[mitch]

I haven't posted in awhile but do read almost everyday. My 2 cents is yes many not just illegals, are fishing and keeping though not sure how anyone can know each person fishing from public piers and docks are not legal citizens, many of us do at one time or another, my wife works in Hoboken and she as well as I walk the new park/pier their and do see many who fish that spot, many old timers many regulars, and many who yes keep small fish, I can guarrentee they all are not illegals as thought! But the police are always around and I'm sure the state knows about these waterfront fishing holes. I can attest to more short fish are being taken from private boats then private people off the shores, wish I had a nickle for everytime we were given the "salute" for yelling at somebody throwing a baby into the cooler!
I personally would like to see the slot bass come back the smaller bass are by far the better tasting, a 26" or 28" is nicer meat than a 34" or 40" by far, better taste better quality. And the bigger breeders are getting few and far between more because "I think" they are smarter than the smaller fish and realize, why keep going back to the spot we're harrassed each year, so I think they just find different, safer, quieter habitats to live and breed, a.k.a. why the upper Hudson is seeing less and less right?.
Give us the 2 slot size again and maybe the bonus tag fish could be a 30" or 34"+ instead of just a 3rd fish. That may cover both sides of the issue maybe?.
As for loosing customers, yes it's location, location, location, Montouge will always have that fan base just like here in Jersey, if you want say Bluefish you'll go to shark river or Pt. P not A.H. though they all go to the same basic spots, that's just how it is. The same as even getting down to what type of fishing you want will depend on what boat you go on, back bay verses channel fishing, and so on. Bottom line the economy weather anyone wants to admit it or not has hurt all aspects of our lives, many more than the lucky few, God bless those few. A good day for us and the PB Capts use to be 50-60 fares, the last couple years, now 20-30 fares the Capts are you know what in their you know whats!
We all have to give and bend and stand up for our rights or else all of our boats will look like those NY PB as 2 days a week out with 5-6 fares on a 90ft boat! that is a sin!!!
We all must do our part or nobody will be around! store owners, gas stations, rental owners, nobody, do we want to look like Sheepshead bay?? or some of these other towns? Yes we feel it because we live in Jersey but it's all over and fishing will become a thing of the past for most of us as did sports and seeing games live. I use to have season tickets for the Mets (in '86), i'd have to sell my house for 1 season of my old seats now.
It's not an easy fight but we do have to adjust somewhere in the middle or we all will loose!