Commercial Fisherman?? You tell me!

[Broadbill-Pro]

This marlin must feel so much better knowing it did not die on a longline. It is time this senseless killing is stopped, it's been nearly 30 years since a US flagged commercial fishing vessel has been allowed to harvest a marlin in the Alantic Ocean, yet this killiing for profit continues every year in numberous tournaments. The same hypocrites who support the CCA, TBF and IGFA against commercial fishing. I say clean your own house before you look into others.

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!! Right on brotha....

DL,

[Darkside]

Funny! That tournament brings more money to that town than any Longliner ever will. Maybe you can bring that up at the next HMS meeting how we should start to let our Longline fleet bring Marlins aboard, instead of just killing them and letting them sink to bottom. Was watching the weigh-in and all the fish goes to a local homeless shelter to help feed them for the year.

[Ron.38 Special]

Vinnie , you never surprise me!

Does your commercial idiosy have any concept of how much that marlin brought to the area during the tournament. That fish brought more economic benefit to the area that the entire PLL fleet brings to the entire US economy.

For gods sake Vinnie, you know the experimental fishery in the closed zone has killed more marlin than any tournament.

We have an allowable take of 250 marlin which is a drop in the bucket compared to the take of the PLL fleet. Meanwhile, do you have any id3ea what the allowable take is of turtles in the PLL fleet. We have a take of ZERO in the recreational fishery.

Lets face it , in spite of the futile attempt to get the country to like PLL's ( Swords lifes on the line) this country and the environmental community have no place for PLL's. Just wait unitl you see the backlash the longline TV show will result in!

JUst wait and see, the PLL fleet will die in your lifetime and recreational fishing will take over all species. Its just the way life is, get used to it!

Recs = one dead marlin

PLL's = Thousands of dead marlin.

NOw, lets get our collective crap together and do everything we can to see the end of commercial swordfishing off the coast of Florida!!!!!!! We have CCA, RFA, and others jumping in with both feet.

We can stop the commerical slaughter of our very valuable recreational fishery that has been hijacked by the buoy gear fleet and wholesale deepdropping!

[Broadbill-Pro]

Ron,

Your delirious and have little knowledge of swordfish and PLL outside of your 10 mile square. Ocean City, Maryland is a commercial fishing town 12 months of the year, unlike the summer recreational fishery and 1 tournament that you think supports the town. I worked there for several years and it is still one of the few places that a pair of rubber boots is accepted into any establishment. PLL has a history in OC going back to the 70's with several fish houses directed towards swordfish, including one owned and operated by the Merritt family.

OC hardly needs a fishing tournament to fill the hotels in the summer, the place is wall to wall tourists from memorial day to labor day that couldn't care less about a fish unless it's on their plate.


Don't even get me started with how many billfish recreationals kill. Where are the thousands of tagged sailfish that never seem to resurface? Unlike recreationals the PLL fleet does not target marlin or sailfish, not sure you have spent any time actually thinking outside of published data but swordfish and tuna do not congregate in mass where productive PLL takes place.

Now your in bed with the CCA? I suppose you want to be the one who puts the final nail in the SESC coffin? Better that you start speaking for Ron the Crusader rather than Ron the club Rep because the alienation you have created within the club is evident by last meetings attendance.

For the record, the killing of that marlin does not bother me one bit and if it truly was cut for food after a 4 hour ride in and 4 hours of drying in the sun all the better. My point is that the hypocrits in the photo (like you) ignore your own dirty hands while you point them at others. Does the PLL fleet kill 250 marlin a year, that's probably up for debate and if so does it equate to the kills of 250,000 recreational fisherman, probably not.

Drew, Yes there should be an outlet for dead fish rather than sinking them..

[quack quack]

Do not forget the White Marlin killed in this tourney. A few years ago we fought against them getting labeled a ES!! But they keep killing them in tourneys! Why?

[GT Fish]

A couple dead Marlin in one day verses thousands every year doesn't compare..

[quack quack]

GT you can not compare the two. One is world wide in a year vs world wide tourneys in a year not one tourney on one day. Now if you go kill one person is the punishment any different then killing 25? The white marlin open was one of the things listed in the ES petition!!!!!

[Uncle Buck]

Put marlin back on the menu.

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

Put marlin back on the menu.

OK Noi!

[Uncle Buck]

What? Marlin is damn good!

[GT Fish]

I don't like either... Commercial or Tournaments..

[NightCrawler]

So why is it illegal to commercially harvest blue marlin in the US, yet I see it on sale from time to time at Sedanos for 5.99 (from ecuador). I've seen it on menus at places like bonefish, not to mention all the sushi joints. That doesn't make any sense? Can somebody explain this to me?

[Uncle Buck]

Shhhh.... don't mess with a good thing!

