FLUKE FISHERY BATTLE IS ON

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Ok one more time here guys how F-up the NMFS is in todays paper reads
Just two years ago, we had a healthy quota of 30.3 million pounds.
last year I fought for a constant quota of 26 million pounds over three years,
but we were rebuffed and it fropped to 23.6 million pounds. we now have the
NMFS here advocating for a reduction to just over 5 million pounds-almost 80
percent less than last years already low quota. this defies logic.''
(Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. D-N.J.)

Even more frightening for the industry are the prospects for 2008 and 2009
when MNFS is attempting to achieve the target of 204 million pounds with
only two seasons to go. as the service sees it, they have to increase the
biomass from 112 million pounds in august 2006 to 204 million pounds by
jan.1 2010.


BE HEARD

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has delayed untill sept. its vote on reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act. the U.S. senate has passed its
version of the bill already, but the house can have an effect on the final
bill bt writting in language that gives fisheries management officals flexibility
to meet rebuilding goals.

REPS H. JAMES SAXTON R-N.J. AND WAYNE GILHREST, R-MD
are the key house menbers involved with MAGNUSON-STEVENS.

TO REACH SAXTON

by mail; Rayburn house office building washington,DC 20515 or 100 High St.
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 or 247 Main St. Toms River, NJ 08753
by Fax (202) 225-0778 (609) 261-1275 (732) 914-8351
on the web; www. house.gov/saxton/ and click on the link that says ''TO
EMAIL OR REACH JIM''

TO REACH GILCHREST;

By mail; 2245 Rayburn House Office building, Washington, DC. 20515 or
112 W> Pennsylvania Ave. No. 102, Bel Air , MD 21014 or 315 Hight St.
No. 105, Chestertown, MD 21620 or One Plaza East Salisbury, MD 21801
By Fax ; (202) 225-0254 (410) 838-7823 (410) 778-9560 (410) 749-8458
On the WEB http://gilchrest.house.gov/ and click on the link that says
CONTACT WAYNE

TO REACH OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS www.house.gov/writerep/


This will efect us all PLEASE DO YOUR PART

(BLUEFIN FISHERY MAY SHUT DOWN WORLDWIDE)

AND QUOAT '' THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO DO; SHUT THE WHOLE BLUEFIN
FISHERY DOWN - COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL AND REBUILD STOCKS
AND THE FISHERY HAS TO BE CLOSED TO ALL NATIONS.ALL FISHERMEN''

If you dont act now we will all be playing GOLF

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Jer can you put a sticky on this please thanks

[Capt. Brian Daley]

I guess by how many of you only 46 people read this post and how imporant
it is really dont care or take action in your fishing, Yep NMFS getting their
way. Next year NO J-HOOKS in tournament fishing closing down party boats
for winter flounder and summer fluke and BLUEFIN TUNA, yep just 46 people
in a week in a half thats great here, dont say I didnt worn you all. well with
fuel coast blue collar guys cant fish anymore, costing everyone to much money and football just around the corner who cares

[MakoMike]

Any word from the ASMFC as to if and when they might convene the summer flounder advisory committee?

[Deep C]

Brian
I feel your frustration. I didn't get a hell of a lot of support about their circle hook crap either. Its slowly building. In my contentions against their rulings I don't stop at the rule. NMFS needs to be dismantled and sent to the scrap yard. Then go back to a commercial only control group and get out of the sportsmans face...
Apathy is just as bad as joining them. Each wrong move that goes unprotested is a win for them and a loss for us. Listen up people these thugs are out of control and yes you need to pick up that phone, pen or mouse and scream good and loud. Congerssmen, senators, etc are easier to reach than may think. Call em, nag em... Lets end the madness and sink the NMFS ship before it sinks us!

[3rdgillkill]

here is a sample of what your senators and representatives can do for the rec fishermen


CCA Florida Wins Major Victory in Federal Gulf Grouper Lawsuit (Seawatch, December 2005)

by Rick Farren, CCA Florida Communications Director


The lawsuit was filed because NMFS fisheries managers exceeded their authority in closing all grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico to protect red grouper.

