Good news for Herring and Bass

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

Really? How sad is it that commercial interests have decimated near shore species? How sad is it that I can only IMAGINE what fishing was like 40-50 years ago? How sad is it my IT job went over to India? Still crying there not making fabrics on your local river?
economies change. It's life. no one is guaranteed a job just because their heritage was in the trade.

First of all these guys weren't fishing anywhere "near Shore." they were fishing in federal waters and most the time faaaar out in federal waters.

Secondly, near shore species decimated? I know what it was like 40 years ago, and for almost all "inshore species" fishing has NEVER been better. Tautog is one exception, but that fishery is 90% RECREATIONAL Same goes for stripers, better now than 40 years ago and even if you disagree the fishery is 80% RECREATIONAL If you want to blame someone for poor fishing on "inshore species" you had better take a look in the mirror.

If we were talking 20 years ago I might have agreed you, at least with respect to some species, but today, with the rebuilt populations of almost every "inshore species" no way.

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

First of all these guys weren't fishing anywhere "near Shore." they were fishing in federal waters and most the time faaaar out in federal waters.

Secondly, near shore species decimated? I know what it was like 40 years ago, and for almost all "inshore species" fishing has NEVER been better. Tautog is one exception, but that fishery is 90% RECREATIONAL Same goes for stripers, better now than 40 years ago and even if you disagree the fishery is 80% RECREATIONAL If you want to blame someone for poor fishing on "inshore species" you had better take a look in the mirror.

If we were talking 20 years ago I might have agreed you, at least with respect to some species, but today, with the rebuilt populations of almost every "inshore species" no way.

I don't know enough about this issue to comment, but this statement about the inshore fishery being better than 40 years ago is really in stark contrast to what we hear about on this and other sites day and day out. I know fisherman like to tell stories, but are they all just full of it? I know everybody has different experiences and your experience back then could be drastically different, but us younger fisherman just have this impression that it was just a LOT better back then. I'm not saying you're lying, it would just be nice to get the truth on this issue at some point! this is kind of a hijack though, so I apologize.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

First of all these guys weren't fishing anywhere "near Shore." they were fishing in federal waters and most the time faaaar out in federal waters.

Go down to Scarborough in the early winter. Nebe's got the photos.... they were all around the blackfish grounds a couple of seasons ago.

Kevin:
On mud and sand, probably true about minimal impact, although I wouldn't say 'retilling', sandy surfaces in particular are often resurfaced either by wave or tidal currents, but the effect draggers have is pretty sever on Cobble bottoms...

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Go down to Scarborough in the early winter. Nebe's got the photos.... they were all around the blackfish grounds a couple of seasons ago.

You sure about hat Bryan? If its true I would be very surprised that DEM wasn't all over then as they probably don't have RI principal effort licenses. Also I doubt they were herring fishing, or pair trawling for that matter that close to shore. Pair trawlers need a lot of room to work setting and retrieving the net.

I'm not saying they weren't there, I'm questioning what they were doing there. I have a picture of the Hanna Bowden leaving the harbor of refuge, but that doesn't mean she was swordfishing in RI.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

You sure about hat Bryan? If its true I would be very surprised that DEM wasn't all over then as they probably don't have RI principal effort licenses. Also I doubt they were herring fishing, or pair trawling for that matter that close to shore. Pair trawlers need a lot of room to work setting and retrieving the net.

I'm not saying they weren't there, I'm questioning what they were doing there. I have a picture of the Hanna Bowden leaving the harbor of refuge, but that doesn't mean she was swordfishing in RI.

Mike I know when I see two boats pair trawling on east to west runs < 1 mile south of Washington ledge. they were there.

[fish4striper]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Go down to Scarborough in the early winter. Nebe's got the photos.... they were all around the blackfish grounds a couple of seasons ago.

Kevin:
On mud and sand, probably true about minimal impact, although I wouldn't say 'retilling', sandy surfaces in particular are often resurfaced either by wave or tidal currents, but the effect draggers have is pretty sever on Cobble bottoms...

The mid water trawlers were right off Nauset also last fall catching herring and dumping bass as usual.