Commercial Long Liners

[Striper SniperX]

What do you all think about commercial long lining?

It looks like there is alot of money in it and was wondering if when i'm older it's worth a try off the boats in galilee or cape cod?

I know long liners face alot of critisim from enviorment people, but what do FISHERMAN think of this trade??

I'd like to do something on the water when i'm older be it: Shellfishing, Lobstering, LongLineing/gilnet or just rod/reel finfish....something, suggestions

Mike

[JohnR]

Don't do it - don't try to be a commercial fisherman. For good or for bad, it's a tough racket and it's only going to get tougher. There are too many hooks & nets as it is.

Get yourself and education or at least a trade that gets you close to the marine environment you want to be in but keeps you just far enough away that you can also ENJOY it!

Give up the romantics of the Perfect Storm. Personally I think you spend too much time on a computer to be outdoorsy enough to go out on a longliner for a month at a shot.

Oh - not a fan of longlining when it pertains to overfishing....

40 years ago, you could commercially & recreationally catch swords withing site of MV or Nantucket - now you start 400 miles out... A lot of good that did...

[bassmaster]

comm fishing sucks

[redcrbbr]

mike, hard work, hard living, long, long time away from home and loved ones. if you would like to discuss it some time i will be very willing to discuss it with you. my advise forget about offshore. try your bullraking thing and see if you like it and make any $$$ doing it. then think about if you had a family to support. i did lobstering, crabbing and longlining at one time or another for 20 years. i'm not doing it now.
if you want to get into the fishing industry and make money..buy and sell the stuff.

[bassmaster]

redcrbbr, How is Your back from all that raking?

[HESH2]

READ BOOK HUNGRY OCEAN BY LINDA GREENLAW THEY SET OUT 40 MILES OF LONG LINES TO CATCH SWORD FISH.VERY HARD DANGEROUS WORK AND I THINK IT IS RANKED AS ONE OF MOST DANGEROUS JOBS.

[bassmaster]

na alaskan king crab,,,,,any one see that one on tv?
no fargin way I would do that.

[mrmacey]

when i was 19 i loved the water and i had my scuba permit so these knuckleheads say come work with us you'll make alot of money!! little to say the charges were dismissed!! capt got his boat confiscated and i lost my diving equitment got it back after 3 months!! end of fishing carrer!! whatever you do get involved with pepole you trust cause you can get in alot of trouble out there with the wrong pepole!!

[Team Rock On]

Here's an interesting post by Poveromo. Will the swords be in NE next?
-----------------------------------------------george poveromo
Member posted 02-04-2003 06:14 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mako 231:
First, thank you for watching my show.

It appears that you may have misunderstood the significance of my swordfish show, and the message I had sent. As a native South Floridian, swordfish is a game fish that's near and dear to my heart. I recall like it was yesterday when a few recreational anglers discovered nighttime swordfishing off our coast, and the big sportsfishery that soon followed. The swordfishing was so outstanding that Miami became arguably the best place in the world to catch this magnificant game fish. Unfortunately, this find only lasted a few short years as the longline fleets moved in. Over the years it became nearly impossible to even get a strike on rod and reel, but we ended up snagging soaking longlines quite frequently. It was a mess, and the longliners decimated this fishery.

Finally, longlining was banned from Florida, due to the Florida straits being recognized as a major nursery for swordfish. In just two short years, the fishing has been making a remarkable comeback. Right now, the fishing is so good, that if you don't get at least two shots in a half-evening, you've had a bad night. The recreational fishing for swordfish has re-blossomed about as strong as the fish.

My point was to show how the sportsfisherman was robbed of a major big game fishery - by longliners, and how quickly these fish have been rebounding off South Florida due to the longliners leaving the area. THIS SHOULD SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE SPORTFISHING COMMUNITY AS TO WHY LONGLINING SHOULD BE BANNED OFF THE ENTIRE U.S. COAST - IF NOT WORLDWIDE.

As far as that "50" pound fish we killed, the scales actually tipped at 125 pounds. From what I understand, a swordfish reaches sexual maturity at around 70-pounds. So, hopefully, this fish had a spawn or two prior to our boating it. The other two fish we caught were released. You must remember that we're still dealing with a delicious food fish, not too unlike tuna and dolphin, and people will take a fish or two for dinner. Providing it's legal, I have nothing against that. Sure, I would have loved that fish to have been around 200 pounds (the average swordfish weight in the 70s prior to longlining), but that's what we have in the fishery today - thanks to the longliners. I would also love to have a 440-Hemi in my car, instead of the smogged-down 5.7 litre mill. But again, that was then and this is now. Today, the average swordfish here weighs around 60 pounds, with a 150-pound fish considered large. There are still a few big fish caught that push the 300-pound mark. This average weight will increase as time marches on, providing responsible management prevails.

