Commercial fluke "rod" licence question for you guys...

[PA Angler Matt]

A buddy of mine was approached with quite unusual offer. A guy who said he has one of 6-7 commercial fluke "rod" licenses offered him this deal...

He could fish with him for fluke for free on his boat, he would even supply the gear, bait, ect. However he keeps ALL the fish. If my buddy wanted any fish he said he would sell them to him for 1/2 of the price he gets from his buyers.

so apparently this guy has a licence commercially to only sell fluke caught with rod and he can not net. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Probably the most unusually offer I have ever heard in my life.

Not only is his guy ruining the fluke fishing for all of us now and down the road, he is going to recruit people to be his fishing b**ch and make him money and not even let that person keep their own limit?

This world is fd up

Just wanted to get thoughts from the NJfishing community on this topic and if anyone has heard of this or known anyone to have done this.

[PA Angler Matt]

He said he has one of 6-7 rod licences in the state of NJ*

[Honger]

How is it ruining fluke fisherie?

[Peterooster]

I know one of those pinhookers as we call them, they are no different than the guys with the nets. He has made my brother and I the same offer, but we never take him up on it. We will talk on cellphones when searching for Fluke and at times been very helpful.
He can keep 14" Fluke just like his counterparts with the nets. His season only lasts until the commercial quota has been met. Pete

[PA Angler Matt]

Honger, he isn't single handedly ruining it, but he sure as hell isn't helping it.

[Rick-D]

A commercial fisherman with a rod and reel, sound like a tough job.

Sounds like a sweet deal for a "sharpie." Free fishing. I am sure 1/2 price of wholesale is much less than any fare.

Seems like he is looking for free labor.

[MDeSi]

Honger, he isn't single handedly ruining it, but he sure as hell isn't helping it.

Respectfully, before judging a guy who pinhooks, you should educate yourself on the current and future impact other methods of commercial fishing have on our fisheries and habitats. Regardless of his deal with pullers.

[dfish28]

^^^^^^ as said above... Did anyone see the roller trawlers out in abundance ( Friday) opening day? I did, and didn't get shite in that area they were either...

[Dino]

Your right, 1 pin hooker is ruining the fluke fishery for all of us. LOL

[JBird]

Hey, how'd you like to work for nothing? I'll let you come on the boat and do my job for me all day long and if you want to eat you can pay me for the priveledge. Sounds like a great deal, right? :rolleyes:

[Garone Custom Rods]

I wish all commercial fishing was done by rod and reel. If it was you can sure as hell bet many fisheries which have been on the decline would be booming in 5 years. Rod and reel fishing doesn't destroy habitat, and it is way less effective than long lining or netting.

[dakota560]

Agree that it's an unusual arrangement but also agree rod and reel will NEVER destroy a fishery. Economically if someone is going to pay for ALL operating costs for the day including gas, oil, ice, bait etc, paying 1/2 the market value for your 5 fish daily limit would probably be a lot less expensive than what it normally costs to run the boat for the day. That being said, it would be very weird using my boat in this manner since you basically become an observer and give up your rights to your catch for the benefit of the person with the license. I go fishing to enjoy the day and get away from what happens during the week at work, not replicate it on the water!

Something more important to consider are the insurance implications of all this. Does this arrangement effect your liability insurance and does it violate any of the requirements of having a Captain's license. If someone is paying for your operating costs, you're getting value. How is that any different than someone paying you a charter fee? Sounds like the boat is now being used in a business manner and not recreationally which may void your insurance coverages. What if the guy with the license falls on board and hurts himself, I would assume you have liability issues your insurance carrier is not going to be responsible for. Who assumes the risk if the guy starts keeping 13" fluke, the guy with the license or the boat owner.

As I said, I go fishing to get away from life's realities and enjoy the day, not to make money essentially chartering my boat out to someone to use for his own personal interests. It might make sense to someone else but to me the downsides completely outweigh any upside.

Dakota

[stevelikes2fish]

i wish all commercial fishing was done by rod and reel. If it was you can sure as hell bet many fisheries which have been on the decline would be booming in 5 years. Rod and reel fishing doesn't destroy habitat, and it is way less effective than long lining or netting.

exactly

[jerseyhunter]

Sounds like a deal to me. Fish all day and take home only 1 meal . Next day repeat.

[NATE THE MATE]

Hell, where do i sign up for that one? lol