Striped Bass, the condition of the fishery

[Crafty Angler]

Well, you're either on the bus or off the bus, like the Pranksters used to say -

I'm in - no, actually, I'm on -

This isn't state by state because it does little to mandate a change in just one portion of the striped bass range - but it could be the start of a groundswell of support for tighter regs on BOTH sides of the issues - and we - recs and comms - BOTH have to take a hit on limits to preserve a common resource.

You can sort out the rest of the crap later but that aspect will never be fully resolved anyway as to who was to blame - there's plenty of it to go around and no one is faultless. The pissing contest just gets in the way of the objective and we all have a stake in the effort one way or another.

This could be the start of a groundswell at a grassroots level - the time could very well be right. Just keep your ****ing finger in your pocket for now and stop wasting time and energy if you actually want to get something done about it.

Hmmmm....I don't suppose anyone on this board owns a bus, do they?

Funny, while editing it appears a couple of other posts popped up with the same question...

[Canalman]

Let's try and do this then.

If we're going to have a loud voice, we're going to have to make it easy for people to have their voices heard. A bus trip sounds easy enough and it would probably be a blast.

Patrick, if you're reading this thread. Have they set a date for this Menhaden Meeting?

[Canalman]

This has worked before. I was talking to a well-known writer yesterday who told me the story about when MA was trying to impose a saltwater license where the money was to be destined for the "general fund". They organized a bunch of anglers and protested. Governer Weld stopped by to ask what the commotion was about, the next week's cover of The Fisherman was governer Weld holding one of the protesters signs. The next week, this writer and his friend were witness to the tearing up of the bill.

So it can work.

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by Canalman

This has worked before. I was talking to a well-known writer yesterday who told me the story about when MA was trying to impose a saltwater license where the money was to be destined for the "general fund". They organized a bunch of anglers and protested. Governer Weld stopped by to ask what the commotion was about, the next week's cover of The Fisherman was governer Weld holding one of the protesters signs. The next week, this writer and his friend were witness to the tearing up of the bill.

So it can work.

I hope the writer was Chuck Casella then VP (I think) but definately an officer of MSBA at the time. Chuck formed the MA Sea Party Coalition...I still got the flyer in my puter...Chuck is now a MA Marine Fisheries Commish

The good thing is Chuck and I are both on the current MA Rec Registry Steering Committee and if that committee gets it's way we will have the license we all have said we could support with a dedicated fund etc etc...if the MA legislature does not accept our proposal and messes with it too much...we go to war opposing the bill letting it fail and let the fed plan kick in....less benefits but less opportunity for abuse as well...but this is a different subject...

Oh yeah...where is my horn..lol...just for the record when peeps that don't go to hearings anymore were telling all on this board that there was definately going to be a license in 2009 it was I, who is on the committee and communicates with others like me from here to DC that predicted we would get a pass for 2009 and sure as hell we did...yep I got some game in the BS department but on this sheet my friends, I do my homework...it's why I am always broke.

Ok I admit you guys got me going now

[Crafty Angler]

Hey, baahhdy - godtham guy, this heah could be pretty good - everbody knows we got troublesh ova heah with the stroipesh...


All attempts at injecting a little levity into a serious situation aside, it could work well if the effort maintains a centrist position on behalf of the fishery.

[numbskull]

The meetings are Jan 26th Gloucester 6pm
Jan 27th Plymouth 6pm.
I think

[Clammer]

we all have our own opinions / & that will never change ..

but its much more complicated than geting a bus of guys & storm [one] meeting .

As Crafy stated .. you get fisherman to agree ..then you walk on water ;

when I was allowed to be a real commercial fisherman & alot younger [[not this tease to applease B/S ;

I went to TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many hearings & meetings ;;& demostrations ;;

it is very difficult / close to impossible to get the fisherman to agree on anything ;;

I wish I had the photos of the protest at the statehouse /also the hundreds of boats in the shellfish fleet that made the long trip [[BACK Then} to the Brown Unitervisity boathouse on the seekonk river >>>>>>>> that day & the boats back then equaled possible diasiaster // weather wise ;;
Also a few of us // under complete secreticy [sp\ made nighttime journey,s to NYC to meet with high ranking goverment officials ;;
WE,ll ><><>< we never won a battle or a war ...... there is always something/someone much more powerful behind the curtain ;;

If you can do it /I sincerly wish you the best .
But personally / been there / done that .. & what time I have left .isn,t going to be spent getting pissed off & on & frustrated ..
I.ll fish as long as I can / & can enjoy whayever kind it can be ;;

My number is getting closer / so I.m trying to enjoy what time I have :::::

Best of luck / I really mean it >>>MIKE

[Canalman]

ya gotta start somewhere

[Clammer]

Dave ;;

your right / but after / so many times & effort // I,m tired ;;

best of luck ;;


PS ;;going nuts ,its not even close to fishable

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Clammer

....I went to TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many hearings & meetings ;;& demostrations ;;

it is very difficult / close to impossible to get the fisherman to agree on anything ;;.....

WE,ll ><><>< we never won a battle or a war ...... there is always something/someone much more powerful behind the curtain ;;

If you can do it /I sincerly wish you the best .
But personally / been there / done that .. & what time I have left .isn,t going to be spent getting pissed off & on & frustrated ..
MIKE

Clammer, you're a wise man, my friend -

I'm in the middle of a project right now and I was going to post this earlier but I opted to get some work done -

It's this: You have to realize that's a pretty tall tree you're taking an axe to - with deep roots.

Where ever you start, the end battle is really the reduction fishery and Omega Protein on the menhaden issue.

Omega was a subsidiary of the Zapata Corporation and Zapata was owned by George H.W.Bush, if memory serves.

Tall tree, deep roots and who knows where they go...

Fisheries managers are also appointees, not elected officials - and they have to toe the line. If I'm wrong on that, I'll admit to it when proven otherwise.

All that having been said, I'd be willing to throw a hat in the ring as time and work schedules allow - but this is just the opening salvo if that's what you have in mind.

Just don't expect shock and awe on the part of the managers - that didn't work either the last time around. It'll be a long campaign.

And to go anywhere at all with it, you're going to have to have everyone rowing the boat in the same direction, like Clammer said.

Uh oh...now it looks like not only am I fluent in Clammish, but we're pretty much on the same channel...

Nothing wrong with that - he's got common sense and I know you don't get that for free...

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Canalman

A bus trip sounds easy enough and it would probably be a blast.

But how r u gonna get them to the bus??? Door to door pick up?? Could be a long trip.... Better be a beer bus.. And throw in a few Hooters girls..That'll get Clammer on board..