I agree with every syllable of what Patrick said (perhaps a first for me
).
I went to at least 4 fishing websites and posted the announcement for the hearing well in advance (if it wasn't already there). After the hearing, I went back to these same posts and replied
"Just curious, did anyone on this forum attend?" Out of all the forums, I think that the forum with the most attendees was three.
In the past, I enjoyed coming to striped-bass.com because it was the one place that I could count on for a "common man's" perspective on fishing. Indeed, there once was a time when this was the one fishing site that anyone could turn to without reading page after page of whining drivel from misinformed / uninformed elitists. Unfortunately, things have changed. I can't even post a herring report here without being "cautioned" for taking prespawning fish. This, despite the fact that I get my herring at the best managed run in the state.
Yet somehow the folks here seem think they know better? Please! Give me a break!
Now somehow I'm a greedy fishgrabber if want to keep 2 keeper bass a day - even if the best available science says that it is OK for me to do so. Huh? Newsflash folks: Before it was called "sportfishing", it was just called plain old "fishing".
I blows my mind how so many folks who do not participate in the process have so much to say against the outcome.
It also disturbs me when folks have such a knee jerk reaction to any relaxation in fishing regs. Just check out the title of this thread and consider that its author didn't even attend the meeting yet he has no problem portraying the outcome as doom and gloom. It may surprise the many folks here who weren't at the meeting that going to 2 @ 28'' does not equate to a 100% increase in the real take but only a 21% increase.
Van, I love ya man, but actually 3 out of the 4 fishing clubs in attendance voted for the 2 @ 28'' option.
- Plum Island Surfcasters (2 @ 28'')
- Marblehead Surfcasters (2 @ 28'')
- Cape Cod Salties (2 @ 28'')
- Massachusetts Striped Bass Association (1 @ 28'' plus 1 over 40'')
Yes, there were several individuals who got up and advocated for the "1 @ 28'' plus 1 over 40'' option (including myself). But let's face it, most of those folks were also MSBA members and it is somewhat redundant to also include them in the count since their (our) position is largely accounted for in the formal MSBA position. Don't get me wrong. There is something to be said about the inherent passion it takes for there to be a physical body present and speaking to the comission in one's own words. However, number-wise, the total number of folks who supported option "C" is somewhat skewed due to the forestated reason.
Check out the audio at the following link. John and Slipnot, I suggest that you particularly listen to the last sound bite where Paul Diodati and Tom Smith discuss "pre-crash" take limits and then ask yourself again if this is "responsible management of a species" or not "taking the lead".
http://www.basspond.com/cgi-bin/ib/i...ct=ST;f=8;t=50
While I too didn't get the outcome that I had hoped for, I can certainly live with it. I personally find saltwater fishing to be a feast or famine endevour and I get skunked more often than not. It would be nice to take 2 fish home on the days when they are really biting, but only if the science supports it - which it does. By-the-way, the commission's vote was unanimous.
All this said, I am all done with trying to get folks from websites interested in these hearings because I am now convinced that all it will do is negate my own view. In other words, I want take limits to be decided by looking at the best available science and not by the babble of a bunch of whining, doom and gloom, elitists. That goes for all of the fishing forums out there since there doesn't seem to be a dime's worth of difference between any of them anymore.
Actually, now in hindsight Patrick, I have to say that there is something about your post that I do disagree with. You say that it is a "damn shame" that those complaining here do not show up to be a part of the process. I disagree. I say don't bother trying to get them involved. It's not a shame at all that they don't come to the hearings.
Let them all continue to talk amongst themselves here where they will have no real impact on the process. We would all be better served by input from those who don't look at these fish as toys, but rather, look at them as chowder and fillets.
Mike Flaherty
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