[Capt. Marc]

Hi,

I just read the comments for the proposed remedies filed with the court today to rebuild the cod.

You can read them at:
http://www.bdssr.com/latest/f33_suit/f33_suit_update_mar.htm

Not enough defending the rec sector except from MASS. Division of marine fisheries. Mass is a little off the wall by imposing a 23" length on haddock. This is a cod problem and nothing in the proposed regs by NMFS mentioned Haddock. With the trip limit going up all the time for Haddock, Why suggest imposing a 23" limit on rec haddock? What are these clowns from Mass thinking! The commercial haddock limit is 19" and I think 5000lbs/day with a 50,000lb trip limit. This is BS.

Capt. Marc

 

[Capt. Marc]

Capt. Spike,

Nicely put. To sum up some of the proposals for fixes to the commercial overfishing and by-catch problem, see below:

Northeast Seafood Coalition

8. Private recreational and Party/Charter 10 fish per person limit

11. Minimum cod fish size of 21" for all vessels including recreational.

note: Very supprising since the commercial limit is now 19" and the rec would remain at 21".

12 Western Gulf of Maine closure to be closed to all commercial vessels for harvest of groundfish, including party/charter-but not private recreational.

Note: Trying to split us up? What's up with this!

ME, NH and RI proposed fixes

Recreational Measures

Private Boats:
Increase Cod/Haddock fish size to 23" on May 1 2002
Increase Cod/Haddock fish size to 24" on May 1 2003
10 cod/haddock creel limit except 5 cod/haddock creel limit gulf of maine Dec. 1-March 31

Party Charter Vessels:
Increase Cod/Haddock fish size to 23" on May 1 2002
Increase Cod/Haddock fish size to 24" on May 1 2003
15 cod/haddock creel limit gulf of maine (GOM) apr. thru Nov 30
5 cod/haddock creel limit GOM dec 1 - Mar 31

Mass

23" cod and haddock
10 fish combined for private boats
15 fish combined for Charter/Party
5 fish combined for all anglers dec-march.

General Comment:

Why do the NE state fishery managers propose increasing the haddock and cod size limits and the commercial proposal does not increase the rec size limit? The commercial fix says 21" cod only?

Who's side are the state managers on by imposing harder restrictions on the rec anglers then the commercials?

With the exception of not letting charter/party in the closed areas, the lesser of the evils comes from the commercial proposal.

I just don't get it.

Capt. Marc

 

[Capt. Marc]

Cod Boat

Hi,

Give the Al Guron a try in Hampton Beach NH http://www.algauron.com/

He is putting up a respectable fight to keep the rec cod grounds open. I fished on his boats many times and did well.

Capt. Marc