Washington ralley?

[joeya78]

any word from there?

[penn50w]

They were just on channel 12 news/NJ - Penn

[fishpro28]

Well here is some news... http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/new_jersey/article_05daeefc-20ec-11df-89e9-001cc4c03286.html

Seems like it went well:)

[fishunt]

just got back from the rally. day went pretty good with alot of politicans that gave speeches supporting many of are concerns.the crowd was a pretty decent size for a weekday rally.

[NoWorries]

Went down for the rally just got back. A good turnout plus a lotta hope for the future. People are hurting and they came from near and far to push for reform. let's hope and pray that it comes soon. Lots of families are depending on it.

[jakesdad]

Just got home. It was a very positive day. Many Senators and Congressmen came out of their offices and from votes to speak. I think once Capt.TB or Capt. Adam have a chance to digest what happened they will post a complete report.

The fact that when we arrived there were only 3 sponsors of the Senate version, but 6 or 7 Senators spoke, would seem to me we are making progress.

I was on the Sportsman's Center bus, real nice group. Saw some old friends and made some new ones. J B Kasper from the Trenton Times was also aboard so he should have a spin on what happened alsoin one of his next columns.

Henry

[Goatee]

I had the pleasure of joining the Grumpy's Bait and tackle bus trip to the Washington Rally. The guys deserve a big thank you as they not only priced the trip at only $20 per but had movies down and back as well as great food and drinks, etc. I am sure they spent a lot of their own money on this trip. If we had a lot more businesses like this we would have had even better attendance. I don't want to take anything away from the other businesses that organized bus trips to the rally as they also went above and beyond. Thanks to everyone that helped make this rally a success.

[hammer4reel]

Long day, but def felt it was worth it.
will post some pics tomorrow as IM beat

[Clam Strings]

Had a great time down in DC...Me and My Girl were also on the Grumpys buss...Saw alot of familiar faces.....Great turn out..and i felt like it was well worth the trip down...Got chills down my spin during a few speaches....

We are bolth beat..I got a long few days ahead with all this snow...



sean

[GamblerGal]

It was so exciting to see so many allies from allllll over the country at the rally today!! I took a bunch of pictures with my camera phone and posted them on our Twitter page from the march: http://twitter.com/GamblerFishing (scroll down and click the blue links)

I took a lot more pictures with my nice Canon camera, but I'm too exhausted to upload and post them all now. Hopefully I can get them online tomorrow or the next day. Let's start writing those letters!! :cool:

[CaptBob]

Just got home from the DC trip. Must say I was greatly impressed by the fisherman Sport/Comercial/ and Pary- Charter who came together.

Our Brothers and sisters came from Alaska to Maine from California to Florida from The Carolina's to Mass. A great crowd.

While we heard from many Senators and Representatives that told us they support us WE CAN NOT STOP THE PRESSURE.

Call, write or email your Senator and Congressmen to support S1255 and H1584.

They know we mean business and we have to keep it up.

Many thanks to those whose hard work put this together, they did a fantastic job.

[Leif]

Thanks to everyone who made an effort!


Leif

[Skolmann]

Jason and I got home about 15 minutes ago. Long day but well worth it. Good crowd and was nice to see both commercial and recreational anglers on the same page.

[capncasey]

Yes, it was a great day and we made history. Made a lot of new friends, and found some old ones. Marilyn (I hope I spelled it right) will be the most memorable, thanks for making the long broken bus ride more pleasurable.
I hope to see a list of merchants who didn't show up, so that we can vote with $$$$ too !!!!! Thank you all who showed up.

[Capt. Jerry P]

Just Got Home

Was a Great Day Today...Nice to see so many familiar faces from Nj and a great turn out from so many states all there standing up for what they love so much!!!

Lots Of Great speakers!!!

Thanks You to everyone who was involved in planning this and making it possible to happen!!!.... as well as everyone who attended/ supported the Event!!!

[Reelron]

AH Bus 2 made it home! After changing busses. Long day, kind of tired. Thanks to all that made it a very sucessful day.