[Capt. JJ]

You can't harvest Atlantic Blue Marlin. Pacific Blues aren't covered.

[mneptune]

For what it is worth, I don't approve of kill tournaments. Most tournaments today are conducted with IGFA observers to verify the species caught. Many tournaments require video taping of the catch with date/time stamp.

There is no need to kill any Marlin for the sake of a tournament and especially not so some jackass can get his picture and name in the paper. Hopefully, the day's of killing fish like that just for glamour shots are coming to an end.

I do feel bad for much of the commercial fleet though. Most of them are just hard working regular folks trying to make a living. I think the big reasons for the loss of that industry is due to low priced imports as well as the US commercial industry historically not doing enough to police itself, ie... Drift nets, gill nets, purse seine netting, PLL's, along with tons and tons of dead bycatch, etc. etc.

I would actually have no problem with eliminating seafood imports and putting the commercial fleet back on it's feet if it used ONLY hook & line (Rod & Reel) fishing methods with no bycatch. Yea, seafood would cost more but so what, we would be putting Americans back to work while not having the large scale slaughter of the old days.

[DonK]

Originally Posted by NightCrawler

So why is it illegal to commercially harvest blue marlin in the US, yet I see it on sale from time to time at Sedanos for 5.99 (from ecuador). I've seen it on menus at places like bonefish, not to mention all the sushi joints. That doesn't make any sense? Can somebody explain this to me?

When I was reviewing restaurants I was served smoked marlin dip...out raged I started researching it. I had read somehwere (I could try ot look for the supporting info, but a google search for Marlin, Import, Pacific) that the South Pacific islands are allowed to harvest and export/import to the US because of their economic dependancy on the trade.

[NightCrawler]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

Shhhh.... don't mess with a good thing!

Ah sorry guys, my mistake!! What I had served to me was Brue Mallin..totally
different.

[TTesterman]

had it as a roast over in Walkers once on the dock behind a cool boat name started with a "D.." great way to use the fish! I like smoked sailfish also after they come up gagging their belly's out .. what was the most # of fish ever taken in the BBC in one year? I have never seen a fish on the dock that was not taken care of so far though. I seen sailfish hanging to attract customers.. I thought that sucked. 2nd question is what happened after the 300lb rule went into effect?... and photo graph stuff? we are no way as hard on billfish as a commercial long line boat is but we do all try. too bad sometimes we have them dead but I wish we cold let them take them instead of throw them back but crabs gotta eat too. Wow I am getting old it was a good time ago that walkers was like that....

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by mneptune

putting the commercial fleet back on it's feet if it used ONLY hook & line (Rod & Reel) fishing methods with no bycatch

That's a good thought, but there's no way that a 100% rod & reel commercial fishery could supply enough to come close to demand... unless you think Ned from Arkansas is willing to pay $200/lb for swordfish, $100/lb for salmon, or $50/lb for yellertail snapper. It's just impractical, unless every recreational angler is allowed to sell to markets. If that were the case, then the Florida Straights would be mobbed with boats hook-n-lining for swords, because no other grounds are in reach on less than a commercial-size vessel.

PLLs, trawlers, and purse seine netters will be here for a long time to come. They are all at a peak in efficiency and bycatch reduction. ...but are still barely keeping up with demand.

[Broadbill-Pro]

Originally Posted by Ron.38 Special

Vinnie , you never surprise me!

Does your commercial idiosy have any concept of how much that marlin brought to the area during the tournament. That fish brought more economic benefit to the area that the entire PLL fleet brings to the entire US economy.

For gods sake Vinnie, you know the experimental fishery in the closed zone has killed more marlin than any tournament.

2008 - This year's Open proved to be one of the most exciting and memorable in the tournament's 35 year history. With 365 whites, 26 blues and more winners than ever before due to the new Daily Meat Fish category, the 35th Annual White Marlin Open will not soon be forgotten.


We have an allowable take of 250 marlin which is a drop in the bucket compared to the take of the PLL fleet. Meanwhile, do you have any id3ea what the allowable take is of turtles in the PLL fleet. We have a take of ZERO in the recreational fishery.

Let's talk turtle mortality, I'll bet it's less than 5% on PLL or 5 to 10 times less than recreational billfish release mortality.


Lets face it , in spite of the futile attempt to get the country to like PLL's ( Swords lifes on the line) this country and the environmental community have no place for PLL's. Just wait unitl you see the backlash the longline TV show will result in!

JUst wait and see, the PLL fleet will die in your lifetime and recreational fishing will take over all species. Its just the way life is, get used to it!

One must wonder if your appointment as an ICCAT Advisor with the responsibility of saving the US quota is a wise choice. Only once before have I heard that the US PLL fleet should see it's death bed and that was from that CCA asshole at the meeting last week. I believe that your appointment to aid our staff at the international meetings is a huge mistake, surely the rest of our ICCAT Advisors must watch their backs. Foreign PLL fleets will never be effected by US policy, you are only hurting domestic fisherman and the species as they will be caught regardless while out of the US EEZ.

