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We here in the Northeast are still light years behind our fellow citizens from the deep south who realized long ago they had to protect there favorite fish by taking the price off their head (redfish/snook). I always thought we were more progressive but not when it comes to fishery management - maybe its our liberal nature. This is very puzzeling to me but not surprising since the recreational fishery here has always included many R&R commercials masquerading under the recreational umbrella - we see it with charter boats and by allowing Comms into rec tournaments, etc. To me you are one... or the other. This has always been a gray line but should be solid black IMO. To be fare I have many friends who comm fish and they are great people - i just don't agree in what they do and feel they are exploiting the resource.
Some day northeast recreational fishermen will seek the political will to have a fish to call their own like our southern brethren have. If that happens and the striped bass population still tanks then it will be our own fault. Until then we'll be resigned to banging our heads against fishery management.
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