Menhaden Bill introduced

[RIROCKHOUND]

New thread!

[bart]

we're getting off track here. more bunker please

[ThrowingTimber]

Yup we need more bunker

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by Clammer

I DON<T BELIEVE THIS WHOLE F #$%^&*()_&^ THREAD ////


ya gotta be a complete moron not to realize that this will benefit everyone >>>>>>>>>>>>Most of you guys that are bitching are clueless to what a positive impact the pogies would have on the whole fishing community not just the bay // not just Rhode Island .................>>>>>>>>>>>> some of you really need to sit back & shut the f $^&*up because you don,t know #^&#^&#^&#^&-%$%$%$%$ what your talking about .......... assuming / this & assuming that ///it just confirmed what I had thought for quite a while >>>>>> Alot of the know-it -all fisherman >>>>>> ARE F #$%^&*()(*& CLUELESS

ANY relief given to schools of menhaden is GREAT. How could that be any more obvious?

Like da Clam-man, I can't believe some of the posts...and to think, 20 years ago I would think nothing of driving my pedal-bike down to the river with a rod duct-taped to it....a couple of snaggers in my pocket and a big ASSS smile on my face because I knew I'd find a school somewhere. Somtimes I'd have to wait for them to get close enough....other times I'd watch and watch...and go home eager to get back the next day because they never came close enough.......yeah, I'd hate to go back to those days "CLUELESS"...

[striprman]

When the bunker schools show up in the Weweantic/Wareham rivers again (bringing the bass, blues and squeateague with them), I'll be able to take my grandson fishing like the "old days".

Buzzards Bay isn't that far from RI

[jimmy z]

I think the long term effect is what will be the clincher in getting this passed. I think it is good for all areas. The bunker schools are not like they used to be 30 years ago. But than what is. I hope this goes through.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

ANY relief given to schools of menhaden is GREAT. How could that be any more obvious?

Like da Clam-man, I can't believe some of the posts...and to think, 20 years ago I would think nothing of driving my pedal-bike down to the river with a rod duct-taped to it....a couple of snaggers in my pocket and a big ASSS smile on my face because I knew I'd find a school somewhere. Somtimes I'd have to wait for them to get close enough....other times I'd watch and watch...and go home eager to get back the next day because they never came close enough.......yeah, I'd hate to go back to those days "CLUELESS"...

I rest my case- all of you guys who are saying this is great for fishing are proving my point while saying i am wrong. large bass school up under pogies- its an easy slaughter.

[ThomCat]

Actually, if as many guys practice catch and release as is indicated on this board, it seems that talk of a mass slaughter is rather premature will likely be averted. ........Catch'em up, ThomCat

[bloocrab]

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=37928

What slaughter? According to the thread above, most people C & R, and for the rest of us (comm. included), there are laws protecting qty. I'm so tired of seeing skinny bass, fish that should be well into the poundage but are not, 48" fish that struggle to reach 30#s, that is NOT good for the bass. I think the biggest point being missed here is....THE BASS NEED THE BUNKER MORE THAN WE NEED THE BASS, BUNKER, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOUR AFRAID THAT WILL CHANGE. Is it fear of losing big fish to comm. guys due to them schooling under the bunker? Sure the big fish will take a hit at first, but if the bunker continue to prosper...the Striper will catch up or never miss a beat.

MORE BUNKER MEANS MORE BIGGER-HEALTHIER BASS...period.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=37928

What slaughter? According to the thread above, most people C & R, and for the rest of us (comm. included), there are laws protecting qty. I'm so tired of seeing skinny bass, fish that should be well into the poundage but are not, 48" fish that struggle to reach 30#s, that is NOT good for the bass. I think the biggest point being missed here is....THE BASS NEED THE BUNKER MORE THAN WE NEED THE BASS, BUNKER, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOUR AFRAID THAT WILL CHANGE. Is it fear of losing big fish to comm. guys due to them schooling under the bunker? Sure the big fish will take a hit at first, but if the bunker continue to prosper...the Striper will catch up or never miss a beat.

MORE BUNKER MEANS MORE BIGGER-HEALTHIER BASS...period.

I hope so. and as Thomcat has mentioned, hopefully there will be alot or catch and release. I hope the bill passes, and hopefully the majority of RI's fishermen know that this is a gift not to be exploited.

