of the reasons our association was pushing for two fish at 33
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This is our opening to get RI 2 fish recommendation overturned. Get ready for one last campaign.

Good

hope it's enough to help what is left of the stripers

puts Ms. Coit in a bit of a pickle, we were told that the reason they(RI) needed the #2 option going down to Alexandria was because they couldn't have boats(within the mode) fishing side by side under different regulations...well......

RI charters original argument was that if they could only keep 1 while neighboring states were allowed to keep 2, that would be unfair and cause people to book charters in other states.

Well, now the scenario has reversed itself...

We will now see how concerned RI is with "fairness", since if their original argument is valid, that means anglers from neighboring states will flock to RI to book charters for their 2 fish, thus making the unfair advantage (originally feared by RI) a reality for neighboring states.

Hmmmm.... one might almost think this ended up exactly as intended

DZ sorry but I give up ......... the fix is/was in ............GR told Coit she wanted to take care of the charter boats & captains/mates ...........word filtered down to the DEM committee ...........&& you get a 5 - 3 vote . which is 100% again the majority of people that were asked & also people that spoke at the hearings & sent e-mails .

Its all about the money & again RI will look like A/H,s

WTF do we have the Striper as out state fish . there won,t be any ><><><

NY, which is the main competitor to RI charter boats is going with a 2 fish limit (for everyone).

Isn't the second fish supposed to be 43 inch and up ?
Or am I confusing the hodgepodge of various rules and regs ?
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Email sent to Governor GR.

still work to do...yesterday was a good day....need to appeal to the Gov, Director Coit and I think, to the good folks who were involved in the process along the way....we were told that RI had to offer the second option (Option#2) in Alexandria because they needed to protect RI for hires against a competitive disadvantage should neighboring states opt for a mode split for charters and also to keep regulations consistent between boats state to state (within the mode) assuming that Mass and perhaps CT was going to opt for mode splits. That premise is now gone, the ONLY way that RI can prevent what they claim they were trying to avoid by including a second option (Option #2) (AND IT IS "#2"..MORE IRONY :bs:) is to fall in line with Mass with Option#1 and have Ct. follow, NY boats will only be allowed 1 bass per client if they choose to fish our waters. OPTION #2 is now invalid based on the premise that it was originally offered. To do otherwise, to establish mode splits now would be irresponsible and downright disingenuous. I am contacting everyone going back to the meeting before the ASMFC meeting and imploring them to reach out to the Governor and Director on this, I'd encourage all concerned to do so as well, they were either misled, mistaken or willing participants of a hoax which has led to this. This cannot be what they intended based on what we were told and if it somehow was, that would be pretty insidious. I believe, based on what I saw, that some of them were very reluctant including that second option. Perhaps now they will do the right thing.

Congrats to Mass for thier choice, i can wait to see all.the guys.with2 fish.down the canal, hope they all.get busted.
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For whatever it's worth, I sent an email to Director Coit last night quoting the Mass regs.

What is her email again?
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Thanks !
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Found this in my email when I was searching for another document.

This was in the projo, and was passed to me via RISAA folks back in 2011....

'The coming striped-bass collapse' by Tim Coleman....

Tim is up in heaven looking down and saying "I told you so".

So what happens next in Rhode Island?

Who makes the FINAL decision, and when will that happen?

Today I contacted assistant DEM Director Robert Ballou to ask him about the process of lobbying Director Coit to support 1 @ 28. He assured me that Director Coit has not yet reached a final decision and that she is fully aware that yesterday Mass recommended 1 @ 28 for all modes.

He also mentioned that: In rendering her final decision, she is bound by the RI Administrative Procedures Act. In accordance with the Act, and per the recommendation of DEM Legal Counsel, she must insulate herself, at this stage, from any further input from, or communications with, anyone outside of the agency viv-a-vis the pending regulatory decision. The reasons for that are fairness for all stakeholders, and maintaining the integrity of the rule-making process. The regulated community and the public as a whole need to be assured that public comments on proposed regulatory changes may only be offered as a matter of public record during the public comment period. Once that comment period closes, which it did last week, the Director can’t entertain further input, as that would open the door to undue influence outside the scope of the public process.

So we may be further ahead contacting Governor Raimondo through her Director of Constituent Services - brad.inman@governor.ri.gov
She (Raimondo) may be the only one to have influence on the outcome at this point.

I can still hear his voice discussing this topic with me.
Miss him :(

Great job, Dennis. Peter is also sending out e-mails. I wrote yet another letter to Bran Inman.