Bill, Mike, Mark, Gentlemen:
I think you are secretly arguing both sides of the same coin. The 36" was
good for everyone. Limited fish (bag limits) are definately required for both
recs and comms. Maximum Sustainable Yeild--Total Allowable Catches--the point is to
keep the yearly number of catch limited down--for everyone. I cut my teeth down the cape
not only on the shore but in a charter boat out of Falmouth with a Captain
who was also a Marine Biologist. He always knew where the fish were, but he
also knew about conservation and protecting the overall biomass.
My point is that I did some of the best fishing of my life on a charter boat and
do not agree that keeping fish was by any means the goal, (or profit margin). Fishing and catching were.
Keeping was not.
We can all get through this together, with reasonable regulations for all.
But we need reasonable regulations. Commercial fishing is not a fundamental right in this country,
but fishing is. Not recreational fishing so to speak,
but fishing for the love of it. And anyone who loves the fish, loves to fish,
will want to fight for a continued and healthy population.
WHy don't we agree to just tighten up restrictions for everyone? Lets all go
back to 36", with bag limits for all.
If you are a charter boat worried abpout your business, I do not think
business will substantially go down if "keeper" restrictions go back to what they were.
As far as market/commercial fishermen go--face it--they farm raise these fish
now and there is more state income to be made from recreational fishermen than market
guys. The future is in keeping the population maximaized...for everyone's benfit.
Bass are a sport fish more than a market fish, and catch and release will generate
the dollars needed to keep most businesses alive. TImes have changes from Maximum
Sustainable Yield. Maximum sustainable fishery is where it's at...
PK