[togmaster]

Well just saw the new amendment 13 for the Scup, summer flounder and black sea bass. Funny but there is an individual clause for each state. Here is the break down >>>>>

Maine and NH together get ½of 1 % of the quota , Conn .gets 1% of quota De. Gets 5% NY 7%, Ri. .Nc. Md. total 11%, Mass. gets 13% NJ. Va. Get 20 % of each, Summer flounder, scup, and sea bass! Why does mass get twice as much as we get? Funny but Amendment 13 Mass has Ted Kennedy in there state behind them and he gets more fish for them all the time. Seems he gets his people what they want Also on another note Stripe bass quotas in NY start in July not in May other states seem to start in maylike the opening day ? So this is my point again why is there so many different quotas among the states we need a better balance between the states not a mixed bag quota. I was talking to a few guys and charter boat Capts. At the show and many had mixed feelings on the Strip bass increase. One well know Capt states that there should be a increase in the catch but for a trophy fish which would require a purchase of a Trophy tag at a small cost lets say 10.00 dollars which can be used in the event a trophy fish is caught the same day you already landed a smaller fish. This would help generate money for data research and go back to help the fisheries. Also Fishing boats would be able to issue license At the fee set on the boat the day of the charter. Then another opinion is there should be a slot limit of fish from 24? to 36? nothing under or above but 2 fish per man. This way on bad days 24? will allow fish for the table . And you won?t kill the bigger spawning fish. Then other said they think the rec?s should have 2 fish and it should have never been taken away from them. So as you see there are so many factors here. But the state to state quota is an issue which needs to be regulated much better for all

 

[MakoMatt]

tog, for the Stripe Bass I think they should go with 1 fish over 28" and then with a slot fish over something else, say 40". I don't think they would really be giving us anything, but it would be perceived as they are. Reason being, most people that say have a 30" fish in the boat, continue fishing, and then land a "nice" fish, the 30" fish goes back in the drink, end result 2 dead fish. Now I'm not saying that everyone would do that, there are a lot of guys that release the big ones, but face it, there are a LOT of guys that would do what I said. I think we need something like what they do in Florida for the Snook and Redfish.

Just my $.02

MakoMatt

 

[624991]

Dead Fish

Its a real sad statement that sportsmen would throw a dead fish back to keep a larger fish. On my boat this would be unacceptable!!!!!!!! I see alot wrong with that practice. I personally marvel at what I see come from the sea and see nothing wrong taking what won't be wasted. To kill a fish to serve a person's ego turns my stomach. If that is the grounds for adding a slot fish I don't think sport fisherman should be in the same sentence. We must aspire to a higher standard!!!!!!!!!!

(This post edited by joeybrown on 02/15/2003)

 

[616787]

How about 1 fish over 28" in spring season, 2 fish over 28" in the fall....would that solve the *throwing back dead fish* issue?

 

[baywatch]

Trophy Tags

I was there fro the conversation that Mike had with a well known Capt.who seemed like a very nice guy with lots of info and knowledge.

The skippers ideas where good but also a little one side naturally towards the charter and partyboat.

His first thoughts where is that he didn't like the idea because it would infringe on his bussiness.

IE: " If a rec can take 2 fish why would he charter a boat who is able to do the same thing. If they do get the 2 fish I want 3 because this is how I make my living."

IMHO opinion I really don't think a rec guy is going to hurt his business any way, If you own, operate, and maintain your own boat why in **** are you going to charter a boat. It is expensive enough between all things I just mentioned and then on top you are going to shell out another 900 for a full day charter. NOT THIS GUY!

It just shows how his first reaction was a knee jerk type of thing an a me first attitude. Then we chated about it a bit more and that is when he came up with the idea of the Trophy Tag.

On the flip side I did like the Captains idea of Trophy Tags which is probably the best solution I have heard so far.

This may sound one sided my part but lets face it. He started this bussiness a long time ago when there where not as many boats and rec fisherman and he was probaly doing well. Then came the population explosion for Long Isalnd and the boating community which may or may not have hurt his bussiness. Now with over a 100,000 REC boats just in Suffolk County alone why shouldn't we be allowed the same.

We spend hard earned money for our boats and tackle and try to improve our skills and when the idea comes up in favor of the rec guy the Comm or Charter want more.

I was told along time ago "you choose the life you lead.". If it is not as profitable as it was 20-25 years ago maybe it is time for a change of there occupation.

There is always going to be a debate between to the rec and the comm guys but with the amount of boats that are out there something has to be done to appease both.

The thing was his first reaction didn't sit with me to well but then again we are all human and want to protect what is ours and change is always hard top accept.

Just my thoughts.

Bill

 

[togmaster]

Forget the stripe bass look at the 13th?

Well we all had the opinion on the stripe basss but what about the main issue i brought up on this topic? Why is there a state to state quota and why do the states with memebers of the board always seem to get the most ? This is amy main grief!

 

[MakoMatt]

tog, I agree that things do not appear to be equal and that needs addressing more then anything else. We need a REAL plan for these fish, right now I don't think we do, people are just shooting from the hip. There may be some sound reasons why quotas should be different from here to there, but I don't think it would have anything to do with State boundry lines, but perhaps there are other reasons.

That's the reason I didn't like the letter EC posted the other day, to me that is just gimme, gimme, gimme, with no real thought given towards what that would do. We should be demanding a plan, not more fish.

MakoMatt

 

[togmaster]

the point of the letter

Matt I think the point of the Ec's letter was to make everyone aware that we need to be herd. If you read his later post he states that we need to let the Dec and others in the law making field know we have a voice. This is very important to everyone these days. Especially when you have some one willing to listen or make a change. He also stated even if passed you don?t have to keep your 2 fish quota and do as you see fit. His main reasoning is to show we can make a change if needed. Many others don?t understand how important this is in the sense that the people have bee nlosing power and influence over the Reg?s more and more over time. This is not only rec?s but the comm.. guy and charter boat?s. I understand every one feels the need to say give me give me most of the time. And I do think your correct to say we need to think about it before we act. So that?s why ideas need to be herd. If we say no then nothing will change. So if there is no slot limit or trophy tag as suggested by some. the vote to over rule it needs a letter worded the way you feel about it. It doesn?t have to be the 2 fish per man it could be some of the other choices suggested also. The main thing is to speak up as a whole not in favor of one but in favor of what?s best for the fishery! The Stripe bass has made a great come back and I would like to see it improve myself . But last year MD. Used tags to harvest all there bigger fish which was a huge number! This year they are supposed to get a reduction due to this. But it has not happened yet and the sad part is the damage is done. You cannot bring back the Trophy fish so fast it takes years. So again the state to state reg?s need better enforcement all the way a round. Yes certain area s have different bodies of fish but a tighter ship needs to be had!

 

[Gamakatsu]

TM, I don't have the stats, but I think the reason for the inequitable distribution of the quotas is based on the number of saltwater anglers each state has and where the historical commercial harvest has come from. Would it make sense to give NH, with it's short coastline, the same amount of fish as MA or NJ? Again, this is a supposition on my part, but I think that is the reasoning.

Gamakatsu

 

[togmaster]

the quote reflect commercial >>>>>>

Would you say there is more commercial guys in these states also? thats the question i am thriving on? As far as rec'sd i could agree but what about Coomercial guys ?

 

[Gamakatsu]

TM, I really have no clue in regard to the distribution of the commercial fleet, but it's safe to say that MA and VA have very large fleets. Does anybody know which states have the largest percentage of the commercial fleet that targets the above species?

Gamakatsu