Quote:
Originally Posted by BasicPatrick
Intro statement...I gave up my comm license for personal reasons years ago
Let's not forget the fact that many RI residents hold a RI License and a MA Comm License. Using Throwing Timbers term, these anglers can land/sell 6 fish in RI and 30 fish in MA essentially picking their own pockets. On the other hand, a MA resident can not go to RI and get a RI comm license (unless that has changed in the last couple years). Although I agree that crossing state waters to get either limit should not be allowed, I am far more concerned with all of the S-B fishing going on in the EEZ by anglers from and in the waters off both states.
Oh well...I just wanted to throw in that comment...I have to get ready for the MA Recreational Registry Steering Committee Meeting this affternoon. Oh goody.
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I was going to make that point about Mass comms not being able to get a RI license. I believe in reciprocity--up to a point. When I can't get licensed to do something in your state, you shouldn't be able to do it in mine.
But since I don't hold a Mass comm license (sorry, Goose
), it's not my fight. If I had one, you bet your ass I'd be screaming to DMF to not issue licenses to out-of-staters. RI doesn't offer reciprocity, and NH, Maine and CT are gamefish states. I wonder how many people who pushed gamefish for their own states hold a Mass commercial license?
As far as the EEZ goes--I personally don't care. 1.1 million pounds is 1.1 million pounds no matter where the fish come from. It gets filled every year in less than 6 weeks. If taking fish from the EEZ fills the quota sooner, so be it. If guys are raiding RI waters and take the fish to Mass to sell, so be it. The inshore Mass fishery probably benefits from it. But, since it's the law, I don't condone it.