Some intel from DC...

[Captain Ollie]

Just got word of this through the coconut telegraph.

Don't ask me to elaborate more 'cause even Jack Bauer couldn't get more out of me. (Google that name if you don't have a clue.)

Some of the most vocal opponents of the gear may want to make sure someone is around to revive them after they read this.

NMFS is full steam ahead with trying to get every pound possible to make the quota......therefore;

Bouy gear isn't going anywhere.

Further expansion of the bouy gear fishery is a VERY REAL possibility.

How? Possibly through the elimination of HP retrictions on the handgear permits, as well as the possible establishment of a "general" category permit, similiar to the tuna permit which allows a rec. to sell a fish.

Well, now that I've thrown what amounts to a steak to wolves on leashes who are just out of range.....
I look forward to what will no doubt be an interesting, as well as possibly record breaking thread.

[Capt'n Shane]

Ollie, If rec guys could sell fish how would that affect the buoy guys business? I would think it would drop the price?

[quack quack]

I do not agree with the gen category for rec sales of fish.I believe it will take some of the sport out of it.A guy will get a nice 150lb fish then keep fishing and not release anything legal if they can sell it.Not bad guys just human nature.

[RiskTaker]

I also agree with what Eric is saying. Bluntly, it will create a conflict of interest within the commercial community. Besides, many rec.s don't know how to properly field dress their fish for commercial resale anyway: ice, storage, temperature, blood line etc.

We need to try to figure out as many ways as possible to stay united with the commercial fishing community to more effectively influence the real important "conservation" decisions. It is a tough balance as it is: no need to throw more deviciveness into the mix.

[quack quack]

NOAA would love for all the rec to sell there fish legally.1.takes away there job of enforcing illegal fish sales.2.Helps to wards the quota.3.Takes the rec voice out of the fishery because now we will all be commercial.Then we will have no say against other types of comm fishing.You know the old saying if you can't beat um appeal to there personal greed.


From a fly on the wall (Hey guys I know what we can do with all these rec guys.Lets turn them into commercial fisherman.That way they can not opose any changes we want to make.Last time they got the public,political and rec groups to go against us.But by making them commercial then they will not have those groups supporting them and will only look greedy if they complain about LLers and such.)

[underdog]

Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

[Darkside]

Just goes to show how its all about the QUOTA. If we don't catch it someone else will. Waiting to hear from DC whats been proposed.

[Colonel Klink]

Not much good from what I have heard, Drew. I'm pretty rattled about it. Ron and Vinnie will fill us in soon.

[mneptune]

Originally Posted by quack quack

NOAA would love for all the rec to sell there fish legally.1.takes away there job of enforcing illegal fish sales.2.Helps towards the quota.3.Takes the rec voice out of the fishery because now we will all be commercial.Then we will have no say against other types of comm fishing.You know the old saying if you can't beat um appeal to there personal greed.


From a fly on the wall (Hey guys I know what we can do with all these rec guys.Lets turn them into commercial fisherman.That way they can not opose any changes we want to make.Last time they got the public,political and rec groups to go against us.But by making them commercial then they will not have those groups supporting them and will only look greedy if they complain about LLers and such.)

Eric,

I think you just the nail on the head...... What will it take to keep this resource stable? How about commercial hunting for fisherman? Why not? Humans are doing a great job of eradicating many of the species in this world, why not hunt our own species and give the rest a break?

(Just kidding...... or am I?)

[Darkside]

I heard the same things you did and they were no good. Solve one problem and have the solution cause more problems then it resolved.

[kyle]

The general permit would that be an open access permit like Dolphin/wahoo or Atlantic Headboat permits?

To be brutally honest I'd love to have 1 if so, but I don't think it would be fair for guys like Ollie who fish for a living or should I say a "FULL TIMER". The influx in fish would certainly drop the price in all local markets, only making it tuffer for guys that are making an honest living.

I don't think its a good idea ethier way.

[islandshark633]

Fron Capt Ollie's post -

NMFS is full steam ahead with trying to get every pound possible to make the quota......

My question is -

supposing the quota was maxed out from fish caught in the FEC would'nt that collapse the fishery entirely ?

[quack quack]

I can understand why you would want one Kyle and wouldn't blame you.You commercial fish for a living I think for kings and snap?So with this new day fishing for swords with a little conversion a bug bandit could be used to go deep.So when the king bite slows on the slack tide just slide offshore and get a few swords.Only problem is every other commercial guy and a few ex rec guys(ex because soon as you sell your fish you are now a commercial guy)will be out there doing it as well.So then you will have 100 day boats and 100 night boats fishing from Jupiter to Key Largo.Not to mention if they upgrade the hp on the remaining handgear permits.If they do open a gen sale permit the handgear and directed permits will lose most of there value.

