I went to a meeting yesterday about....

[NIB]

Nice work Steve.We have some of our same sportsman here in NJ that have taken the reigns in similar fashion.Its amazing what u can get done.spread the word of ur meetings to the press.it carries alot of weight.Good luck..Its a special place to u then its worth it.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I have talked to one of the rangers who works for F&W at monomoy. They have a big problem there with people poaching horseshoe crabs at night. That may be a reason behind not allowing night fishing. I would think that more eyes on the beach would decrease the poaching. unfortunatly, the trash left behind by some fisherman is probably another reason its closed after dark. Ive never been out there but the ranger i know who works out there said i could tag along on patrol sometime, and that i could bring a rod with me.

[Flaptail]

Mooncusser, that was a joke. I was trying to lighten up the situation because most surfcasters and bait fishermen think that flyrodders think of themselves as elite, which is not true. Relax, your getting worked up for nothing. As Robrockcrawler stated the horseshoe crab harvesting at night has been a problem but carrying a little card in your wallet with some very important phone numbers could help an awful lot with that if you happened upon it, especially with your cell phone in your pocket. The flats at Monomoy are perfect for the flyrodder and access to them for them should be a high priority. So should access to the outer beaches of monomoy for surfcasters and bait fishermen. Policing ourselves should also be a high priority, whether it is at the Monomoy refuge or any shore you fish. It would be nice to see some other surfcasters at the April 6th meeting. Karl, don't be doubtful so fast. The failing fisherman have is that when faced with a dilemma concerning thier rights to fish or access to fish some where they usually don't put up much resistence as do other wildlife based groups. Here we have a chance to be heard and I will not let that chance go unheeded. If nothing comes of it than at least I can say I tried and that is all I am asking of you all. Let's at least try.

[capesams]

the rule's state that no comm. business shall take place on the refuge.
guiding
clamming
crabbing
etc..etc..
I think you'll find the only reason why the water taxi[private business] doesn't get shut off is because the bird watcher's also use it to access the noth end.

And the only reason the fly guy's are there is so they won't loose their ferry service to the same location. their not worried about not being able to fish the flat's which is permitted during the day....

[kippy]

Not to get too far off subject Flap, but what are the horseshoe crabs poached? I didnt think you could eat them. Last time i was there it looked like a horseshoe crab graveyard from all the birds eating them.

[NIB]

well u can take all the horseshoe crabs cormarants,an seals an feed em to some great white's wouldn't bother me.On night i was into fish pretty good an the hsc where humpin my bootfoot like pam anderson in prison.I couldn't take it any more an had to split.

[capesams]

they are collected for their blood...research, etc..then 99 percent are released back into the water[alive]...some are taken for bait for traps.

[mooncusser]

Gotcha. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'd just hate to see recreational fishermen get fractured more than they are already, especially with groups like PETA working harder than ever to destroy our sport.

[piemma]

CapeSam is correct. here's the full answer as to what they do with the Horse Shoe Crab blood:

The medical profession uses an extract from the horseshoe crab's blue, copper-based blood called lysate to test the purity of medicines. Certain properties of the shell have also been used to speed blood clotting and to make absorbable sutures.

[Edge Sportfish]

Used for bait (HSC) for whelk (scungili) traps. Flap, i'm looking forward to fishing with you this Summer...I remember when you could Duck hunt on Monomoy, will that ever happen again???

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by kippy

Not to get too far off subject Flap, but what are the horseshoe crabs poached? I didnt think you could eat them. Last time i was there it looked like a horseshoe crab graveyard from all the birds eating them.

eel bait for traps also