Quote:
Originally Posted by dakota560
As far as creating a separate category for charter and party boat catches, would have to give that more thought but my first reaction is along the lines of Gerry's reply and twofold. First it adds more divisiveness to the fishery and complicates certain matters (some of which Gerry already eluded to) more than they already are. Second it focuses again on catch and not reproduction which again in my opinion is the wrong focus. We're not addressing the primary problem hurting the fishery if we're to believe the data we have to work with is remotely and directionally correct. While I agree we should be open-minded to all suggestions, just my quick thoughts on the suggestion Gerry already replied to.
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Hi Dakota, I'm humbled by your intimate knowledge and interest in what has been an " Oh-Too-Long" controversy. Your perseverance in all of this is enviable.
I totally agree with your observations about targeting spawning female fluke and it makes total sense, even to me, a mere fisherman. In order for that to happen, the NMFS will have to make a deal with the commercial lobby. I doubt if they are up for a battle nor do I think they will budge from their position toward achieving total restoration of the stocks. While I agree with their mission, I think their strategies have been flawed if not failed given the amount of time their plans have been in effect. Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is INSANITY! That is where we are now.
The scientists depend on data for their decisions. Evidently, there are two sets of books containing that data. If decisions are based on data and the data is wrong, we are left in a lurch. I just think the NMFS will not take the time to reexamine their data or be open-minded enough to entertain other points of view or other data.
As for the idea of a different set of regulations for the party and charter boat fleets, well, I still think it has to be considered. There would have to be some accounting for their catch, that's true, but the good captains all keep logs of their catches, only, they are not reported to the state as the commercial guys do. There are only estimated catch totals of the fluke that are harvested by the recreational anglers and a theoretical formula to determine mortality from released fish. How is that scientific? How does the NMFS come up with their recreational harvest numbers, by an estimate? How accurate are those estimates?
If the party and charter boat captains agree to log in their landings in order to extend their seasons and catches, it's worth a shot, in my opinion. I know that liberalizing the quotas and sizes limits and seasons for the "for hire" captains will take some work and some give and take. The harvesting of more fluke many not fit into your plan to take pressure off the spawning females but it does satisfy the needs of the party boat industry at least until your plan can be implemented.
The commercial fishermen don't lose anything except a few weeks of closed seasons but they retain the same quotas of pounds of fish landed per season.
The stocks get a chance to be rebuilt. The recreational fishermen don't lose any fishing time and the party boats are able to stay in business. But, it all has to be agreed on and egos will have to be put aside, and compromise will have to be agreed upon. It is a win-win if everyone just "chills out" and talks and realizes that we are not adversaries but allies. Change is always hard to accept but life is always changing. To ignore and resist change is like I mentioned before...........INSANITY!