[kyle]

Thats exactly my point why wouldn't it be beneficial for me and many others to have. But I still don't think it's a good idea. Theres too many negatives to the whole ordeal.

I think before they opened up a new open access permit they should go through all the dorment permits and take them if they haven't been used in the past say 7 years. NMFS already did this with lobster permits, by 09 if you don't use your kingfish it's gone, same thing with the Snapper/Grouper permits. If you don't use it you lose it.

Is that any kind of viable option?

[PURPLE FEVER]

Originally Posted by quack quack

I can understand why you would want one Kyle and wouldn't blame you.You commercial fish for a living I think for kings and snap?So with this new day fishing for swords with a little conversion a bug bandit could be used to go deep.So when the king bite slows on the slack tide just slide offshore and get a few swords.Only problem is every other commercial guy and a few ex rec guys(ex because soon as you sell your fish you are now a commercial guy)will be out there doing it as well.So then you will have 100 day boats and 100 night boats fishing from Jupiter to Key Largo.Not to mention if they upgrade the hp on the remaining handgear permits.If they do open a gen sale permit the handgear and directed permits will lose most of there value.

Eric its all about the QUOTA. From what I hear Capt. Ollies post is dead on whats happening. We may help the quota but it looks in the long run everyone may suffer. Recs with less fish to catch and bouy guys with more and more competition from within and possibly with rec sales.

Its probably time to gear up for another battle. The community needs to let NMFS know what a bad idea this is. They only respond to the political lobbying that must take place.

Maybe instead of the SESC having to address this a S. Fla. swordfish PAC needs to be formed.Hopefully this could bring everyone together and get the club back!

[quack quack]

Thanks Burt we are working on it now!Read my post on Jesslyns thread about the quota.

[PURPLE FEVER]

According to the members list there are over 5000 members of the SFC site. If everyone gave $100 think of the lobbying effort that could take place. Maybe we do not have to reinvent the wheel. Possibly one or more of the existing groups CCA RFA or hopefully TBF can take up the cause.

I just wonder if any of the existing bouy guys would be on board with this?

It will be interesting to see what Ellen has to say on this.

Its too bad we cant just fish . These issues are too important to just bystand.

[Colonel Klink]

Originally Posted by PURPLE FEVER

I just wonder if any of the existing bouy guys would be on board with this.

I certainly would be, and every bouy fisherman I know would be also. I am so bothered by what I have heard over the last few days that I have not been able to sleep . It would be nice if everyone could work together for once.

[Another Grand]

Originally Posted by PURPLE FEVER

According to the members list there are over 5000 members of the SFC site. If everyone gave $100 think of the lobbying effort that could take place. Maybe we do not have to reinvent the wheel. Possibly one or more of the existing groups CCA RFA or hopefully TBF can take up the cause.

I just wonder if any of the existing bouy guys would be on board with this?

It will be interesting to see what Ellen has to say on this.

Its too bad we cant just fish . These issues are too important to just bystand.

Exactly

[RiskTaker]

From some of the hints mentioned so far, without a direct report from Wash. D.C. yet, it seems so Bizaar that there could possibly be a General permit category open up.

Tim, Col. Klink, are you in Washington D.C. yourself at this time or just keeping tabs? (Edit - oops, nevermind, just saw your waiting to hear post above.)

After all of the public input meetings within the past year, I do not recall hearing any recommendations about the possibilities of a General Permit. As a matter of fact there were even some objections about buoy fishing, although the more general consnesus was the a limited degree of commercial fishing would be likely mandatory.

So I wonder how everything can be sounding so bad right now, because buoying fishing is going at throttle up, and every rec. fisherman and his friend will now be out there to catch a swordfish for the freezer, one to barter for fuel, one to sell to his cousin's restaurant and another to go to the local fish house. I don't get it?

This cannot come to pass! We must petition to stop the ludicrous ideas. I would propose that we stimulate our own domestic PLL fleet, still staying out of FEC, but tarrifing the foreign imports to enable that $6/lb. that Quack Quack mentioned as a pivotal price point.

I tell you this: I will petition to oppose a general permit category because it is ethically and conservationally irresponsible and the WRONG thing to do. But if it should happen don't think for one moment that I am going to be sitting at the desk only typing out petition e-mails. I will also be out there with the rest of the gang with purple fever addictions catching fish and turning some of it into a little bit of diminishing return Green. You see, without some form of fishing regulations, even those with the best intentions, left unchecked will over captialize on a limited resource.

The premonitions don't sound good. But let's see what some of our local guys that are on the Advisory Panel have to say before we get out the Pitch forks.