Sea Bass update - Action Needed!!

[Dave A]

I just spoke to Jim Donofrio from the RFA concerning the sea bass situation. He told me that he has been working very hard with the Under Secretary of Commerce and NOAA regarding this dreadful situation. Jim and John Depersinare have argued not only the economic impact of the sea bass closure for Sept and most of October but also the fact that a Sept 6 to Oct 21 opening will not adversely affect the current stocks (currently 130% over the 100% rebuilt target), and the fact that for all of the years we have been subjected to unnecessary cuts in the quota and not received credit (by way of increased quota for our sacrifices). Jim said we should all contact Senator Booker's office and let him know we need his support in this fight.
On a personal note, I read way too much bashing of the RFA for their lack of "success". No one works harder then Jim Donofrio and no group fights harder for "sensible" fisheries management then the RFA. I am proud to say that I was able to help Jim form the RFA years ago. Jim had the vision when NO ONE else did.

[Ice Cream Bill]

Dave,

We can all agree that the sea bass fishery is quite healthy in our state, but the fall regulations are no different from previous years now that we're allowed to keep 15 fish @ 12.5"...imagine me having paid back in April for an offshore trip on a Point Pleasant NS boat to keep 5 fish. That's insane!

Last year's fall regs were 15 fish @ 13". In 2015, sea bass opened for one week around Labor Day. More insanity. So what will anglers do Sept/Oct? We'll continue to decimate the porgy, Ling and winter flounder fisheries. We can always take our reels for service at the Reel Seat during that time.

Kudos to Jim, Dales529, Dakota, Angler Paul and others here on NJ fishing for all their efforts.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks for the update Dave... Just sent a note to Booker asking for his support. The rest of you reading this should do the same.

Your message to him might go something like this:

Senator Booker. The Recreational Fishing Allinace and others are attempting to avoid a Sea Bass closure in NJ from September 6 through October 21st of 2017. This is being taken up with the Under Secretary of Commerce and NOAA.

The Sea Bass stocks are deemed rebuilt by NOAA, they report the stocks to be 130% over the 100% rebuilt target. The rebuilding of the stocks were due in large part to the scrafices made by recreational fishermen with restrictive regulations and seasonal closures in past years. Now that the stocks are rebuilt, I think it's time to relax the regulations and remove the seasonal closures and would ask for your support in that regard.

Respectfully

[shrimpman steve]

Booker is too busy writing bills about removing confederate statues in Washington.

[stevelikes2fish]

Done! Didn't see a specific topic for the letter so I chose "Help with the federal government ".

NOAA.......NEVER ON ABOUT ANYTHING

[Cuz]

I respect ANY organized group that cares and supports the N.J. fishing industry. But I refuse to send any financial support to one that gives a salary to some of their members.
Living on a fixed income doesn't allow me to help pay for someone else light bill. If you are doing what you feel is right, it should come solely from your conscience and heart. And the monies collected from contributors should be spent on what's going on solely here in our home state of N.J. I could care less about the problems other states far away have.

Originally Posted by Dave A

I just spoke to Jim Donofrio from the RFA concerning the sea bass situation. He told me that he has been working very hard with the Under Secretary of Commerce and NOAA regarding this dreadful situation. Jim and John Depersinare have argued not only the economic impact of the sea bass closure for Sept and most of October but also the fact that a Sept 6 to Oct 21 opening will not adversely affect the current stocks (currently 130% over the 100% rebuilt target), and the fact that for all of the years we have been subjected to unnecessary cuts in the quota and not received credit (by way of increased quota for our sacrifices). Jim said we should all contact Senator Booker's office and let him know we need his support in this fight.
On a personal note, I read way too much bashing of the RFA for their lack of "success". No one works harder then Jim Donofrio and no group fights harder for "sensible" fisheries management then the RFA. I am proud to say that I was able to help Jim form the RFA years ago. Jim had the vision when NO ONE else did.

