[LAZYBONES]

I agree with MakoMike, and all the other responders about the plight of the winter flounder and for that matter all the fish. However, there are supposed to be regs. in place to control the vampires. I call them vampires because I have presonally seen on several occassions, draggers from Sheepshead Bay, Gerrisen Beach and Mill Basin dragging the beaches at night. Cowards. Last year I was fishing for bass off Manhattem Beach & Coney Island at 11pm. I saw and recognized one boat from Gerritsen Beach with her nets out. They were no more them 200 yards off the beach. I being the brave one approached the boat and questioned them. All I got was a revolver in my face and a warning. I radioed the Marine Police and the Caost Guard. Niehter was interested even with the mention of the gun. I stayed another hour and so did he. When I left he was still there and I saw two more boats heading for their nightly raids.

The problem is the draggers but, what about enforcement of the laws. It seams the DEC are only interested in enoying rec. anglers fishing legally. NO PAPER WORK INVOLVED IN HARASSING RECS.

The head boats are afraid to report the bastards, for fear of having their boats tourched. What can we do except to continue to press, law enforcers not law makers.

Of course you all know where they get alot of there information, US! when we post reports. Not a critisism, just fact.

Lazybones

 

[620193]

As always it's the falt of the commercial guy. Wake up!! This is everyones falt. Dont just blame the working guy ,anyone who lives in a waterfront home ( their all built on filled wetlands),runs a two cycle outboard (spills unburt fuel and oil into the fishes spawning grounds),overfished in the past before limits ( 20 years ago did you realy need the 60 flounders you caught,10 would have been enough),all of you who dont think the law applies to you ( you know who you are) are the ones to blame. The recreational fisherman wants it all. You only tollerate me because you need me, we were here first and we are willing to share. This is a resource that is not exclusively here for your pleasure. I have been a commercial fisherman for 20 years and have seen the tide of regulations turn against me due to the sportfishing loby ,but do I want to eliminate you, NO, I need you as much as you need us. Dont you think I spend thousands of dollars in the economy too?? Every day I recieve a letter in the mail from the DEC telling me what I cant catch. This is not a one sided argument we are all in the same "BOAT"

 

[620197]

Who should we write to?

Last fall, my brother and I were taking a run to democrats on the outside when we came across a sickening site- several hundred dead stripers behind a big dragger who was no more than 1 mile offshore. Another angler who was headed for Massachussets stopped with us and took pictures. I never did catch up with him, but will not soon forget the dead 40 pounder's I pulled out of the water because I had never actually seen one. Never wanted to see them in that condition. When I say there were hundreds, there may have been a thousand- who can say.

All I know is that they are raping the waters of fish and the bycatch that they discard could have made us all happy for the entire season.... yet it was only one days kill for them.

If anyone knows who and what to write, let's do it. I also believe that we have to be part of the solution- we can't just blame everyone else. So if you're going to step up and call to action, be sure to have extra consideration for the fish as well like using circle hooks, keeping only what you can eat and throwing back borderline keepers. Who would keep an 11" fluke? Not me, so why would you keep an 11" flounder(or whatever the minimum regulation is)? An argument of "why should I throw them back? so that the draggers can catch them" is like saying joey did it so why can't I. Because you are a better person and are actually doing something other than blowing smoke. If not, keep the stinking fish and let this message echo in the back of your head all day- The flounder stocks are disappearing and you're part of the reason....

I hope to one day catch a 40 pound bass or a 22" flounder, but at the rate the draggers are going, it may be some time...

 

[620197]

Hey No Clue, you are right on!

If we all put 5% of what we spend as recreational fishermen towards funding a group that would lobby to protect the fisheries, we raise awareness and influence those in power. If we don't do something soon, what will we be fishing for? The next thing you know, sea robins will be table fare....

Someone needs to take the bull by the horns, call on all of us for donations, then take that money and use it to raise awareness, lobby or whatever is necessary without injuring anyone trying to make a decent living abiding by the rules- that includes draggers.

You are also correct about raffles and charity auctions. I have witnessed it firsthand also. Many, (note I said many, not all) of the same guys posting here about how we should do something don't buy raffles at the shows to fight overfishing or raise awareness. ****, I have seen guys won't part with five bucks to help the homeless or kids with cancer at tournament auctions by buying a raffle or t-shirt, meanwhile they are puffing on $15 cigars after just putting $500 in gas in the boat. What I did notice is that the commercial charter captains were quick to bid on the high dollar stuff and probably outspent the rest of us by two-to-one. Most people stood around thinking that $40 was too much to bid for a $200 rod/reel combo and to boot it's TAX DEDUCTIBLE...... What did I do? Spent $300 bucks on stuff I'll never use to help the cause, bought 4 t-shirts and a whole bunch of raffles. The commercial captains also donated trips on their charter boats to help raise money- what did we do?? uhhh yupp- nothing. Yes, I know they benefit by getting a new fare on the boat who will hopefully come back, but they helped the charity. That's what it's all about- banding together with a common goal.

The draggers also stick together like glue- that's something we do not and it needs to change. We outnumber them 100-fold, but that doesn't matter when no one can organize us and they will back each other to the death- like brothers. There is certainly a middle-ground- Any suggestions?

p.s. George, I've got the second $100 check!

 

[strip]

$100 check

I have the third!!