[skatemaster]

Let's say that I'd like to see the following. What organization, RFA, CCA, whatever, comes the closest to helping to achieve these goals?

1) Consistent year round limits on all species, ie no closed seasons. I don't care what the bag limits or size limits are, I would just like the opportunity to take home a fish of any species any day of the year.

2) Hybrid recreational/commercial permits - Average folks should be able to get permits to sell small amounts of fish. Without showing 50% of income from harvesting fish for 3 years! Why should the big boys and full-timers have all the fun.

3) 38" striper limit.

4) Saltwater license - I like to see the revenue going towards enforcement of existing regs. The existing law enforcement is spread too thin to be effective.

5) Shore access - Would like to see shore access increased, for example have the feds take over some town beaches (eminent domain?) and provide public parking.

 

[614942]

big ideas

point one will never happen just to keep overfishing down limits are real tough these days but i do feel that they do their job. striped bass is a comback story to prove that. and weakfish have made a strong comeback also do you think that this was because of a real high bag limit ?

point 2 should not happen either as a dec man told me one day when i had 45 tag bass in the box and decided that i would keep the one 45 pounder for the table "you cant wear both hats" either recreation or commercial and wrote me out a pretty fine. i feel that it would just add more regulations to an already over regulated industry and more people then you think use these permits for a living. the big boys and full timers deserve all the fun because it is their livelyhood ad rightfully so ! there is a growing small charter industry in long island if you want extra pocket money get in on that and i can say that most recreation orgianizations will not got for some kind of sell your catch permit it will never happen....BOB

 

[619627]

Saltwater license? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! You want to give this state more money which has done nothing to improve the quality of our fishing, nothing in giving us more boat and beach access, and nothing in fight for our fair share of the fishery quotas. DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A LICENSE WILL MAKE ANYTHING BETTER FOR IMPROVING FISHING HERE IN NY! I would not even give them a idea that people want this. All it is for this state is a another revenue stream. Totally useless. We have commercial fishermen here with NYS Food Fish licenses who are having a tough time making a living. And thats with a license that cost 250 dollars! How bout Conn. and Rhode Island where this license cost 25 dollars i believe. Why is NYS getting ten times more?

You want a SALTWATER LICENSE......well it will start at ten dollars, and like everything else, when the state needs money, it goes up....How would you like to pay 25, 30 or more dollars to have a saltwater license so you are allowed to catch your 1 fluke? And how bout other states requiring outer state residents needing licenses to fish in their waters. So a fishermen in NY will need a New Jersey, Conn., or Rhode Island license. So you have to pay more then your own states license to go fishing. Ever think about that.

And you want more enforcement? After seeing the over zealous display of fishery enforcement this year in Sheepshead Bay and other ports, i can say, less is best in this case. Have you ever been boarded by the DEC out on the water? Nice feeling, right?

Wouldn't you rather put those law enforcement dollars in improving the fisheries, or giving you more beach access, more piers and docks around Long Island? Their is only so many ways to split up the money they take in.

EC NEWELL MAN*

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

skatemaster,

I joined the RFA last year at the Nassau Colliseum show, after a little grandstanding by Capt. Neil about putting our money where our mouth is. I felt he was right. I was a member to many organizations that support hunting, but none for fishing.

When I was at the show, I spoke to the CCA guys and the RFA guys. I liked the more realistic, in my opinion, goals of the RFA. For one example: The CCA representative, wanted to ban outright various forms of commercial fishing, with no discussion of alternatives. The RFA had plans for gear restrictions and controls on destructive fishing practices.

Sometimes you need one extreme to combat another (ie the NRA vs the anti gun wackos) but I don't believe that is necessary in the fishing community because I don't see the commercial guys as that kind of enemy.

If you can't find one that shares all of your beliefs, join one that at least shares some of them.

 

[Captneilf]

Doughboy

Hi,

Holy Sea Robbin!!!! Did I do that to you!!

I think you are the first! HA!!

See you at the Shows.

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

You got it Neil. See you soon.

Chris

 

[skatemaster]

I am pro-saltwater license for a couple reasons.

Money = political clout

Enforcement is good, lack of enforcement is bad, more $ = more enforcement. What happened in Sheepshead Bay was not SOP.

Money can pay for more access. Access is drying up around here.