I also stated that so called "recreational" anglers must do their part to protect this fishery. The problem we have with several "recreational" types down here is that they're back-dooring (selling) their swordfish to local restaurants (without permits, mind you). I believe this is wrong. As a true sportsman, you should not sell your catch. Also, I'm against the monthly full moon tournaments they ran here during the summer and fall, where an average field of 100 boats participated. Again, the true sportsman is not setting an example by fielding such an intense, direct effort at this fishery. I believe they should limit swordfish to one per boat per evening, and perhaps charge a kill fee to take one (as long as the money goes into a conservation account). This would help weed-out some of the back-door swordfishing.

We have a great fishery on the rebound here in South Florida, just two years after getting rid of the longliners - and you can too if you rid them from your waters.

My bottom line: Go out and enjoy this great sport, use heavy tackle to "horse" in small fish - to where they retain enough strength to survive when released, and, if you choose to do so, take a legal fish every now and again for the grill. Is this so wrong?

Again, thanks for tuning in.

George Poveromo

PS - Keep an ear down to the ground, as it looks like the longliners are trying to get "experimental" permits to longline once again off South Florida!!

[Mr. Kav]

The longliners are decimating more than just the swordfishing industry. They are not to marlin friendly either. i saw a chinese long lining boat come in to bermuda about 10 years ago for repairs and it was said that they let out 100 miles of line. they can kill alot of different fish in 100 miles.

[Canalratt1]

If you want to be around the water there are other options. Try mateing on a charter boat, working at a boat yard, etc but NOT commercial fishing! Its not glamorous work and the hours suck!

[mooncusser]

Instead of trying to figure out ways to profit off selling fish, why not get your captain's license and guide recreational anglers? That way you're still on the water making money and you can control the number of fish killed on your boat each season.

[Scotch Bonnet]

Fish Farms seem to be the thing of the future. If you go to Stop&Shop and buy salmon its from a fish farm. They put beta carotene in the fish food to make the meat turn orange like the wild salmon. Price stays at $4-$5lb. Overall a win-win situation

[Striper SniperX]

Originally posted by JohnR
Give up the romantics of the Perfect Storm. Personally I think you spend too much time on a computer to be outdoorsy enough to go out on a longliner for a month at a shot.

Perfect Storm? Romantics ? explain
If i was talking about P/S i would of said Cape anne or gloucester theres no romantics about it, that's movie magic and i know that..


Oh yeah? i'm on my comp so much cuz theres nothing else to do, when i was a lil' kid i was in the scouts (stupid now) and did many overnight challenges and stays... I've been on "fishing boat" for week at a time and i loved it-- Don't think cause i'm always online that i can't handle the ocean cause that's my specialty,, your just a jetty jockey-- i'm one of them ole' sea capts. (just kidding )
=========================

Now, reading all the post, yes i would like to charter but i'm talking about when i get a bit older, to SAVE up money for that boat i wanna charter..... not talking about a life job.




thanks,
Mike

[Team Rock On]

Not really. Salmon eat fish, so to produce X amount of salmon, you need 5X the amount of food fish. I think the only fish that can be farmed without using food derived from say herring, are catfish and tilapia.

[Young Salt]

simply put....not worth it.

Like everyone said, long hours in what's probably the worst working conditions around. Not even worth the money to go and risk your life and have the boat owner take the lion's share of the $$. (Or so someone can get their fish and chips on Friday)

[Scotch Bonnet]

TRO You can't eat fish without depleting stocks. And I ain't going vegetarian. The Talapia is OK(fluke lite) and I haven't tried the catfish yet.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

Striper, don't know how old you are, i started clamming when i was 14. stay away from the com. boats unless you own it.if you want to be on the water get a coomercial pilot licnse or join the CG.working on the comm boats is lots of work for little money if you take into consideration the time you put in.

[JohnR]

SSX - OK, I turn my cards over to you...

[Striper SniperX]

Originally posted by JohnR
SSX - OK, I turn my cards over to you...

John, Explain?? your sarcasim isn't that good you know (kidding)

Hey Fish-In-VT, i'll be 16 years old in 2 DAYS!!!! (feb. 13th)