Now what????

[captain george angler]

The State fish and game sold us out for fear the commercial fisheries could be shut down. Well I am sure that many who in the past followed the law have lost all respect for the new laws. I do not blame any one who takes what they want for a dinner or two. If I were on a private boat I would do the same. Head boats and large charter boats have a problem in that we have fillet permits allowing us to fillet at sea. We do not know who is on board and if caught we loose the permit

Our big problem is the bag limit and short season. While a small boat with 6 guys will be allowed 18 fluke and who knows if the hot hand caught 8 and put them in the box for all to share. If I have 30 fares and could keep 90 fluke we would carry many more people than we are going to. We do not for the most part catch 3 per man and the average is probably around 1 1/2 per man. When people go fishing they always hope for that special day and it is that, that keeps them coming. The state and Feds know we do not catch 3 per man but they also do not care.

If we whine and cry enough to the right people maybe we can get the season extended. Keep records on what the new rules are coasting you. Tackle stores less income, charter boats less trips and head boats less fares.

Our motto should be we have just begone to fight.

Any ideas on who would help us?
Thanks captain George Angler

[Hotshot1]

Party Boats need to count fairs and keep that amount of fish no matter who catches. Mark the fish keep in a common cooler then disperse on land

[Hotshot1]

I will certainly have a sharp knife on board

[Sullivan]

Just a thought , we have a governors race coming , at a town hall meeting let them know how we have been screwed for years while abiding by the law , let them know how fishing related business is being hit ! And let them know how a family oriented , father and son way of life is being destroyed . Like I said , It's just a thought , but having a governor on our side would not hurt .

[captain george angler]

Thanks for the inpuy. George

[frugalfisherman]

I believe Captain George in order to loose your permit you have to fillet a short fish. The mates shouldn't worry what I put in my cooler as I will fillet at home. If someone gives you a short fish to fillet. you hand it back without filleting. If I get caught it's on me. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[hammer4reel]

Realistically the new limit should help the party boat fleet .
As you have posted very few patrons actually catch more than a few keepers anyhow .
So in that respect the size limit of 18" is way better for you than 19" or worse yet 21" would have been .
But is is going to really hurt the charters boats , as not many guys will want to pay 150 a guy to fish for three fish .

Private boaters who are the biggest group may really see a decline of Guys traveling as far to find fish .

That being said , I didn't see many party boat captains at Any of the meetings , so it's a little late to bitch now. Unless of course it's to get the ball rolling to correct all this for the 2018 season .

As I think many now can see what sitting around and waiting on others did for us .

[bunker dunker]

that funny i've been waiting since the early 80's for them to do something for the
rec fishing community.

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

Realistically the new limit should help the party boat fleet .

hmmm...what world of realism might this comment come from?
Oy Vey!

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

hmmm...what world of realism might this comment come from?


Oy Vey!

How about because guys will fish on a party boat instead of a charter boat because now they can only keep 3 fish it makes sense to go on a boat that cost a little bit less that's the point.
They can fish three times on a party boat for the same cost as fishing one time on a charter boat and end up having more fish to put in the freezer for the same amount of money.
Many private boaters may just jump on a head boat to go catch their three fish instead of spending $100 on fuel