RI releases regulations for 2015

[buckman]

Originally Posted by puppet

This is positive news. Thank you to all involved!

I know that this is just part of the whole, but it does give me
some faith that we can impose change.

Not to get greedy, but I sort of wonder if there is anything we
can do about the sparse enforcement. Can we plead for better
enforcement of these laws?

Peer pressure and dropping dimes .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[puppet]

Originally Posted by buckman

Peer pressure and dropping dimes .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

There will always be a percentage of personalities who are
impervious to rules. Especially if they are not enforced....they
consider it a green light.

This goes for boat, canal, and surf fisherman.

I have witnessed guys in the montauk surf during the fall run take
dozens of fish. The fact that some easily ignore previous years
regulations without consequence, only suggests that it will continue
if unchecked. The same goes for charters that harvest fish for black
market....or the guys in the canal filling their trunks with blitz fish.

Peer pressure and frowns are not enough of a deterrent.

I know that it is traditional for a marine license to be free or near
free, but I would gladly pay $50 or more for a license if it meant the fishery
would have better enforcement.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by puppet

I know that it is traditional for a marine license to be free or near
free, but I would gladly pay $50 or more for a license if it meant the fishery would have better enforcement.

I agree puppet. The SW license is so much more than “giving us the privilege” to fish. And we saw that with this issue on striped bass management options. I’ve always been a proponent of a license because I knew it would give recreational fishermen the legitimate designation as a “voting constituency”. This to me is the MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT of being licensed. If commercial and business directed fisheries have to pay for a license – so should we. They always had the political clout because they could show they paid for it – now we have some of that clout. SW recreational fishermen were never a constituency because our numbers were always estimated. But now with licensing we are a force with a voice in every issue that matters to us. Fisheries managers work for the tax payer, we licensed fishermen pay their salaries. They work for us, albeit indirectly.