[bloocrab]

Don't kid yourself, people will ALWAYS try to take advantage, but don't they do that already - to the fullest extent possible? So theoretically speaking, what's the difference?...More bunker is better no matter how you look at it. It HAS to be -

I look at it like this, if there's a school of 20 large bass in a given area being worked by a few comm. guys..let's just say 15 get caught leaving 5 undernourished fish to go on about their business scrounging for some more food.

On the flipside, we have MORE bunker and.....let's say there's a school of 100 large and 90 get landed. That leaves 10 large, fat, healthy bass to go and have sex rather than scrounge for food because there's plenty of it. yeah, I know, it's a comical analogy, but give it a little thought, deep thought



.....and yes, I'm sure people will still buy surfhogs

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

ANY relief given to schools of menhaden is GREAT. How could that be any more obvious?

Like da Clam-man, I can't believe some of the posts...and to think, 20 years ago I would think nothing of driving my pedal-bike down to the river with a rod duct-taped to it....a couple of snaggers in my pocket and a big ASSS smile on my face because I knew I'd find a school somewhere. Somtimes I'd have to wait for them to get close enough....other times I'd watch and watch...and go home eager to get back the next day because they never came close enough.......yeah, I'd hate to go back to those days "CLUELESS"...

Could'nt have said it better Clam man I owe you a diet coke, bloo I owe ya a beer!!


Gotta love the I been fishing 3 yrs, and I read everyone of the dog killers books, I know everything guys... *insert laugh*

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Gotta love the I been fishing 3 yrs, and I read everyone of the dog killers books, I know everything guys... *insert laugh*

ive been serioulsly surfcasting since '92. I started fishing the bay off and on with my gramps since i wa 8. In the 80's me and the boys used to snag and drop pogies for bloofish in newport all the time. As for the dog killer reference, ive read a few Frank d's books. theyre pretty good.

Got any more snide remarks??? This is a discussion nothing more and i really dont see the need for you to call me selfish in one post and then say that i have zero experience on the water..

[ThrowingTimber]

You're right. I was just stunned over that intial remark. Sorry, wanna hold hands? I had too much coffee??...

just bustin' you nuts basspro cheer up

[goosefish]

[ThrowingTimber]

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

[animal]

This is a letter I composed and sent(75times)to all the state reps.Anyone who wishes(not just R.I residents)can feel free to edit in their own name,and send it in.Thanx. Dear Sir or Madam,as I'm sure you're aware,bill H.5165 would designate Narragansett bay a Menhaden Management Area.Passage of this bill would outlaw the use of commercial purse seines(nets)within the bay.If you aren't aware,the menhaden is a baitfish which is essential to all of our gamefish.Pure protien,the menhaden keep our gamefish fat and healthy.They have been called "the most important fish in the ocean".They serve another important function as well.Filter-feeders,they clean the water in the bay.An adult menhaden(bunker)cleans four gallons of seawater a minute.They swim along with open mouths taking in seawater,and filter out nutrients.These nutrients are the cause of our yearly algae blooms,and the massive fish and shellfish kills that stem from them.This has earned bunker the nick-name"the liver of the bay".
As you are probably aware,there is only one company(Ark Bait),an out of state company at that(Swansea,Mass.),who purse-seine inside Narragansett bay.They use spotter planes to find the schools of menhaden,then encircle them with their nets.Basically,they decimate the schools of bunker,along with Striped Bass(our most valuable gamefish)who are feeding on them.It is IMPOSSIBLE to net bunker,without netting bass as well.It is already illegal to net bass,so BY LAW,they must be thrown back dead,into the water.This is a terrible waste.It's usually the larger breeding stock bass that are killed needlessly.
Striped bass are beginning to really feel the heat.Without menhaden,most are skinny and weak,making them highly suseptible to MYCOBACTERIOSIS.A disease that many bass are dieing from.
The economic value of our Striped Bass is HUGE.Countless thousands of sportsmen and women come to R.I.(The Ocean State)to pursue Striped bass,along with our residents.We spend HUGE amounts of money in R.I.on everything from bait and tackle,gas,boats,fuel,gear,food,lodging,and a variety of other essentials.Sportsmen and women contribute in a major way,to every aspect of our states economy.
Passage of this bill is VERY important.Thousands and thousands of Sportsmen and women (and voters) will be closely watching the outcome.Thank you very much for taking the time to read this,and thank you in advance for your consideration.If need be,I can provide you with corroborating evidence for the claims I've made.Again thank you.
Robert McManus
Johnston,R.I.