Recs = one dead marlin

No, 30+ tournaments in the NE alone multiplied by hundreds of vessels per event.

PLL's = Thousands of dead marlin.

Hardly with +/- 60 active vessels.

NOw, lets get our collective crap together and do everything we can to see the end of commercial swordfishing off the coast of Florida!!!!!!! We have CCA, RFA, and others jumping in with both feet.

We can stop the commerical slaughter of our very valuable recreational fishery that has been hijacked by the buoy gear fleet and RJ's wholesale deepdropping!

This is not the first time you have gone too far, the Swordfish Club that you represent was founded by Guy's who love swordfishing. They had a common goal to push PLL out for the good of the species and bycatch, not to elimanate Fisherman who developed a gear type that has nearly zero bycatch. You had your hands in the buoy fishery until you became a turn coat and now even your former crew mate does not respect you.

I do not know what will satisfy you except the removal of all US/domestic commercial fisherman from our waters while we are replaced by less expensive and environmentally harmful foreign imports. At some point you should try to become an American and not just a pain in our ass.


Since you brought up RJ who founded the Swordfish Club and has been the pivot of it's success (since it is a fishing club and not a political club), I think I would rather be under the bus with him than have you represent me.

The only backlash that may be faster than your prediction about the upcoming TV series is the backlash that you and the club are about to realize with the loss of RJ.

[CaptKen]

OMG ! What happened to RJ ?

[Harry Klauber]

Vinnie,
Hopefully RJ is cooler than you give him credit for and not be ruffled by BS commentary just because he is so darn good at what he does. I hope for everyone's sake we do not lose him from the club. Harry

[weekley rehab]

who said RJ quit the club, Skip is this true ?

[CaptKen]

When He said LOSS OF RJ, I assumed the worse, thank god.
Dont worry he will be back.

[Broadbill-Pro]

I don't speak for RJ, but I do have his back. He is a good guy and cares about the club, resource and catcing swords. I don't see that he has switched his hat, he fishes no more now than in the past when he did not sell fish. There are only a few Guys lucky enough to be able to finance swordfishing a few times a week, I don't need to tell anyone that a full day can cost $400 and Bob will often go 3 or 4 times a week.

The Swordfish club was built by Swordfisherman, both recreational and commercial. An outlet where everyone could get together, share stories and opinions on an issue we all care about. Nobody was ever forced to pick a side nor was branded because of the side they were on, until now.

The fact that Bob sells fish and was at one time against it, is no different than Ron once selling fish and now opposes it. It only indicates to me who is better at it.

[WhItEoUt 23]

Well Said Vinnie

[Skip Smith]

RJ has not resigned as far as I know. Last we spoke, he wanted what was best for the club (as always) and as we are a club of both commercial and recreational fishermen, there is no reason for him to resign. He is one hell of a good fisherman and shares his knowledge with the club.

We will be having a board meeting next week to discuss the club's response to the present issues.

As far as Ron's personal opinion posted, he is allowed to say what he wants.
Vinnie and Ron (as our reps) will always do what's best for the fishery and in a world of give and take, they work well together in DC. Both are an asset to the club and you gotta love their passion for these issues.

If only all of you would use some of this energy and write to our US Senators and to the NMFS and get them to make the "changes" we need to enjoy this great sport and still utilize the resource.

GO to this site and see the US Senate's response to the quota issue. Then take a few minutes and send them your thoughts. Pro or Con. It is a free world. (for a little while longer I hope) Personally, this letter scares me.

http://www.theabta.com/LettertoNOAA.pdf


Skip

[Another Grand]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

That's a good thought, but there's no way that a 100% rod & reel commercial fishery could supply enough to come close to demand... unless you think Ned from Arkansas is willing to pay $200/lb for swordfish, $100/lb for salmon, or $50/lb for yellertail snapper. It's just impractical, unless every recreational angler is allowed to sell to markets. If that were the case, then the Florida Straights would be mobbed with boats hook-n-lining for swords, because no other grounds are in reach on less than a commercial-size vessel.

PLLs, trawlers, and purse seine netters will be here for a long time to come. They are all at a peak in efficiency and bycatch reduction. ...but are still barely keeping up with demand.

What? Where do you get this stuff?

[Another Grand]

That Marlin in the picture above fetched $550,000 - thats almost $518 dollars per pound that fish received. The winning White Marlin was worth $1.3 million and I know Monday it was at 67 lbs (lets round it to 70) That fish is getting around $18,570 some odd dollars per pound. How much more money do you think these fish raise for that community indirectly?

Do you think that the entire commercial bouy/daydrop fishery will earn that this year?