Firstly, Patrick,
THANK YOU for ALL that you do!
You, Sir, are a true sportsman and it is a blessing
to have you helping to "fight, OUR Fight"
Secondly, having fished in FL for many years,,,,,,,,,
i am 100% FOR State and Federal Liscensing of the fishery
PROVIDED THAT the monies goes into a dedicated account.
HELL, i am also FOR a Striped Bass Stamp for fisheries research/mgmt cash flow!!!
perhaps this will be the impetus for S-B gamefish status and "1 @ 36inches" (or, rather, the introduction of pertinent and purposeful stock mngmt and protection for ALL its forages). it all begins with the ducketts and good science takes buckets of ducketts!!
when was the last time youse guys fished the Funshine State?
we are talking lighted peers, maintained parking lots, mucho State and Fed access, reserves dedicated to fishing, cafes, restrooms, policeable facilities, boat ramps, family friendly parks and recreations areas,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,not to mention the work it will bring to each state's economies if these monies are duly allocated.
i mean if the *whackos* in FL can pull this off ~~surely~~ the bright intellects and good old Yankee ingenuities of the NEast could go them much, MUCH Better???
the revenue stream is going to happen whether we LIKE it or NOT,,,,,,,,,,,,,is it any mystery WHY the property owners from CT to ME have so much clout?? it's because they are contributing ~mightily in some areas~ to the state and local funds sources!!
this could be a way for OUR voices to be heard (on a yearly basis) and should be worth some sort of muscle; yet without a liscense the Gov't has no way of quantifying OUR numbers and providing service/giving us a dawg in the fight without OUR contributions. this could be a very effective way for the many to TAKE BACK some OCEAN and its priveleges from the wealthy few ~~but ONLY iff it's IT IS done RIGHT!!
i say we give them a shot! let's support/embrace/join clubs as Patrick suggests ~~if you so choose~~ so that "The powers that be" KNOW that WE mean business about contributing............just as long as we aren't getting HUMPED by the General Revenues Funds.
and if they efff it up after a year or two,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
it wouldn't be the first Revolution that was started round these waters!! do YOU wanna be the guy that tells Flap, Nebe, Big Fish, AJ, #^^^^^^&, animal, JohnR, Stewie, Tynan, fishdoc, et al that they have to put away their fishing toys if they don't purchase a BOGUS Saltwater Fishing Liscense???
