After the canal bite

[fish raptor]

Originally Posted by redlite

Well witnessed a whole bunch of boats that looked like a flotillia makin repeated drifts in the canal from keene st up to half way gate from about 1 -3 this mornin and heard quite a few fish hittin decks. Unbelievable that that that many had the cajones to say f it and get away with it. Disturbing that that many were able to get away with it that long with no patrol. Dumbfounding
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I launched out of Sandwich just before 6am on Saturday morning and was shocked that at least 15 boats were within a stones throw of the Power plant, just outside the entrance of the Marina, drifting.... well within the end of the canal. They were there for over an hour with no sight of patrol. As I drove out I could hear some of the shore fisherman were not very happy and displayed their resentment, quite loudly I might add.

[SAUERKRAUT]

"80 per cent of us...cheat". He included himself.

[piemma]

...and I'm sure this will bring "hell on wheels" But 80% of the Comms have regular jobs and the bass money is "play money". Gas, eels, booze, whatever. Not needed to sustain their families.
I speak from experience. When I was a comm there wasn't one guy in our club who was comm and didn't have a regular, well paying job.

Am I wrong about this?

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by piemma

...and I'm sure this will bring "hell on wheels" But 80% of the Comms have regular jobs and the bass money is "play money". Gas, eels, booze, whatever. Not needed to sustain their families.
I speak from experience. When I was a comm there wasn't one guy in our club who was comm and didn't have a regular, well paying job.

Am I wrong about this?

It's time to call the "commercial" bass fishery what it is: a way for recs to defray the costs of their hobby and avoid paying sales tax on gear. The idea that 2 a day for a partial week, over 2 months, is the difference between staying afloat and going under, is laughable. Anyone who can afford the expense of owning and running a boat doesn't need to sell even 15 a day over an extremely short season. I'd estimate that only 10-15% of comm bass permit holders derive at least 50% of their income from the sale of fish. You want to have a commercial bass fishery? Fine, do what other states do. Require applicants for a bass endorsement to show their last 5 years of tax returns to pro that they earn at least 50% of their income from commercial fishing. The real commercials would enjoy a longer season, and maybe even be able to sell bass every day.