Heads up on Limit to Groundfish Charter Boats

[MakoMike]

This is being pushed by several owners of charter fishing fleets and has nothing to do with how many fish are caught. It's about limiting the competition for customers.

[beamie]

MM,

Yes, now that makes total sense. I wonder of the prices would jump at some point too....less supply of boats for hire.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

This is being pushed by several owners of charter fishing fleets and has nothing to do with how many fish are caught. It's about limiting the competition for customers.

This stinks of (certain) fishermen screwing with the fishery.... If it's true, I would like to see those names posted publicly..... Limiting the competition,,, what happened to American values?

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

This stinks of (certain) fishermen screwing with the fishery.... If it's true, I would like to see those names posted publicly..... Limiting the competition,,, what happened to American values?

That's Capitalism for you. It's a shame if this is true, a lot of quality charter guys around.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

This is being pushed by several owners of charter fishing fleets and has nothing to do with how many fish are caught. It's about limiting the competition for customers.

I don't know where you are getting that info but I can tell you the Ma. Charter fleet is not happy about our extended closure , let alone closed at all.
It's not fair boats from R.I. & N.Y can fish their waters all winter while we are closed (with different size & bag limits) then bring their boats up to Ma. when we open and take our fish also ! not to mention those clients who would usually come up to Ma. during winter/spring months are now going down to their boats

[big jay]

Patrick - which way are you going on this?

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

I don't know where you are getting that info but I can tell you the Ma. Charter fleet is not happy about our extended closure , let alone closed at all.
It's not fair boats from R.I. & N.Y can fish their waters all winter while we are closed (with different size & bag limits) then bring their boats up to Ma. when we open and take our fish also ! not to mention those clients who would usually come up to Ma. during winter/spring months are now going down to their boats

I'm getting my info from my sitting on the NEFMC recreational advisory Panel for th last five years or so. I was at the meetings when this was discussed. FWIW the advisory panel never made a formal recommendation on it.

As far as the different rules for the GOM vs SNE, that's just the natural outcome of how the stock is treated. Nothing stopping you guys from moving south of the cape for the winter. This past winter lots of boats from further west moved to Montauk and Pt. Jude to get in on the action. Several boats from up your way also moved to RI for the winter.