RFA Says Shared Recipe for Disaster Could Be No Fluke

[sportfishingusa]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

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.

I have a lot of friends in the industry from here to north and down the coast. U do not want to see anyone lose business. I for one will continue to fish for the sport. I would rather catch and release 20 marlin in a day then kill 50 tuna. Just the person I am. I will support my local charter and party boats even if I can't keep anythng. I just hope everyone feels the same way if shit continues to go south like this.

I have also refused to support any organization who claims to fight for our rights. And that's because no one has yet to prove that they are able to actually get something done IMHO.

[Seamus]

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 fish for meat... But not because it's cheaper and I don't care that it's easier to get fillets at shoprite. I appreciate your point but it doesn't speak for everyone.

I don't need to fish for my food, I like to. I like being somewhat responsible for what I eat. I harvest/grow what I can. Fishing for food doesn't have to be a financial decision or a question of what's convenient.

Who would still hunt if it was roping a deer, dragging it out of the woods, snapping a photo and letting it go?

[Capt Sal]

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.

The first thing we have to stress is the DEC in NY and the NJ Div. Of Fish and Game do NOT SET BAG LIMITS!!We pick our best options given to us by fishery management known as the Federal Government.Inside our three mile line might be state waters but in reality they control that also.

[RussA]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

The first thing we have to stress is the DEC in NY and the NJ Div. Of Fish and Game do NOT SET BAG LIMITS!!We pick our best options given to us by fishery management known as the Federal Government.Inside our three mile line might be state waters but in reality they control that also.

That's why NY and NJ fishermen need to join together to make a huge push back.

[DaveTats]

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.

It's a great mindset/attitude but we know most people don't look at it the same way.

You also forgot to include the cost of a case of Mickey's

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by RussA

That's why NY and NJ fishermen need to join together to make a huge push back.

If it benefits both states I am all for it.Raritan Bay is a drop in the bucket compared to all the rest of the bodies of water in this hughe state.At this time I do not believe it is in our best interest to team up with NY.Convince us of the benefits and maybe we will reconsider.The bag limit on fluke would be the main issue.The second issue would be Striped Bass.I am looking at this as a charter boat Capt not a private boat owner.

[RussA]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

If it benefits both states I am all for it.Raritan Bay is a drop in the bucket compared to all the rest of the bodies of water in this hughe state.At this time I do not believe it is in our best interest to team up with NY.Convince us of the benefits and maybe we will reconsider.The bag limit on fluke would be the main issue.The second issue would be Striped Bass.I am looking at this as a charter boat Capt not a private boat owner.

When you see the numbers for 2015, You'll see my point. They are coming for your fishing fleet and they hope to cut it in half.

[TomKaye]

Originally Posted by 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

Thank you Sir. E-mails sent as requested on this snowy afternoon.
In addition, I've written my Congressman AGAIN, urging him to re-visit the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which is certainly biased in favor of commercial interests.
I asked that he re-examine and revise the Act so that perhaps one-day our heirs can still enjoy a day of saltwater fishing.
I expect I'll get another form letter response, but I'll keep trying. Our kids and grandkids deserve better from this great country of ours.
Here's how fishermen can contact their Rep as well. I've given up on writing to Useless Menendez, but that's another story.

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Tight lines and safe travels all,
Tom K.