[Billfish715]

Percentages and quotas are all good if it prevents a harvesting free-for-all. The harvesting allotments though, have to be established by using accurate data. I've always held that the recreational allotments are the result of inaccurate or estimated catch data. The commercial catches have to be logged in and provide data that accurately reflects the tonnage brought to market. The recs don't so our numbers are calculated using a mathematical formula based on hypothetical numbers. Even when we lose fishing days to bad weather, it is presumed we make up for the loss of time and fish for those days by catching more in the remaining days. I'm not sure of the basis of their reasoning, but the regulatory committees seem to use a flawed formula for determine fluke quotas for the recreational fishermen. Unfortunately, trying to have recreational anglers fill out a log or report their catches at the end of the year is an unlikely scenario. So, our fluke quota is solely dependent on the "reported" landings of the commercials since our allotment is a historically applied ratio to the total pounds of fish brought to market by the draggers.

One out-of-the-box idea is to include the party and charter boats in the commercial category. They could share in the same seasons, size limits and quotas as the draggers. Pay-to-fish is a kind of commercial enterprise. That would leave only the catch by private fishermen to be tallied. It's only a thought, but think about the possibilities for the party and charter captains. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.