MA DMF...here is clear evidence they are biased.

[beachwalker]

roger that ....

what a beauty today is....

out at 5pm until whenever. outgoing through 9pmish.....

[Mr. Sandman]

More Greed in the face of greed. Meanwhile rec's can't take a single scup.
I plan to write a letter to find out what the hell is going on here.


October 13, 2005

MarineFisheries Advisory



COMMERCIAL SCUP DAILY POSSESSION LIMIT INCREASED TO 3,500-LBS.



Effective 0001 hours on Friday, October 14, 2005 MarineFisheries has increased the daily commercial scup possession limit to 3,500-lbs. The possession limit will remain in effect through the beginning of the Winter II period and remain in place until the federal quota is reached, or until December 31. Fishing is allowed 7 days per week.



This action will increase scup landings to improve the chances of the May-October commercial quota of 1,062,132 lbs. being reached. To date, about 70% of the summer/fall quota has been harvested. The management goal to protect spawning fish from directed fisheries during May – July has contributed to the low landings.



On January 1, 2006 the Winter I period fishery will begin with a 10,000-lb. daily possession limit. All possession limits shall be based on a 24-hour day, shall be vessel limits, and shall apply regardless of the number of commercial fishermen with scup permits on board said vessel.



For further information please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries



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[MakoMike]

The only chice MA had was wether the season should begin in May and end in aug or if it should begin in July and end in Oct. All of the rest wa dictated by the ASMFC and NMFS.

[Mr. Sandman]

Sorry Mike, I don't just see the logic behind the rules no matter who makes them.

I don't care what ASMFC and NMFS said, it makes no sense to shut down the rec season while increasing the comm take twice after shutting down the rec fishing to essentially grab all they can.

Frankly I don't think they have a handle on the fishery either. This is an ideal case of one hand not knowing what the other is really doing. They certainly don't have any idea how many scup are being taken from the rec side...I can tell you it is not that many fish.

The State needs to manage this better. In my view there are too many people who are very disconnected with the actual fishery who are setting the rules while at the same time trying to obtain too much from a limited resource.

Why do we need 3 governmental agencies to manage this. I bet none of them have actually fished for a sucp anyway.

FWIW, I don't think I have ever caught a scup in May anyway. The season should be all year long with limits on catch.

The big unknown is how many scup were actaully caught by recs and what they "think" were caught.

If I get any response from my letter I will post. (I know of someone who wrote and phoned and the state twice and got no return feedback)