Noreasts goofy automated SW license petitions..

[mctrout]

Are not these very misinformed "auto" letters that go straight to our legislators? As far as I know many of these "Facts" brought up in the letters are just dead wrong and misleading...
Check it
http://www.noreast.com/action/

Not to mention ofcourse there is no letter that is "FOR" the license...

[Lov2Fish]

I agree letters are NOT well written, but atleast it's a start. Saltwater liscense would be a real pain for me when I take those "once a year" friends out on boat, and I can see it discouraging the once in while guy who fished from shore! Also with Raritan borders and NJ not having reciprocating laws, it's already insane when a guy on one side of the bay can keep a 18" fluke (NJ) and a guy on the other side (NY) has to get a 21" to keep! Never mind the guy who starts in Jersey passes under Verrazanno Bridge (NY) fishes NJ and goes back through NY to get to his home NJ port!!!

[Albieaddicted]

Brendan, I know you're pretty on top of this issue. Where is the money going? I've read a number of your posts about poaching issues and I have seen my share of the same. Will any of this $$$ see its way to enforcement? It seems to me that if there is going to be a saltwater license, I better see better enforcement. This is after all an effort at strengthening the fishery in general, right?

[mctrout]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but I refuse to get into the debate about where the money goes. This is exactly what the Commercials and others want. To divide all the Recs to the point that no one actually makes a decision, and in the meantime we are still uncounted and invisible. They could spend the money on hookers and coke for all I care, I think it is worth the price of admission (which is not insignificant for me at $450) to get a list and accounting of the Recreation Fisherman that are currently partaking in our SW fishery. Once the literally millions of fisherman can be accounted for and stand up for OUR rights, everything else will take care of itself. Is it any suprise why there is no enforcement? (I spent some part of the past 4 days on the water with DEC officers on the phone) They are passionate about their jobs, but they literally have to "Steal" time away from their myriad assignments to try to deal with poachers. It is almost as if they are volunteers in that there is no mandate whatsoever, other than a few people calling a hotline, to do enforcement in our area. I am not saying this for other areas as I dont know enough about them and Montauk seems pretty good atleast.
I have calling and speaking to the DEC both in person at diners or fishing clubs, or on the phone for well over 12 years. To give them more money and more people is still not going to change what is essentially an issue no one cares about. No one that matters atleast. Wait until there is 2 million people that are eligible to sign a petition to push for Gamefish Status, or Poachers, Or Slots or what have you. You can bet that Schumer, or whomever, will not ignore that kind of voter base, not to mention so much more in the way of education for anglers, (or more imprtantly Kids as some people cannot be helped as far as attitudes towards our waterways) etc.. all this can be done with a license. To get hung up over 20 bucks (when that is nothing in the goofy world of 4 dollar coffees, 11$ Tolls for bridges and $25 lobster rolls..)
I think if we can keep the eye on the prize, all will work out.
BTW this is one of the best weeks I have ever seen in JBay for fishing in all my life, and I swear I am not kidding when I can safely estimate that poachers within 5 miles of Breezy killed over 10,000 pounds (or an average of 4-5000 fish) this past week alone. I saw them with my own 2 eyes, and they are not easily stopped. I saw DEC try to board a guy who dumped dozens of short fish before DEC got to them, Thus there was nothing they could do.
We need smart collabrative enforcement with passionate people, and people willing to say it like it is and stand up to these people..
Noreast and sites/groups l,ike them, are doing a disservice to use all as anglers when trying to fight $20 fees. that is 2 less beers at a ballpark/stadium for the whole year....
Thanks for your perspective,
Brendan

[Zenfish]

That is a pretty interesting, and thoughtful position Brendan, I like it!

I have been grumpy about the $50 I paid for a Jbay kayaking permit, when all
I get for it is a gate at Cross bay Channel so I can't go out at night my favorite time. In the greater scheme of things I guy just wanting some quiet time floating on a piece of plastic seems pretty harmless. Seems like sometimes rules will be made just because they can. The belt parkway is a lot more dangerous then kayaking at night with the right gear.

I hope that if it passes it would cover the whole coast, rather then state by state like the freshwater license.

Regarding those commercial poaching criminals, there must be a way to public list there names on line or something, make them famous for what they are doing to our fishery.

[Breezy Loon]

The Celtic Sage, McTrout, has it right,let us not get distracted on the license issue about where the money goes. Ideally enforcement, but if it goes to the "general fund" or some of it into some politicos pockets so be it. It is all about verifyable numbers of recreational anglers, so that political pressure can be brought to bear on the issues that are fundamental to habitat and fish protection. Any angler who seriously protests the cost or inconvenience of the license fee should rethink it and come up with a better idea. Guess what, there ain't one!!

[mctrout]

Just a little update. The DEC has been making a pretty strong showing as of late. Yes, they usually hit the water at 9, long after all the pros are full up and back in bed, but it is a start. All they need is a regular presence, and things will turn around quickly I think. I am afraid, as far as publically outing them, I believe they are the types that couldnt care less, much less have a computer or internet connection...
To clarify a bit, when I say I dont care where the money goes, What I truly mean is that once we have a accountable community, we will have the clout and influence to get the money directed wherever we want down the road. At first, I vote to suck it up, not worry about it, and all will be very good in time...

[Lov2Fish]

You guys feel, it will show our numbers of anglers. I think it will back fire because a large percent of those 1 to 5 times a year anglers will NOT get liscenses, so the number will probably be lower than estimated. People are fed up with being taxed on everything! Just what the average "Joe" angler wants to hear, pay this saltwater liscense fee, but the money collected from it most like will NOT go to anything fishing related! They should impower the coasties then to enforce against poachers, and maybe they can leave the recreation guys alone.