[Gerry Zagorski]

With all due respect, not sure people who are strictly volunteers are willing to travel to DC regularly and spend their personal time and money lobbying politicians to support recreational anglers. Are you willing to? If not then you pay someone to do it for you or it doesn't get done.

As far as national vs local, as long as fisheries management is run by the Feds our local issues are really national ones. Sure we need to fight every season when quotas are set locally, but unless the the national laws and governing organizations are challenged on a national/federal level, we will continue to fight over the scraps the Feds throw us locally. We need high level national changes and support for things like Magnuson Reform and the Modern Fishing Act.

If you're on a fixed income and can't afford to support a national organization, I totally understand that. To say you don't support them because they have people on the payroll, not sure you are going to find any national organizations that don't....

Cant tell you the number of times I hear fishermen say "we need an organization like the NRA" . Well the NRA happens to have 24 people on their payroll. If you are in agreement with their cause and can afford it, would that stop you from supporting them?

Give your financial support if you can. If you can't or choose not to, let's not discourage others.

Lastly and all this aside, I'm not asking for donations here.... What I'm asking is for people to write their Senators to support a local Sea Bass fight we have on our hands right now... Not a big ask and it won't cost anyone anything except a few minutes of their time.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by stevelikes2fish

Done! Didn't see a specific topic for the letter so I chose "Help with the federal government ".

NOAA.......NEVER ON ABOUT ANYTHING

That's what I chose as well Steve. Thanks for writing.

[dales529]

Dave,
Thanks for posting this and all you continue to do.
Gerry Thanks for your well written response (wish I had your patience)

Without people like Jim Donofrio and RFA things would be so much worse that most Fishermen and especially "keyboard" fishermen don't get I would be beating the proverbial dead horse even trying to explain it so for the most part I wont except to say I am glad I live in a world where fishermen like Jim Donofrio and RFA exist.

Whatever the salary of a national recreational fishery rights organization lobby member gets it should be TRIPLE. And it should be funded by those of us unwilling to do that unappreciated job. Or do it yourself if you believe its SOO lucrative!

Its so easy to say what have you done lately while forgetting what the effort is that most of us don't do. Yes communication could be better and what we are doing could be posted more often but small wonder why its not when the negative bashing starts rather than support.

Who do you really think got 15 seabass back for the offshore season?

If you cant support monetarily donate some time but if you choose NOT to support make sure its for reasons you fully understand.

Like Gerry said, NO money required just write the letter it takes a few minutes and who gives a crap what Cory Booker supports outside of what we need. It takes all parties to get fishery management done and right now he is the guy so just do it

[Cuz]

I FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AND NOW VOLUNTEER PART TIME FOR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T SALARY ITS OFFICERS. If I CAN DO IT FOR FREE, SO CAN EVERYONE ELSE WHO REALLY CARE. I DECLINE TO RECEIVE MONEY ANOTHER POOR SLOB CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSES OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY. JUST MY PERSONAL PET PEE. AT LEAST I DO SOMETHING. HOW MANY DO? NOT MANY AT ALL. Gerry Thanks for your well written response (wish I had your patience)

Without people like Jim Donofrio and RFA things would be so much worse that most Fishermen and especially "keyboard" fishermen don't get I would be beating the proverbial dead horse even trying to explain it so for the most part I wont except to say I am glad I live in a world where fishermen like Jim Donofrio and RFA exist.

Whatever the salary of a national recreational fishery rights organization lobby member gets it should be TRIPLE. And it should be funded by those of us unwilling to do that unappreciated job. Or do it yourself if you believe its SOO lucrative!

Its so easy to say what have you done lately while forgetting what the effort is that most of us don't do. Yes communication could be better and what we are doing could be posted more often but small wonder why its not when the negative bashing starts rather than support.

Who do you really think got 15 seabass back for the offshore season?

If you cant support monetarily donate some time but if you choose NOT to support make sure its for reasons you fully understand.

Like Gerry said, NO money required just write the letter it takes a few minutes and who gives a crap what Cory Booker supports outside of what we need. It takes all parties to get fishery management done and right now he is the guy so just do it[/QUOTE]