[Miles Offshore]

i thought we were the only state still allowing "purse seining " menhaden. Omega Protein sucks! Hopefully they will not be around too much longer at least on the east coast. There were quite a few confrontations with these clowns down here this fall with them trying to bully around smaller boats. They (Omega protein) have the cheap labor market cornered for the company to work their boats. They were circling large schools and s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up everything, rockfish included. Congrats on y'alls bill!!

[animal]

I received 5 return e-mails so far from the 75 state reps.Everyone who replied is in favor of the bill. Dear Mr. McManus:
I have not been asked to co-sign this bill, but it sounds like an initiative I could support given the information I have. Thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Rep. Patricia A. Serpa
District 27 (West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry)
Dear Robert, In my 15 years in the General Assembly, this is one of the most helpful and informative letters I have ever received. I will certainly support this bill. You make perfect sense. Thank you for writing. Sincerely, Robert Jacquard, Representative-District 17 --- On Thu 02/01, <

Mr. McManus:
Thank you for the e-mial. I encourage you to spread the word. In fact, if you and others would also write letters to the editor, that would help also. By the way, I am a co-sponsor of the bill.
Rep.Peter Kilmarten

Dear Mr. McManus:
Thank you for your email.
Please know that I am the primary sponsor of this bill, and appreciate your comments. Respectfully, I ask you to please contact your Representative and Senator and urge him/her to support this legislation, as the opponents, mostly lobsterman, are already attacking the position of trying to save this species.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Raymond E. Gallison, Jr.
Representative- District 69

Robert,


I can remember during the 1980's when there was a moratorium on netting of menhaden, finding schools of menhaden in the bay, and by treble hooking the bait fish, allowing it to sink to below the school, and then hooking bluefish or stripers. This was some of the most exciting fishing I have ever experienced. I also remember going out early one summer morning, and seeing the 'pogey' boats netting everything they could get, and the demise of these schools. I agree that protecting the menhaden in this way is vital to improving and supporting our sport fishing industry.
The only objection I anticipate is from lobster fisherman in my district who use the menhaden for bait.


Thanks for you note,
Rep John J. Loughlin
These are all the replies I've gotten so far,and it seems that everyone is on board right?Problem is,I sent out 75 e-mails and so far only received 5 replies.That leaves 70 state reps unheard from.Again I urge everyone to do their part in this.Thanx!

[animal]

Bump.Anybody remember this thread?

[Slinger]

Just holding on till Steve says to go.The bill has just been assigned to commitees and will take some time to make it to the hearing stage in both the house and senate. The best time to bombard these pols is just before they come up for a vote to be sent to the floor. We want them thinking about the thousand calls and letters they got in the last two weeks and not trying to remember what was said two months ago. The biggest thing we can do now is try to get this hurried along so it can get to the floor before the pogies are all netted for another season. As soon as Steve says the time is right I`ll be all over the net harrassing people to get out the support.
Slinger

[striperondafly]

Originally Posted by Nebe

surfcasting in South County was horrible this year because of an abundance of adult menhaden in the bay. be careful what you wish for.

that makes alot of sense

[TC23]

Senate Bill No.311
BY Lenihan, Sheehan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- MENHADEN MANAGEMENT AREA
{LC1357/1}
02/07/2007 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
----------------------

Members...

Please send a "thank you" to Senators Lenihan and Sheehan for co-sponsoring the
menhaden bill for us. Tell them you appreciate their efforts on the part of
everyone who cares about Narragansett Bay and our marine environment.

Suggest message...

Subject: Bill S.0311 on Menhaden - Thank you!

Their addresses:

sen-sheehan@rilin.state.ri.us
sen-lenihan@rilin.state.ri.us

[TC23]

The following was printed today in East Bay Newspapers.

Note that John Torgan was misquoted and he has called the newspaper to state that fact.

The paper says from John Torgan (of Save the Bay) "However, while he calls Rep. Gallison's legislation "brave" and "courageous,"
he doesn't believe there is enough scientific evidence out there to come up with an all-encompassing strategy for managing menhaden effectively — yet."

John states that he told the reporter that he believes THERE IS ENOUGH SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OUT THERE.....