Will a license cause less people to fish? Who knows, plenty of folks still buy licenses and fish in CA, LA, FL, etc. and contribute to the fishing economy. I would expect that the cost of a license would be insignificant on an annual basis. If it is $20, that's 3 less drives to Staten Island that I will make each year to compensate Maybe I have been conditioned by surf fishing to expect to pay.

Anyway, I'd be perfectly happy finding an organization that supported my first 2 goals.

 

[LkyLindy]

Where did it go?

I would be for a saltwater license if the money was guaranteed to go back into the fisheries.However history has taught us(lotteries)that when the state needs to make up for shortages they take the money from wherever they can.Soo-I go with EC-Put your money into an organization that we know is fighting for us-I like the RFA

 

[skatemaster]

OK, does anyone know where the NYS freshwater fishing and hunting license monies go? Am assuming that saltwater license monies would go the same way.

In addition, do folks support freshwater fishing and hunting licenses, or should we dispense with them?

NJ is looking at a saltwater license.

http://www.app.com/app2001/story/0,21133,656895,00.html

I don't fish for trout, should I boycott the freshwater license? They don't stock deer, should I boycott the hunting license?

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

I am against the saltwater license

Here is a discussion some of us had last winter about the topic.

Saltwater License

 

[skatemaster]

Interesting read. What do you think of a Duck Stamp equivalent for fishing? Can't take or target saltwater fish (migratory) unless you possess the stamp. That seems to address many of the concerns about a state license, while giving the fishermen some political clout. Where do Duck Stamp monies go anyway? Do states get a piece?

 

[SurfaceStrike]

skatemaster, you must be smoking something good.

Screw the idea of a saltwater fishing license. Why not just allocate some of our hefty 8.5% Nassau County sales tax that we pump into the economy for lures, bait, reels, rods, 4x4's, boats (skiffs-offshore mansions) and giving it back to conservation and such. Not to mention the 4x4 beach permits that the state, county's and towns pull in.

 

[skatemaster]

Nah not smoking

I assume that the sales tax monies that you are talking about have already been allocated to something worthwhile If not, and there's pot of gold that someone forgot about, let's eliminates some existing licenses and fees too

If we need more funds for enforcement, access, education, science, etc, where will they come from? I guess that we could just bump up the Nassau sales tax a couple points Or just get the money directly from the fishermen.

 

[skatemaster]

This is how it works now

It could change in a heartbeat, but right now, it sounds good to me.

"State Finance Law mandates income from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses be deposited in the Conservation Fund and be spent only for fish and wildlife conservation"

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/license/licfee02_03.html

Would a saltwater fishing license be considered a fishing license?

 

[machete]

I,already pay $50 to get on my own beach in the summer,thats after $7OOO in taxes.I for one do not want to pay another dime to catch in my back yard

 

[machete]

TO SUR STRIKE TAKE A LOOK AT WHATS GOING ON AT MONTAUK PT.THE FEE AT THE PARKING LOT EXTENDS TILL TO LONG NOW THE FORT UNDER CONST. HAS A BOOTH ,SOON WE'LL HAVE NO ACCESS TO THIS GREAT FISHING SPOT. [WHAT'S NEXT]

 

[619627]

Boy i am glad to take a look here, and see you guys are fed up by the NICKEL AND DIMING by this STATE for anything! You have outrageous property taxes, high insurance, the highest cost of living in this country in our area, with little (i should correct myself and say nothing) to show for the fishermen in this region, and the issue of a SALTWATER LICENSE FEE! What orgainization should you join? Well the one i would like to start with a handful of people here in the Bay, that will take the DEC to court as far as the fairness on:

LICENSES
BAG/SIZE/SEASON LIMITS

If you are going to join something, then join something that is going to at least standup and make the DEC more accountable for the above things listed.

EC NEWELL MAN*

 

[skatemaster]

Which recreational fishing group is taking the DEC to court over the DEC's actions earlier this year in Sheepshead Bay?

Regarding the $, I understand not wanting to pay a penny if you don't feel that it is going to buy you anything, but wouldn't someone be about 350 times more furious about a $7000 charge than a $20 one? I try to be thrifty and I can honestly say that at the end of the weekend, I wouldn't know if I had spent $20 extra on something. $7K on the other hand......