In a huge win for the state of Florida and for saltwater anglers, United States District Court Judge John E. Steele ruled on October 31, that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), in passing an interim rule closing all grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for November and December, acted “arbitrarily, capriciously, [and] in an abuse of discretion...in promulgating the Interim Rule to Reduce the Recreational Harvest of Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper…”

“This is an important victory for the process of grouper management in the Gulf,” said David Howton, CCA Florida Chairman. “The total closure of all grouper fishing, including species that are not overfished, was completely unnecessary, and would have delivered a severe economic blow to the recreational fishing industry.”

The ruling invalidates most of the interim rule imposed by NMFS including portions that would have closed all recreational grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for two months beginning November 1, and would have reduced the aggregate bag limit for all grouper species beginning in January from five to three fish per person, only one of which could be a red grouper. [See Seawatch, October 2005.]

Under the court’s ruling, recreational fishing for red grouper only will be closed for November and December, but the interim rule closure that applied to all other 16 species of Gulf grouper was rejected. In addition, the aggregate limit for grouper will remain at five fish per person. The red grouper bag limit, beginning January, will be reduced to one fish per person within the 5-fish bag limit in federal waters.

“We felt all along that NMFS acted in violation of federal law in banning recreational fishing for grouper species that were not overfished,” said Ted Forsgren, CCA Florida Executive Director. “We’ve always supported measures to conserve fish species, but in this case NMFS abused their authority.”

CCA Florida filed the lawsuit in August after NMFS moved ahead with the interim rule despite overwhelming opposition by hundreds of recreational fishermen, as well as both of Florida’s U.S. Senators and nine members of the Florida U.S. Congressional delegation. The Fishing Rights Alliance also took part in the lawsuit.

In addition, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) looked at the harvest data for red grouper and voted unanimously to oppose the NMFS plan. The FWC, which has a long and successful track record of managing fisheries, instead recommended only a reduction in the bag limit for red grouper from two to one until the 2005 harvest figures could be analyzed. When NMFS rejected the FWC’s proposal, the FWC commissioners voted to not adopt the federal interim rule in state waters.

NMFS's plan to close the entire grouper fishery to protect stocks of red grouper was based on a bizarre and unprecedented increase in the “estimated” recreational catch of red grouper during the 2004 season. The validity of the 2004 figures has been questioned because of NMFS’s claim that landings increased by a whopping 130 percent. Such an increase is unprecedented in the history of red grouper landings since regulations began 14 years ago. There have been dramatic reductions caused by new regulations, but never such an increase. The estimates are even more suspect considering that Florida anglers and fishing activity was impacted by a record four hurricanes that hit the state in 2004.

“Recreational landings for the first part of this year have fallen dramatically and are more in line with the catches of 2001 through 2003,” said Forsgren. “That information showed that NMFS overacted and should have instead supported the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s recommendation.”

Portions of the interim rule that apply to red grouper only will remain in affect until January 31, 2006, at which time it can be extended another 90 days. In the meantime, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is developing new Gulf grouper regulations for 2006. [Please see the related article below on 2006 Gulf grouper regulations.]

this is what we need to continue doing or NMFS will stomp out rec fishing

[Deep C]

Hey I like that name!... Thats my motto in mako season...

Thank you for bringing that article forward. Thats one in a string of Florida victories against the evil empire... Yes we can be heard. I get so sick of people saying, "Oh they won't listen to us..." Bullshit. I'm only starting with the circle hook deal and will among the first to join the flounder fight.

How did florida do it??? We all got on the same page, stopped whining and threw the scumbags out of town... We didn't seceed from the union. We just stood up for whats right.
Flukes, circles, its all the same. Make some noise! Make so much noise they can't ignore it...

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Thanks Deep and 3rdgillkill PLEASE make thoses calls the websites and
numbers are at the top post PLEASE do your part make a STAND and be
heard and dont wait around untill the meetings are held in the winter months
when most anglers arent around to read local papers to find out when they
are do it NOW dont be sorry

STAND TOGEATHER

THANK YOU JER

[flatbottom]

if NMFS wasn't so worried about 2010 you would not be having this discussion. They are more concerned with a date than all the charters, businesses and fishermen put together. Science will chase mother nature for ever and still be called just plain ole science. Regulate This NMFS . We are coming at you from George W's home state now. NMFS is going down with their flawed data and analytical software. Remember the number 2010 NMFS because you have forgotten all the coastal towns and jobs you will decimate with your flawed data. We need to stop these self appointed rulers of the sea.....call your congressmen and voice your concern

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Well spoken there Flat and thank you from the bottom of my hull