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Mike -Since we're on the same side here I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest.....but I have worked in a federally funded program for 32 years; proposed changes in federal regulations are published in the fed. register. I have,in my official capacity, submitted written comment on proposed changes published in the FR over a dozen times. My point here was not to legitimize the current process as I'm very skeptical of how much "public" input is going to be considered, but to point out that in every decision making process there is a period of comment and eventually that comment period ends. The tone of Mr. Montgomery's article was very inflamatory as evidenced by the widespread comments it elicited on virtually every fishing web site. Most guys think that no comments were accepted in this process which is not true. I don't believe for one second that the anger of fisherman has not been recognized; whether our concerns are addressed in any final recommendations is in doubt given the policy direction that has been followed by NOAA and others. The short timeframe allowed for what is an unprecedented proposal to change the rules of ocean use seems to indicate to me that there is an agenda being followed.....comments or not. That is troubling. I'm glad to see groups like the Congressional Sportsmans Caucus are commenting on this and everyone should certainly continue to contact their reps, etc. to make their opinions known. I posted on another site my thanks to you, Twofinbluna and others for doing a lot of legwork to keep everyone informed on current fisheries issues; as I said we're on the same side here. I just want to make sure that when we draw a line in the sand we're doing so based on a strong position not the latest rant. This rant excluded of course. Good fishing....and keep up the good work. John
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