FISHERMEN/With much sadness...I must report

[1captainron]

It is with much sadness I must report another "Nail in the Coffin" for the Party & Charter Boat industry.
Once again, the Powers that be have to justify their jobs and shove the last straw down our throats with the Fluke Regulations. Some of the proposals are Bullshit just to make you worry a little more, like they always do. Then, there's the 2 that "YOU" get to decide on, neither of which will keep you in business. Not this time folks, if we get a 3 fish 19 inch limit shoved down our throat, with a shorter season, we are done.
I've seen the decline in the business across the board the past couple of years, I'm sure no-one will argue that point with me! All because of an unmanageable system that no-one wants or cares to change. Justifying a Government organization at the expense of peoples lively-hoods is a real disgrace!
We have worked hard and played by the idiotic rules all our lives, we always survived. Not this time, catch and release is not gonna pay the bills around here, people at least want something to show for the effort. Worst part is there's absolutely No reason for another cut back. 3 years ago they were jumping up & down telling us the stocks were rebuilt...the catch limits still went down and size once again went up! Now were facing a 40% reduction!! We've already proved by the SSFFF sexing study that 95% of 18 inch and over Fluke are Females....yet, we are still forced to kill the breeders. Doesn't show any common sense, does it? With all the other crap going on in the World, this will be a Non- issue in Washington.
Only hope is that Maybe the RFA can get to the President elect and let him know about our plight. If he wants to not only Create and save jobs and Generations of Hard working people who provide them ......This would be a great place to start! Merry Christmas.:mad:

[SplitShot]

Amen Capt Ron :mad:

[dakota560]

Capt. Ron I feel your pain and couldn't agree more with the many points touched on in your post. Unfortunately the PEOTUS has bigger fish to fry than regulations for the upcoming season and the chances of him addressing our plight anytime soon are next to if not zero. Sad part is our regulations are being dictated by suits and ties who have a different agenda than ours. Like everything else in life, it's all about money, power and control. Unless the recreational fishing community can figure out a way of getting a seat at the table, I'm afraid your conclusions are right on. Another industry which will go by the way side so marinas can be turned into condominium complexes and the world's fisheries can be exploited by politicians and a handful of conglomerates.

Check out the below link and tell me if it doesn't identify the cause of the problem. And keep in mind these are JUST reported results, wouldn't be surprised between discard at sea and black market the numbers are double what's reported. And yet the powers to be continue penalizing recreational anglers for their exploitation of a public resource!

http://www.fishingnj.org/netusa3.htm

[lingding]

Captain Ron and Dakota,- I am afraid I can't argue with either of you. The trend continues. "get outta my way, I'm making money". Those with money and power wll only let us fish if it convenient. The way things are going, the last bastion wll be carnival pools fishing for trout with a pice of rubber on the hook. (catch and release of course).

[NoLimit]

"We've already proved by the SSFFF sexing study that 95% of 18 inch and over Fluke are Females....yet, we are still forced to kill the breeders."

Captain you are absolutely right.

This is the absolute Truth in the matter and it proves that our Big Govt approach to things is working against our fishery and us. In fact, they have no interest in seeing our hunting and fishing tradition continue. Wash DC would just as soon see everyone riding in subways and busses and eating from box stores.

However, never think that there is no political solution for this. The new administration has NO interest in paying bureaucrats to screw things up and it should be very receptive to the States deciding what is the best for its bays and estuaries which are the breeding grounds for game fish.

[tuna john]

my friend went to the meeting in Maryland, said was a joke. People really didn't have much of a forum to discuss their views. One thing noted was the lack of people whos lively hood depends on this dont go to any meetings. We all complain, but how many fisherman actually take the time to write letters emails or pay $$ to rfa etc. We spend money on tackle gas etc but most have a problem sending a check to org that are trying to help. I do what I can write, email send emails to friends to fill out send $$ to ssfff etc. We all need to do just a lil and maybe(not sure) makes a difference.

I am in no way pointing any fingers at all just an observation.

[AndyS]

Anyone have the link for the Saltwater Registry. I need to make sure I sign up for 2017 !!

[Rightaway III]

.....and the commercials can take hundreds of pounds of 14 inch fish every day!

[njfisherman1975]

Very well said captain...I can't imagine how captains are going to be able to continue their business with these proposed regulations. I'm 41 and I thought I've seen a lot...but guys that have been in business for as long as I've walked the earth have to be beyond disgusted with all of this. Such a shame!

