RFA Says Shared Recipe for Disaster Could Be No Fluke

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

Four fluke and next year one striper?If this happens they win and the already starving for hire boats will be a thing of the past.We all say we will be pirates but this does not fix the problem.This was a long time coming and now we are all saying we need more public input.It is not over yet..I would say most of the people on this site are informed and up to date about what is going on with fisheries management.On the other hand you would be amazed how misinformed the average anglers are.Running a charter boat for years you meet new people everyday.One of the main things I hear is-Why doesn't NY and NJ get together and have the same bag limits.It is not that simple.NY would love that and so would i.These people out number the die hards and we also need them onboard.

I agree with you Sal.

If this is the case, what we should all do is encourage everyone to get the word out to the average angler and we need to specifically tell them what to do and where to send their letters if that is the tact we want to take...

We can do this here on this site and I can put a post up on my personal and the NJFIshing.com group facebook page leading them back to a specific post on NJfishing.com that we would create. We would encourage people to share the facebook post on their own facebook pages so it goes to their network of friends and hopefully it goes viral.

The biggest problem we face is getting the word out and then getting people to take action. IMHO what we need to do is:
- Get someone to explain in plain English what options we support and why to get people to buy in.
- Once you have their buy in we need to give them a simple means to send a pre formatted email to the people that are either making the decisions or influencing them.

I'm certainly willing to do what I can to facilitate this I can if someone can help me with the explanation in plan English I mentioned above, what we'd want the letters to say and whom to send them to.

[aduma1107]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

I agree with you Sal.

If this is the case, what we should all do is encourage everyone to get the word out to the average angler and we need to specifically tell them what to do and where to send their letters if that is the tact we want to take...

We can do this here on this site and I can put a post up on my personal and the NJFIshing.com group facebook page leading them back to a specific post on NJfishing.com that we would create. We would encourage people to share the facebook post on their own facebook pages so it goes to their network of friends and hopefully it goes viral.

The biggest problem we face is getting the word out and then getting people to take action. IMHO what we need to do is:
- Get someone to explain in plain English what options we support and why to get people to buy in.
- Once you have their buy in we need to give them a simple means to send a pre formatted email to the people that are either making the decisions or influencing them.

I'm certainly willing to do what I can to facilitate this I can if someone can help me with the explanation in plan English I mentioned above, what we'd want the letters to say and whom to send them to.

This is a great idea. Put in layman terms instead of copying and pasting a legal document no one reads.

[Ahab123]

Over the rail and in the pail...screw'em....

[hartattack]

Gerry and all - here is my plain English eMail I sent to krootes-murdy@asmfc.org and comments@asmfc.org. The title/subject should be Draft Addendum XXV and the deadline for comments is 5 p.m. on January 24th. I constructed this simple Email based on Dales' suggestions in page 4 of this post http://www.njfishing.com/forums/show...t=66382&page=4

Please understand that NJ Fishermen have suffered considerably since Superstorm Sandy: destroyed docks, fewer boats, out-of-business party boats and tackle shops.

I feel that “Regional Management” of NJ’s fisheries would further hurt our shore economy and will drive those that persevered Sandy even further into debt. Please maintain NJ’s Status Quo and please consider Quota Sharing between states . . .Many thanks for your consideration,


I urge everyone who reads this to please take 5 minutes & send the emails. Heck, you're already on the computer

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks Larry - One piece of the puzzel. You and I "no" why we support status quo and quota sharing but the average Joe probably does not and IMHO we need to tell them in plain English why they should support this position as well... In addition, we need to make it convienient for them to somehow click on one button to send the form letter to the people who are making or influencing the decisions.

Something like this that I got from the SeaTow email that is rallying people to comment on getting rid of Ethanol in gasoline.

http://capwiz.com/nmma/issues/alert/?alertid=63045576

The more easier we make it the more people are will do it.

Am I making any sense here

[sportfishingusa]

I know i will get a bunch of shit for this statement, but if you say you spend the day going fishing to feed your family or to go home with some meat, then your full of shizzle. 135 for a open boat, 60 for a head boat all day fluking, doesnt matter, go buy filets at shop rite if you want to save a few bucks and eat fish..


One thing i know for sure, is that (and here is where i will get bashed) even if the limits change, it does not make a difference to me personally, i do not need to retain fish, i fish for fun, the sport, the friends, the good times we all have, no one fishes for meat, 2-8 fluke per person, does not matter, what you get from 5 fluke? 4 lbs of meat average? 12.99 in shop rite, thats your head boat fare..

