"Comm's think they have a right to sell fish and no one should take that from them ever(regardless of the fishery status) They view recs as guys in their way and taking potential $ from their pockets."
SM...I've seen your posts on this subject before...somehow I don't think YOU are the one to be stating how commercial bass guys think. As someone who has fished bass commercially for about 40 years I resent the characterization as someone whose greed clouds the view of the status of the fishery.
Having worked in local community Planning Dept. for 30+ years I have experienced numerous occasions where I have been called a liar, a developers puppet, on the take, etc. With the exception of telling an occasional "fishermans white lie", I am none of these things; yet these people "know" they're right and have no problem sharing their opinions with anyone who will listen. I find a lot of similiarities in the debate on the validity of fisheries data and impartiality of regulators. Somehow that guy banging nails for a living "knows" he's right and that fisheries biologist with years of education in the field is a bozo and a liar who's willing to throw his job down the shi#&er for someone elses benefit.
Now consider how this legislation is being proposed. A group with an inflexible position contrary to the body of current scientific data has one of their own (a self described "fly fisherman" who caught fish till his arms fell off in the 80's but can't catch one now...his words) introduce legislation to a bunch of pols who know "NOTHING" about the fishery. The fact that "their" bill flies in the face of the position agencies charged with making the "informed" decisions has taken means nothing . He's right...they're bozos...SF told him so! If he's a state rep that really gives a damn and thinks they're cooking the data he should be investigating that...not asking Brad B what he should do next.
Has anyone looked at the online news articles that were published on this? Check out some of the comments....people with virtually NO CLUE on the status of the fishery, the methods of harvest, quotas, etc. all chiming in with their $.02 about the big bad ocean raping commercial fisherman. Now think back a few years to the days of Question#1...you remember..the no trapping, no bear hunting, let's put PETA in charge of the Div. of F&W citizen initiative petition ; or maybe just back a couple of years to the "no greyhound racing" vote. Those have worked out real well haven't they.
Just ask one of those folks down in Raynham how many weeks till their unemployment runs out. The common thread? All these laws were/are being pushed by inflexible groups with no regard for the opinions of others, the welfare of others impacted and no respect for the professionals who make their decisions based on data and professional expertise.
PS Wonder what Stellwagen will look like come July if the commercial bass season is shut down?
