I've been poking around here and there and I'm not exactly sure it's the com guy that is destroying anything.My angle on this is a bit different.If you fix the bait inshore the bass will come back.The herring,pogies,and squid have been getting pounded into oblivion the last couple years.I know here in RI the pogies come in then DEM's plan that has failed 2 years straight fails and the pogies get wiped out in a few days.The squid show up and 15 draggers show up a mile off newport and take them all until they are gone.Set after set after set.Herring has been bad for years and no longer a reliable sustainable source of forage.What we've had is sand eels off shore by the megaton and the fish just staying out and eating.Doing what they do.Feeding on the easiest most abundant.The bigger bass that are coming in are full of lobster and the local lobster guys barely make enough to cover gas.The truth is the commercial quota isn't the problem.The bass have no food to eat.I am a rec fisherman and have seen both sides of the platter.Picture this if your mind allows.DEM closes pogies for the season.The squid boats are not allowed within 5 miles of the furthest point off the east coast.What would happen when the bays fill with bait? I'm pretty sure it would change most people's view.I have no problem with upping the com take as long as the rec regulations get changed.1 fish a day is fine or "gamefish" is fine .Tag program that allows a certain amount a year would also be fine for me.The commercial take is regulated and the season gets closed when the quota is met.Rec is open,no catch numbers from a large percentage and no closed season.Never mind all of the people rec fishing and selling their catch for cash.Another problem although it's smaller than the bait and bad regulations it still is a problem.Like I said earlier let the bays fill up with bait on the entire coast and then we'll talk about bass population problems and regulations.
Fix the bait first!
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