A Conversation

[Deep C]

This conversation took place early last fall between my employer and myself on a Sea Bright dock...

I had just put my tools away after doing some routine maintainence on the Viking I run. It was mid-morning and I noticed my employer walking up the dock.
" Hello Paul. Had enough of the office and I'm taking the rest of the day off. Lets go fishing."
"I'd love to Boss. Nothing would tickle me more than getting away from these pilings but really nothing to fish for."
"Well there must be something biting. What about fluke?"
"Season is closed..."
"How about sea bass? I know they don't fight much but at least its something to catch."
"Also closed..."
"Well what about weakfish? We caught them good this time last year."
"Striped bass were real thick, too thick and worked em over bad. They didn't make it up the river this year..."
"Well there you go. Lets go get some stripers!"
"Out of bounds. They're all in the eez now.... If you want though we can get out early tomorrow, burn 300 gallons and try for our one under tuna."
I could see the dejection on his face... "I guess we'll do that then. I guess for today though, I'll just go inside and watch a ball game."

As he walked away I was burning up inside. He's a great guy and deserves a chance to get away from it all. I had been hired to not only maintain his boats but to take him fishing whenever he could get away. That part I had let him down on. Any other time in years gone by there would have been no issue.
My mind wandered further... To the little tackle shop up the street. Struggling day to day. Any sale would be better than no sale. They had been at that location since 1948 but now face a very real possibility of not making it to the next season.

My employer and I have talked numerous times about his frustrations. NewJersey is no longer a business friendly state. High taxes, state income tax, high costs of doing business are all gnawing at him. Then to have his very limited recreation time constrained to the degree it is, has him considering a move. Leave Jersey behind. Take all the jobs he provides and also those excessive tax dollars somewhere else. As it appears that the federal regulations threaten his ability to pleasure fish even in his second home in Florida, its not out of the question that he may just keep on going right past our borders.
He nor I play much with politics but he was first on board to oust incumbents not on the side of recreational outdoorsmen. He has enough influence in the right places to make a difference. Me, I have but one vote but mine will be cast along those same guidelines.
Hey Washington... Theres a whole lot of "me's" out there on the same page.

[Scooper]

Deep... I had the same mental conversation with myself last year when I was trying to decide if I should take a day off from work...since my little boat can't handle the tuna trip I decided that I should just head back to the "Salt Mine" and save the day for some other time.

[Deep C]

I think of just that small area and the impact fishing has on it. Mind you the area really is residential for families who's livlihoods revolve around servicing the metropolitan New York area. Still the impact his huge.
When seasons are open and the weather fair. The waters are alive with boats and fishermen. Gathered in clusters that can range from dozens to hundreds from the tips of the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers to Raritan bay and spilling into the Atlantic as far as the eye can see. Its been this way my whole life. Wooden ChrisCraft or Owens or Zobels or Sea Bright skiffs, gave way to the plastic boats that followed. They gave way to todays sleeker faster center consoles of today but always alive.
The prolific species of the northeast have never waivered. More summer flounder today than 45 years ago when I was a kid. More striped bass, more sea bass, more tataug, more scup, more weakfish than I can ever remember. Due in very little part to restrictions. Due more to the fishing community as a whole doing their part taking only what is needed to make a meal rather than try to feed the entire neighborhoods. Recreational anglers on their own have become a kinder gentler breed as they recognize and respect the fragile resource they enjoy so much.
The waters are cleaner. Just a growing awareness by those that has them taking the extra step to not splash their trash. They do it not because they "have" to. Rather they do it so they can continue enjoying what they have done for generations. recreational anglers have historically policed them selves better than the laws have. Most practice more constraint than the "rules" state. The rule says they can take six... they take two. The rule says they can take two... they take one. The rule says they can take one at a certain size... they stretch it.
Even the styles of fishing have changed. Rather than beat on a local population of bait species, they in large part have opted to use more sporting artificial lures. The list goes on like that but the powers that be ignore what is. Instead they seem to view the fisherman as a neanderthal likking machine incapable of restraining themselves.
We are treated like second class citizens and our voices ignored. That, dear readers, WILL come to an end. Those that choose to close their eyes to what is and instead base decisions on suposition, will find themselves in the ranks of "former" politicians. As we speak, the word "incumbent" is now synonymous with "about to become unemployed" if things don't change quickly.