BasicPatrick,
You don't know me either. I am actually a very quiet fellow in person. I honestly respect your charity efforts regarding fishing related activities. But remember you can't have a charity fishing event if there is no fish to fish for. No matter how your good intensions are.
With regard to sb management, you site several basic issues.
1) That recs get the shaft (because of lack of attendance at these meetings)
2) Commercial’s are dominating the board
3) That there is a goal for coast wide general guidelines for states to adhere to being formed, (that really aims (IMO) to protect the commercial interests.
How are the rec's to get a fair shake? IMO the rec's are quiet now because the striped bass problem has been "resolved". (ie there are stripers out there now) When there are no fish to catch...then they will attend. This is sad but a fact of life. The commercial interest is exploiting this fact.
I know you like the sb, many people do. My question to you is worth the money to loose the fish? Most rec's are content to do whatever it takes including a complete no-take limit to see that the fish thrives forever. When I attended the meetings in the past I did not sense that mood among the commercial fishermen. Commercial fishing is one of those industries that has always had to "learn from its mistakes"...time and time and time again. The thing is most guys know what the mistakes are while they contnue to make them year after year after year.
Commercial = $. It is about money. That is what commercial means...for money. Don't deny that. Again, IS IT WORTH IT?
I also don't hate commercial fisherman. Commercial fishing is hard work and is a hit or miss job with a lot of risks, both financial and physical. I was a commercial shell fisherman (little necks, & scallops) (and did some eel combing in the fall) for 10 years, (LI NY) and while I know it is not the same as rod and reeling or dragging I bet a very large majority of the 3000 lics sold for SB are guys "sport" doing it cause it is cheap to do. Further I think this is a ploy by the commercial fishing bodies at-be to lure in sport guys into commercial activities to help thier cause....why else would the fees be so inexpensive? My thoughts on commercial fishing boil down to 3 or 4 reasonable (in my view) thoughts:
1) The state should not encourage the "weekend commercial fisherman", it should be left to real fishing professionals. This does more harm then good. I have seen the results of part time netting...not good, you ended up with drifting gill nets in the bays. Rod and Reall for bass..does more harm then good as well.
2) Commercial fishing should be an offshore activity, not an inshore activity. Let the inshore fish be a public rec activity. It is too easy to wipe out an inshore fishery with the technology available today.
3) While I know that real serious commercial fisherman pay lic's and hefty fees...the general public does not understand what they are doing to "help improve" the fishery for tomorrow. They are seen as "takers". They did not "grow" their crop, they took what belongs to all mankind and sold it for personal gain. In effect they sole from us. But they think they "own it" because they pay a lic fee to the state. They need to give something back and the public needs to hear about this.
4) Foreign fishing must be 200 miles off shore. As a boy off Montauk, I saw Russian fishing factory ships in 60 feet of water right off the point that had nets that went from the surface and scraped the bottom. The best thing this country ever did (with regard to fishing) IMO was the 200 mile limit, and setting bluefin tuna and striped bass limits and quotas. Can you imagine where the bluefin tuna would be if it was left a free-for-all? The commercial fishing activities (rod and reel as well as other methods) would take every last one. No one can deny this.
5) Inforcement of current fishing laws. Perhpaps this should be number 1. When was the last time you were checked? Where you ever checked?
Patrick, I don't have anything against you or other commercials personally, please believe me, and perhaps some late night off the beaten path under the bluffs our paths will cross and we can swap a story or two. I am not a hostile guy, (despite my ratings here) and I prefer to avoid most people and don't care to fish in contests or in crowds. I think the reason I am so vocal here is that it just disgusts me to see money associated with this particular fish. This is a special fish. It is not a flounder or scup, it has a special meaning to many fisherman. I don't think commercial fishing needs this fish but mankind does.
I enjoy the solitude of the sport and the surroundings it puts me in while doing it. I also like to see the excitement on a child’s face when they reel in a bigone and the feeling of satisfaction and conservation when he is released unharmed. And the hope that that kid will do the same with his kids. Yeah, I take some fish home for the freezer. Each time we enjoy it we recount the memories of past fishing trips. This reminds us of how lucky and grateful we all are to be able to have such a great resource.
I think it is time to do what is right for the fishery and not "manage" the fishery for maximum yield and profits. I have been thinking about my statements about going commercial next year...I don't know if I have the heart to toss a 40 on the scales for $...I think would actually pay to see it put back alive. We will see what happens...
Anyway, I am finished ranting on this thread. You all know where I stand.
Good luck to you my friend.
Time to go fishing......