[SHIRTGUY]

Someone Upstairs Likes Us Fishermen A Lot But Has A Sick Sense Of Humor

A. The Weather, Imagine If The Rally Was The 25th
B. A/h Bus 2 Broke Down And Our Genius Bus Driver On Bus 1 Actually Thought And Started To Try And Make Room For The Sold Out Bus 2 Passengers To Ride On Our Bus, Not Sure If He Noticed That There Were Only 2 Open Seats (believe me this post doesn't mean we didnt want to help out but....)

What Was Hell Was He Thinking, How The Hell Were We Going To Fit 50 More People On Our Bus ?? I'm Not A NASA Engineer But Really

Now That Was The Sick Sense Of Humor Part

The Part That Someone Upstairs Likes Us Is,
As We Were Going To Start To Attempt This Modern Marvel Circus Act, Two Academy Buses Passed Us And Pulled Over. And Holy Sh*t One Was Completely Empty

The Sigh Of Relief Was That Of When An Airplane Lands.....
I Hope Academy Bus Doesn't Charge By Mile Or Hour As They Took Every Short Cut Exit Ramp To A New Traffic Jam (lol)

But We Are All Home , Safe, And Truly Thankful For The Transportation Coordinators From Our Group.


As Far As The Rally ( Which Was My First Rally Attended) Based On Numbers And Crowd Enthusiasm I Think It Was A Real Success And I Feel Proud That I Was A Part Of This Day ( 10 Years From Now When My Son And I Are Fishing I Cant Tell Him All About What I Was A Part Of On 2/24/10)
It Was Very Informative And Educational To Hear Legislation, Stories And Facts On How Commercial, Recreational And The Weekend Fisherman Are All Affected By These Issues ( How Ridiculous Is The Car Tire Requirement In Florida)

[hartattack]

Great to see so many NJFishing friends on the buses and @ the rally. Amazed that fishermen came from Alaska, California (third year with no Salmon keeping), SC, Fla, NC, Mass, Montauk, etc..

Special props and thanks to SHIRTGUY Jeff who provided everyone on the AH buses with fishing towels that read " I Fish ! I Vote ! I Marched ". Nice touch, and the towels also had shout-outs to NJFishing, Capt Ron's Fishermen, and SSFFF. Thanks Jeff - a memorable day will now be looked back at fondly when I use your towel.

[CaptTB]

United We Fish - Gloucester Times (http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_055230045.html?keyword=topstory)

[Fishguts]

A great day to be around a bunch of great people. What a blast!!! Thanks to all the people that put this amazing event in place. The speakers kept the crowd rocking and 3 hours just flew right bye. If you could not make it, you really missed something special. This event really showed me as a fisherman,a captain,and charter owner the importance of joining and supporting the many groups(SSFFF,UnitedBoatmen,RFA, just to name a few) that fight for our best interest. Hopefully we wont need to do this again but if we do just let me what time the bus is leaving.:) On a side note I am sure glad that we do not have to worry about catching turtles around here:D

[Flukinator]

What a long day, but what a feeling of accomplishment. Ray Bogan did a GREAT job up there in keeping the speakers flowing and keeping the proceedings on track and focused. It was great to see the politicians actually speak in support of us publicly, and towards the end, to have groups of fishermen actually get to meet personally with their local politicans for discussions. It was a feeling of making an actual impact, and that something may actually be done to help all fishermen, both rec and comm.

Also amazing is just how many fishermen we had there, and the reality that that was just a tiny fraction of the actual number of fishermen in our area! Imagine if more came?? HOPEFULLY it won't be required that we hold even bigger demonstrations in the future. I'm proud to have gone, and will march again if necessary, but hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Thanks Shirtguy for the hand towels. One will be used on the boat, and the other will go on my wall at home.

[ReelNauti]

United We Fish - Gloucester Times (http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_055230045.html?keyword=topstory)


Tony,
do you think THIS QUOTE, reflects the statement, "...we made some mistakes and we cant call it flexibility, but now we can have "certain exceptions based on biology and other issues."..."

good grief!

