Upcomming Regulations - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

JohnR · 05-13-2005, 12:50 PM

As some of you know, I participate on an advisory panel for RI DEM Enforcement. The upcoming meeting has two primary topics open for discussion and I want to get your opinions please.

First item: Dockside sales. RI has historically not pressed hard on dockside sales. "Looking the other way" is not the words of choice but it has been a low burner item. The question is, what do you think about dockside sales from licensed commercial people? Keeping mind that this has been a long time practice in RI.

Item two: Up for discussion is how to regard herring in Pens both on land and on shore and how should the account towards possesion. One school of thought has possesion, for ease of enforcement, at whatever the daily legal take limit is - say currently 12 fish. Other schools of thought have that if you stock up for a few days (or weeks) and have a whole bunch but you are working within your daily legal take.

So please, HONEST OPEN discussion - no flame war, just state your points please

THanks,

John

(obligatory disclaimer - I have the letter at home and I will clarify the wording if necessary tonight)

fishweewee · 05-13-2005, 12:57 PM

bring back the death penalty in ri. kill all poachers.

ThrowingTimber · 05-13-2005, 01:18 PM

Dockside sales

Increase enforcement. Shut the runs down. I'd like to see more plain clothes DEM agents.

reelecstasy · 05-13-2005, 01:23 PM

I am not educated enough in either topic, but of course I have my uninformed opinion

I do not agree with the whole possesion limit idea, I can see a daily take limit but a possesion limit???
Like John said, what about pens and such.. I know a few people that have the time to run out and grab their daily take but can't go fish them right then so they throw them in a pen and fish when they can.. I dunno, I just don't get it..... I am just a surfcaster

fishsmith · 05-13-2005, 01:32 PM

Dockside sales - Keep it, uncle sam gets plenty. And I'm sure it's a thrill for folks to get fresh fish from the boat that caught them.

Herring Pens - They're like a bait bank account, if you get your daily limit and can keep them alive, more power to ya. Until the herring commercial boats are pulled from the sea, we common folk should still be allowed our share.

fishaholic18 · 05-13-2005, 01:42 PM

Please don't take my Herring!!

They're my pets.

Seriously, I've noticed that the DEM is doing a great job at watching the runs this year, I've been checked 3 times already. If they keep that up, I think it will help the Herring population greatly. The poachers are the problem....

I don't have a problem with dockside sales. The commercial guys are working hard to try to make a living and as long as they are following the rules, I'm good.

Joe · 05-13-2005, 01:44 PM

A lot of touristos love to go down and get a lobster fresh from the boat - its also a good way to get eels....
This reminds of the time they decided to crack down on the waitresses for not claiming tips - they love to crack down on poor people.

goosefish · 05-13-2005, 01:06 PM

I'm fine with the lobsterboats selling lobsters at the dock. Finfish would be harder to manage. The problem is "If he can do that why can't I do this." An example would be a mate, say, who works on a charter boat and has a RI license. And this mate starts selling seabass and blackfish and stripers to people who are walking the docks.
Crabs, lobsters, squid, mackerel, herring, or anything that isn't managed under a quota I don't have a problem with. But the regulated quota species I think would be very hard to figure out at a dockside sale.