We will get what we deserve !

[stripermaineiac]

Was up at the meeting in Topsham last night. there were about 20 of us. we voiced the same thing-25% next yr with 1 fish 32 plus no quota swapping to help continue the slaughter by the coms.We'll probably end up same slot an all, still one of the most restricive limits with only one fish alowed , as not many fish over 30 in make it up here anymore.32 in will kill most of the small tackle shops up here let alone shut down a load of the fishermen that rarely se fish over 27 in.

[Slick Moedee]

There were 20-25 folks at the Wed meeting in Gloucester. Same results as in CT.

[albin35]

Comments can still be added up to the end of the month.

It was discouraging that the room was so empty in Braintree. My vote changed to 25% reduction for one year. Two fish Slot of 28-34"I heard a good point from Captain Dave Waldrip that Charter customers would be reluctant to hire a boat if only one fish were allowed. I was going to vote for one fish for a slot size. changed vote to Two.

[Stripersurg]

Charter customers would be reluctant to hire a boat if only one fish were allowed.

Really? we have a 1 fish limit up here in Maine, the guides that I see plying the waters, seem to not have a problem booking sports, day in and day out.

[Linesider82]

Originally Posted by albin35

Comments can still be added up to the end of the month.

It was discouraging that the room was so empty in Braintree. My vote changed to 25% reduction for one year. Two fish Slot of 28-34"I heard a good point from Captain Dave Waldrip that Charter customers would be reluctant to hire a boat if only one fish were allowed. I was going to vote for one fish for a slot size. changed vote to Two.

LOL that's not a valid argument. 1. It has been done before at 1 fish, and 2. I would guess half the customers do not even know what the current regulations are, you could probably tell your clients anything and they'd believe it. If this two fish thing were important to his customers, then his customers should show up themselves. 3. For-Hire Charters (in general, there are some C&R charters) do an exponentially higher amount of damage to the fishery than the average rec anglers. They work the water every day, 2 to 3 trips, 2 bass x the number of people (inclding capt. & mate) = a lot of dead fish. This small portion of the rec. fishery is doing a lopsided amount of the damage.

The public resource we all have as recs, for-hire recs, and comm fishermen has to take the universal changes and steps towards a more conservative fishery. The current regulations of 2 fish per day is why we are facing this entire debate, there is a problem. otherwise it wouldn't make sense to sit in traffic for two hours, to sit in a room of fishermen for two hours, then drive home another hour on a weeknight after work to keep it the way things are. ...

[puppet]

I am not an expert but what I have witnessed in terms of charter
boats is that most of these anglers are on vacation. It seems most
are out for entertainment, not to fill freezers. Not to mention most
charters are not single clients so the charter's take is still multiple fish.

The notion that charters will loose clients when the laws change is a
weak one. If it were all about putting fish on the table.....the
most economical way to do so... is to go to the fish market.

Through the eyes of the client and the economics of paying 600
dollars for a charter....the difference between taking one fish instead
of two is sort of silly. The charter is about the fishing experience,
not meat.

The real issue is possibly seated in the use of the client head count
to boat fish for sale. If limits are one....that is a lot of income lost.

[keepah]

Funny…for a month straight every afternoon west tide in the the canal had hundreds of people. Now no one has the time to make events that have advanced notice. Stop it…. If someone puts up a canal is on fire post sunday night there would be a ton of busy people at the canal all day monday.