I've been watching several of the post on this and some of the other sites and had to chuckle. In the early 80's it was about the same . All the sportfisherman and the clubs were in favor of cut backs and reduced limits but at the same time the commercials kept pushing for more an more.Nothing was done to change things till they bottomed out. Bob Pond would try at every meeting to talk sence into an industry run by greed. Well here we are again. I reread some of the notes and minutes that Bob and several of us kept from these meetings and not surprisingly the intent is still pretty much the same.as long as there's a buck to be made nothing will be done as many within our own ranks will continue to play both sides of the issue to keep their profits coming and try to make the sportfisherman the bad guys. We are our own worst enemy in that we trust ourselves way too much.
I've talked with several politicians to see what it would take to get a coastwide initiative passed to scroll back the limits on the stripers before we get to the 80's again. The reply is the same as back then. Unless the clubs all get together with the commercials no politician in good faith will back a bill to do this.
So the ball is in our court but we can't keep playing it here. we need to meet -all the club reps- get something together and then meet with the comercials and work out an agreement to take to the politicians. If we don't well we will relive the old days again,moratoriums and all. this time the fish might not get the chance to come back. Ron
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