I need Your Help with Reporting

[Ron.38 Special]

Fellow fishermen,

Myself, Vinnie, and Tim, could use your help with swordfish reporting.

I am constantly hit in DC with of issues under reporting of recreational caught fish. While I understand that Vinnie and Tim are both commercial reps on the AP panel, they do get hit with the same, constant expressions of opinions that the recreational swordfishermen are poachers and do not report any of their fish. Its not just down here in Florida, its Texas, Louisiana, The Carolinas, and the Northeast. We all under report.

You know that the Swordfish club has a tournament reporting system for members, but that's not counting all the fish we catch either.

Here's what happens. We know that NMFS , FWC and anyone else who cares about enforcement constantly see great pictures and videos posted on this and other forums. the next thing they do is check the reports to see if the fish posted have been reported.

Guess what, most of the fish posted on the internet DO NOT match any reports anywhere suggesting that the fish has not been reported.

Those who actively catch and report fish know this because our reporting system confirmation is sequencial numbering. If you report a fish and it's number 258 and you see ten fish posted on the internet in the next few days, then you report your next fish and have a confirm number of 260, guess what, 8 of those fish you saw were not reported.

We worked hard to get the web based reporting system, and the information available to me suggests that reporting went down not up.

Its a serious problem that may surface somewhere like an ICCAT meeting where other countries may suggest that we don't monitor our recreational fisheries.

I propose that whenever we post pictures or video on this site or other sites that we post the confirmation number with the post. If its tournament, just say so, if its swordfish club tournamant, just say so.I also suggest we continue to call out each other if we forget to post the confirmation number.

It takes a lot less time to report your fish to NMFS than it takes to post a picture on this site.

I promise you that nothing bad can come out of our reporting to NMFS and I promise you that nothing good can come from not reporting.

No one will take away our access to these fish from our reporting, but the lack of reporting is hurting us now and in the future.

If we ever get a reduced quota, and an increase in commercial catches, we could find ourselves in a battle to set aside a certain number of fish for recreational quota. Right now, if that happened, we wouldn't like the amount of quota we would be given.

I work pretty hard for all of us at both HMS AP and at ICCAT. In the last two weeks, I have spent 6 days in DC on both panels and I will be back up there in October, and maybe at ICCAT negotiations in Brazil in November. I do it for free, and my work suffers when I'm up there. But I enjoy it and hope I am doing something good for the fishery. If you doubt my tenacity, just ask Vinnie what a pain in the but I am up there.

Everyone would make my work a lot easier if they promoted reporting of every fish we can.

I know I can count on you guys here. Others look at this forum as just what it is, Swordfish Central. Lets get those reports in!!!!!

Thanks,

Ron

[Uncle Buck]

I hope they're not basing "under reporting" on the amount of HMS permits issued -vs- the permits that have been reported on. For instance, I've had an HMS permit on my boat since 2006, but have never landed a swordfish on that boat... which would appear like I don't report my catches. I consider my boat's HMS permit to be more of an insurance plan, in case I catch a restricted species. (sword, tuna, etc.)

A similar situation applies to my buddy TJ's boat. We still get out there a few times per month, but haven't caught swords in a long while... compared to the 3-5 we'd catch in a month when the fishing was hot. We didn't stop reporting. Just haven't had anything to report.

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

We didn't stop reporting. Just haven't had anything to report.

Buck-TJ says he has plenty to report when you arent on the boat. Was mumbling something about your bad mojo

[Ed Walker]

Personally I am a few fish behind and I have posted a few lately. My boat is in the shop 50 miles away and has my HMS permit onboard it so I dont know my number. Those fish will be reported, just a little late.
I can give you, and everyone else here, a good reason to report all of thier catches. Where I live on the Gulf I dabble in commercial H and L grouper fishing. Recently we went to quota and your total quota shares were based on how many documented fish you caught in the past. Red snapper the same thing. Documented Catch History. Now NOAA and Jane Lebchenko want annual catch shares for all recreational fishermen. I recently was invited to participate in workshop to discuss how rec quotas (on everyting) could be done. We did not find an answer BUT it is being insisted upon in Washington which means its probably coming.
I believe it possible that somewhere down the line, especially as this daytime thing takes off, that NMFS will some individual quotas on recs, especially swordfish. They will do this by looking at how many fish you have documented on your catch history. If you averaged 6 documented fish a year during the window they select, you will get to keep 6 fish per year, or 6 minus whatever reduction thier statisticians say is needed to sustain the fishery. Unreported fish, well you'll get no credit for those.
Thats my read anyway.
Once they announce a control date you cant add catches to your history any more.
The last thing Id do now is not report a fish.

[dpdash]

I hear you Ron, got to catch one to report one is my issue.

[Big Squid]

Now NOAA and Jane Lebchenko want annual catch shares for all recreational fishermen. I recently was invited to participate in workshop to discuss how rec quotas (on everyting) could be done. We did not find an answer BUT it is being insisted upon in Washington which means its probably coming.
I believe it possible that somewhere down the line, especially as this daytime thing takes off, that NMFS will some individual quotas on recs, especially swordfish. They will do this by looking at how many fish you have documented on your catch history. If you averaged 6 documented fish a year during the window they select, you will get to keep 6 fish per year, or 6 minus whatever reduction thier statisticians say is needed to sustain the fishery. Unreported fish, well you'll get no credit for those.

If they place a quota on the rec guys it is my belief that most recs will quit reporting their catches so it does not count towards any proposed quota. This will do nothing to help out our quota issues and be very difficult and expensive to enforce. If they are truely concerned about sustaining the fishery (they should be), they should get rid of the longliners off all enforcible waters. The recovery of our fishery here in SE Florida is a prime example and living proof of the negative effect that longlining had on the swordfish population and how the areas closure to long-lining led to it's recovery. No more gaff and release in out waters! The quota thing is a very bad idea but then again Washington is full of them.

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by bajakian

Buck-TJ says he has plenty to report when you arent on the boat. Was mumbling something about your bad mojo

Hold on... let me lie down so you can kick me a few times.

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

Hold on... let me lie down so you can kick me a few times.

Hey dont kill the messenger-TJ said it!!!!

[PURPLE FEVER]

Originally Posted by bajakian

Hey dont kill the messenger-TJ said it!!!!

"IF THE GLOVE DONT FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT" the late Johnny Cochran

[bajakian]

That was TJ, not OJ.

[DonK]

Originally Posted by PURPLE FEVER

"IF THE GLOVE DONT FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT" the late Johnny Cochran

sorry to contribute to hijacking the thread...but I had to:

[Sword Hunter]

We all want the fish to be here for a long time to come. I bet all Rec fishermen put together Dont do half as much dammage as one LL Vessel. We have a choice. all I know is. I've sucessfully Released Alot more swords that are undersize due to our fishing methods. Preventing them from becomeing shark bait Or just thrown back dead Bycatch. Keep the limits low and let us make a buck. While congruently helping the Quota and the fisheries. By letting Rec's Sell their fish. Also creating more incentive to report the fish And Helping us get more accurate data. Does that make any sense to anyone."We Work Hard For The SwordFish"

[weekley rehab]

Ron,
i am game and have noticed other posting there #'s .