You just want to stir crap up because there is no poli talk...
AND you said you fish from rocks and jetties? Last week youy were asking about sandy beaches in RI
... Sand Sissy
Boat fish count - apparently not for everyone, but they do count. Sometimes they don't count as strongly as surf fish. Let's say that someone gets a just shy of 50pounder on say 8 pound test or so frantically hopping from rockpile to rockpile and then say the that person gets bested by someone with a somewhat larger fish on the same 8 pound test line but gets to follow it around a little in a boat or perhaps doesn't need to suffer as many hazzards in landing such fish. Yes - they are both incredible accomplishments but I would find it hard to disagree that the shore bass was the more challenging and that fish was far more likely to get away.
Part of fishing is mastering the art and science of it. Becoming accomplished in many facets of fishing and being able to enjoy the work, the success, and the pure pleasure of having a line wet. I want to be successfull in the surf, on the boat and eventually on the fly - someday. But right now, surf fishing - and especially catching bigger fish from terra-firma - is more rewarding to me because of all it entails to even tangle with a nice fish. If / when I get a fifty, I'll be satisfied either way I get it but I know in my heart that it will be just that much more satisfying if it were from the surf - JMO