I feel we have gone from a bunch of sportsman, to a bunch of wanna be meat fishermen. Say what you will about my comments, but even if it went to 5 sea bass, 2 fluke, 1 striper, 1 tuna, 1 this, one that, i will continue to fish my charter boats i usually fish all year for the fish i enjoy to catch, not the fish i enjoy to eat.

[dales529]

Gerry,
Not as easy as it sounds to put this in plain English for a one size fits all as there are always varying opinions, and issues for individual anglers, for hire guys, both sides of the state and fishing groups etc. At the same time I believe that there is unanimous opposition to this Addendum and I agree that this path is the way to go.

A lot going on behind the scenes with getting something like you are talking about put together that hopefully everyone can get behind. This is also why I did the Survey to include and AGREE with Capt Sal, Larry and others who have spoken about the need for mass response. We need to send as many emails, letters etc as possible and get to the top rank and file of NJ Elected as well

In my opinion some of the Key Topics to put such a letter together are:

1) Cart before the Horse Theory: How can you discuss Regionalization before Re-Authorization of Magnason and getting the Science / Landing Data FIXED.
A decision of this economic impact can not be supported without real Landings numbers.
2) Too many questions unanswered on regionalization:
What factors are used to determine Regions.
How quotas could possibly be established fairly when fish stocks span multiple regions.
What Lines would have to be rezoned for each region.
Why should all of NJ be in a northern region
(you get the point) but for simplification the 1st sentence could be used as is.
3) Effects of Sandy on NJ fishing participation and economy that needs to be recognized against the faulty Landings data.
4) Addendum States that Fluke and Seabass stocks are rebuilt, NOT overfished and overfishing is NOT occurring so what is fair to NJ about the current proposal.
etc etc.

Again emails have to be sent by Jan 24th so hopefully we can get something done quickly. in the meanwhile write your own and send often, send 1 a day if you want, and send to NJ state officials as well.

Keep you posted: We ALL stay at the rail all day when "Catching" sucks so now we need to stay at the rail and make sure this doesn't happen.

[Ol Pedro]

Originally Posted by sportfishingusa

l feel we have gone from a bunch of sportsman, to a bunch of wanna be meat fishermen. Say what you will about my comments, but even if it went to 5 sea bass, 2 fluke, 1 striper, 1 tuna, 1 this, one that, i will continue to fish my charter boats i usually fish all year for the fish i enjoy to catch, not the fish i enjoy to eat.

Sportie , some of us like to have the option to eat what we catch . We shouldn't give up anything without a fight to keep that option open. For a lot of us if we don't bring something back it's hard to justify going . I love to fish and pray that our government doesn't stop it all together by chipping away a little at a time. They don't want us to fish unless they can make a profit from it. there may be a time that you can't catch and release Bluefin Tuna . It will only be open to the comm's.

[tropics]

Sorry but after seeing all the lurkers sit back after reading a plea to help THEM.
The march on Washington, when the boats out of the AH sailed with fishermen that don't care.
Looks like Dooms Day.

Can't really express my felling about the sit back and wait,some one will come to my aid, other then you s**k

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by sportfishingusa

I know i will get a bunch of shit for this statement, but if you say you spend the day going fishing to feed your family or to go home with some meat, then your full of shizzle. 135 for a open boat, 60 for a head boat all day fluking, doesnt matter, go buy filets at shop rite if you want to save a few bucks and eat fish..


One thing i know for sure, is that (and here is where i will get bashed) even if the limits change, it does not make a difference to me personally, i do not need to retain fish, i fish for fun, the sport, the friends, the good times we all have, no one fishes for meat, 2-8 fluke per person, does not matter, what you get from 5 fluke? 4 lbs of meat average? 12.99 in shop rite, thats your head boat fare..

I feel we have gone from a bunch of sportsman, to a bunch of wanna be meat fishermen. Say what you will about my comments, but even if it went to 5 sea bass, 2 fluke, 1 striper, 1 tuna, 1 this, one that, i will continue to fish my charter boats i usually fish all year for the fish i enjoy to catch, not the fish i enjoy to eat.

I wish everyone had a fish for fun attitude.That is not the case with most anglers.Take what you need and enjoy the day.Why not bring home some fillets for the family?I agree it is not cheap to go on a charter boat but who charters all the time?Don't be greedy but take home what the law allows.I am happy with one fresh dinner.I am all for conservation but I still want to run a charter boat.