[Sullivan]

Capt. Ron , I understand , it sucks ! This was my first year fluking with you , I only hope there are more . Made new friends , and had great times . Thank you .

[june181901]

A very big difference between recreation anglers and commercial guys is good old fashioned cash! The commercial guys hire lobbyists to get their points across and donate cold hard cash so those in power can get themselves reelected. We sports on the other hand just are not organized as productively.
We sports are outnumbered and outgunned.

[Capt Sal]

my friend went to the meeting in Maryland, said was a joke. People really didn't have much of a forum to discuss their views. One thing noted was the lack of people whos lively hood depends on this dont go to any meetings. We all complain, but how many fisherman actually take the time to write letters emails or pay $$ to rfa etc. We spend money on tackle gas etc but most have a problem sending a check to org that are trying to help. I do what I can write, email send emails to friends to fill out send $$ to ssfff etc. We all need to do just a lil and maybe(not sure) makes a difference.

I am in no way pointing any fingers at all just an observation.
Local fishing clubs are just that! Great fun and donate to help the community. As i have said many times before, only a national well funded and a famous speaker will due. We need a famous person and TV commercials to have any chance. Will Trump help our cause? I hope so but don't count on it. I am done with chartering and i am retired but feel for the younger guys and the rest that are at the end of there careers.

[Take a kid fishing]

Very well said and we all feel your pain. We can hope they will come around but only time will tell. My best to you and the family. Merry Christmas.

[SNAPS]

A very big difference between recreation anglers and commercial guys is good old fashioned cash! The commercial guys hire lobbyists to get their points across and donate cold hard cash so those in power can get themselves reelected. We sports on the other hand just are not organized as productively.
We sports are outnumbered and outgunned.

We have a winner ANSOLUTELY CORRECT shove money in their pockets and we can have a bag limit of whatever we want.

Sorry to say no matter how many meetings we go to r how many rules we follow dont matter when the basis for those rules are flawed.

Cmone look around at all the other BS that goes on in govt.

[Meat Hunter]

There's always options to everything in life. Combo trips might be something to ponder.


Meat Hunter

[NoLimit]

We have a winner ANSOLUTELY CORRECT shove money in their pockets and we can have a bag limit of whatever we want.

Sorry to say no matter how many meetings we go to r how many rules we follow dont matter when the basis for those rules are flawed.

Cmone look around at all the other BS that goes on in govt.

Make Fishing Great Again

[Flukemeister1]

It is with much sadness I must report another "Nail in the Coffin" for the Party & Charter Boat industry.
Once again, the Powers that be have to justify their jobs and shove the last straw down our throats with the Fluke Regulations. Some of the proposals are Bullshit just to make you worry a little more, like they always do. Then, there's the 2 that "YOU" get to decide on, neither of which will keep you in business. Not this time folks, if we get a 3 fish 19 inch limit shoved down our throat, with a shorter season, we are done.
I've seen the decline in the business across the board the past couple of years, I'm sure no-one will argue that point with me! All because of an unmanageable system that no-one wants or cares to change. Justifying a Government organization at the expense of peoples lively-hoods is a real disgrace!
We have worked hard and played by the idiotic rules all our lives, we always survived. Not this time, catch and release is not gonna pay the bills around here, people at least want something to show for the effort. Worst part is there's absolutely No reason for another cut back. 3 years ago they were jumping up & down telling us the stocks were rebuilt...the catch limits still went down and size once again went up! Now were facing a 40% reduction!! We've already proved by the SSFFF sexing study that 95% of 18 inch and over Fluke are Females....yet, we are still forced to kill the breeders. Doesn't show any common sense, does it? With all the other crap going on in the World, this will be a Non- issue in Washington.
Only hope is that Maybe the RFA can get to the President elect and let him know about our plight. If he wants to not only Create and save jobs and Generations of Hard working people who provide them ......This would be a great place to start! Merry Christmas.:mad:

Damn it Ron you scared the crap out of me. I haven't been on in awhile and I thought by the headline you were going to tell us your dad died. Sure glad it wasn't that.

[Detour66]

I think the only way to save this is to come up with a plan to lobby for recreational fishing. This going to take real money and real participation.
Focus on one species at a time starting with fluke and hammer them just like the commercial guys do. Someone has to step up to the plate and get the ball rolling. They ignore studies but money talks! There has to be at least 200,000 fluke fisherman in the tri-state area or even more. Time to kick in and save what we love or watch it die! But it has to be done via lobbying power. That's my humble 2 cents. Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's!