[QUOTE=LeCounts1099 it's the stand-out Eel guy who takes the one or two big fish there more often than not. And Bill is obviously that guy in R.I... and you obviously resent/ are jealous of that. No other real agenda here, obviously...
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I suspect you are wrong. What I think is going on here and in other threads is a clash between two different philosophies of fishing. One group looks at it as a result oriented competition, hence the talk of "pros" and "confirmed catch" and "competing" and the emphasis on exhibiting their success. The other group looks at it as a personal challenge, rather than a competition with others, hence the emphasis on using less productive techniques and releasing their catch (which has finished serving its purpose as far as they are concerned). The first group is insulted and incredulous when they are criticized for keeping fish within the law, the second group insulted and disgusted when they are assumed to be inferior fisherman by those using more productive means. At the end of the day, both are using the resource for their own ends, and some in both groups feel superior to the other group....which is petty, but human nature.
A moratorium on eels won't change that, sad to say.