Pogy Boats and Recreational Fishermen

[DZ]

All,
The adult menhaden supply in Narragansett bay this season has apparantly been very abundant so far. Boat fishermen have been doing very well with larger bass using live menhaden provided by asking local pogy boats for some bait. On any given morning boats can be seen lining up for free bait. Now asking a pogy boat for some live pogies is nothing new - it's been a common practice for a very long time. Pogy boats generally will give you some - many anglers will trade for some pogies by giving the boat crew a six pack of beer. This is very good Public Relations by pogy boats.

It's also long been known that RISAA, Rhode Island's largest sportfishing organization, is trying to ban menhaden seining in the bay.

My question is: Should local anglers be asking for and accepting live pogies from these boats on one hand while at the same time trying to ban these same boats from taking pogies from Narragansett bay? Now, apparantly one of the pogie boats is photographing various fishermen as they receive their pogies - and it is now reported that one of the major opponents of pogy seiners has been in line to get free bait. How do you feel about this issue?

DZ