[dales529]

Tommy,
Have the utmost respect for you as a "Hardcore" fisherman, Charter Captain and as a man of values in general.
There are many "hardcore" fisherman on this site and others that spend valuable fishing time NOT Fishing and fighting the exact things you speak of.

Unfortunately most fisherman / industry suppliers / industry captains react rather than act. There have been multiple fundraisers, calls to action etc that very few participate in. SSFFF for one, RFA-NJ for 2, JCSA for 3 , United Boatman for 4 and not in any order. I could go on and on.
Without these Hardcore fisherman we would be looking at MUCH worse as far as actual data for quotas, bag / size limits , closures per species, , beach access, Pots on reefs, MPA's, Sanctuaries and catch share programs.

Going to DC even twice, donating a few bucks, an open boat trip, a PB trip ticket etc isn't enough!


I agree with Hammer4reel who has always participated rather than stay on the sidelines although we may not always agree and you personally have helped as well but until:

ALL fishermen Hardcore or NOT get in the game (and NOT the Keyboard game)we are stuck fighting with limited resources. The resources are there the fishermen are NOT

Easy for anyone to call out the issues and yet another thing to join in the resolve! Some say it wont work but I have seen it get better and with many many more fisherman involved it can be beat but without them its always going to be status quo! It is a Shell Game, Politically driven fight yet we DO have an inshore (although it sucks) offshore C bass season at end of year, Fluke seasons, Tog seasons, etc and some may not realize that this is because of the hard work of the few and not the many wherein lies the problem

I am curious however to the release practice of any fish species and floating dead fish. I fish often but not as much as some and am not in "the Business" but cant agree that C bass, stripers, tog fluke are not released harmless on most occasions by good fisherman and have never (other than commercial by catch) seen "floating dead fish" . I firmly believe these statements add to our problems rather than help and just me personally haven't seen the release carnage some speak of.

I agree with your frustration and again respect and appreciate what you have given to our fisheries