"I understand the criticisms of the ... rebuilding time frames in Magnuson," Schwaab said in the prepared statement. "However, I believe Magnuson already contains the flexibility we need for rebuilding stocks by allowing certain exceptions based on biology and other issues."

[GDubya07]

It was awsome

It was very cool and humbling to be apart of something bigger then myself and trying to make a difference. I have never been part of anything like this but I am sure glad I was.

Can't say to much more that has already been said but?

The speakers,politicians and everyone who was there - Thank you- Thank you and Thank you
Captain Bogan you are correct when you said you did not need the mic for everyone to hear you - that was great and I heard ya loud and clear - Awesome - :D

Great energy, crowd and support- from the recs to commercial - people came from Alaska and California and up and down the east coast- those poor bastards are very screwed (West Coast)??? That is why they came to let us know on the east coast what is coming our way ?

Anyboday want a catch-share or should I say fishing to the highest bidder?

Seen some of the usual suspects - Capt. Jerry and Capt.Wayne from the Monger , Stellie, Brian from the Angler and of cousre Ms. Marilyn

Captain RON - YOU ROCK - took charge of our bus and I wish you would have gone up there sir and spoke - I NEVER GET TIRED OF HEARING YOU SPEAK AND WILL HOLD THE SHOT GUN SHELLS HELP YOU RELOAD AND HOLD YOUR SCOTCH ANYTIME SIR- Good Luck with the new computer

The worst part was the bus ride back - the other bus broke down but luckily another one pulled up and picked em up - and thank god nobody took a dump on our bus - I was sitting right next to the bathroom - that would have been it and would have walked home

Couldnt have been happier and prouder but we are not done we need to fight for our right to fish.

This is not the end but the beginning - Please suppport our right to fish anyway you can - I did

" I FISH I VOTE "

G-:cool:

P.S. - Love the terrible towels parting gifts - very, very cool - :cool:

[CaptBob]

Great write up on the ESPN web site

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4945625

[jwstand]

Thanks to all who took the opportunity to go to DC and put our system to work for us all. I, for one, am greatly appreciative.

I know we can all offer many excuses, I am in great peril of losing my job with the continuing economic spiral. Rebound my A** that said I was too nervous to miss any time.

Our system of Democracy can only work if the people, like you, make the effort to be seen and heard. I owe you all a drink, figuratively of course. Though those who catch me on a party boat need only let me know you were on the bus, and I will fork over one ice cold brew, maybe some of my Scotch as well!! I always pack the cooler and almost never seem to have more than 1 or two so I will be well prepared.

THANK YOU ALL for doing what some of us could not.....

[dales529]

Glad as hell and proud I went yesterday, What a showing! Thanks to all the organizers and fellow Jersey fisherman. Felt good to be part of it. Met up with Leif and Tin Squid after the train and went to the rally site early. Once on the platform we ran into Monger Nation, Stelly, Capt Dan Reelmusic, Capt John Chev, Reel Nauti and all the usual suspects. Great group to hang with for what turned out to be the best 17 hour non fishing but fishing related day I have experienced. Ray and Tony Bogan did a great job and the crowd from all over the country was like you knew them your whole life. Speakers were well versed on the issues and i hope they follow through on their statements of support.
Maybe a first step in change but I believe it was a huge statement and a sounding call for the participation to continue. Sounds like more rallys and unified participation will be the norm instead of the exception as the fight continues. Keep reminding your elected officials of their role and their statements in the future via e-mail, fax etc.

Again great day and good job by all who went and those who couldnt but supported via other means.

Thanks Leif and Ken, had a great time.

[Topeka Boy]

I went to the rally yesterday not really knowing what to expect. I got a real education on what these govt agencies have been doing to the whole fishing industry on the entire east coast. My heart goes out to you guys and gals and me as a fisherman can only promise to give you my total support and be there when I am needed. I fish I vote.