I spoke today (2/8) with Ken Reback of the Mass Fisheries Department. Asked him a couple of questions.
On changing the guidelines for the commercial catch in '98...
Since the overall commercial quota would remain unchanged under the new proposal (750,000 lbs) l, he sees the lower size limit as merely an adjustment to how that quota is reached, not something which will lead to a larger bass harvest.
On changing the recreational bag limit...
I asked how likely he thought this was to go through. He shrugged and said it depends on who shows up to the meetings. We talked some more and I came away with the sense that, there being no widespread organized opposition to the proposal, he expects it t
o happen.
On efforts to introduce a saltwater license in Massachusetts...
CCA tried last year and the governor shot it down. Ken tied the failure, not to general apathy on the part of the pubic, but to direct opposition by Massachusetts sportsmen's groups. He shook his head sadly at this and called Massachusetts a backwards sta
te in this respect. Claimed we can't see past the $15 a license would cost to recognize all the could it could bring about. Until a license gets support among our fishing clubs it won't happen.