Fishing to me......

[Robja]

I grew up with a pond behind my house so anytime I wanted I could walk across the pasture to fish for Bass or Bream. It was always a fun time because all the kids in the neighborhood would go fishing there. It was something that kept us out of trouble. There were no gangs, no X-box, no computers, and not much on TV. It kept us occupied and in better shape physically than the generation coming up today.

Fishing was something the whole family could do together. We would take the jon boat to the river and fish and swim and have picnics on the bank and cook our catches over an open fire. I am sorry to say it was something I could not do with my children since accesses to the river seemed to disappear over the years growing up.

As I got older we moved up to saltwater fishing. I always enjoyed the times with my father and brothers on the ocean. Even back then when there were no quotas or no limits we never took more from the ocean than we were going to eat. We released far more fish than we kept. Only one of my three children has the same passion for fishing as I do. My daughter was never interested and doesn't like fish. My youngest son is the X-Box computer sit on the couch and watch TV child. His weight and work ethic is evidence of that. My middle son is my fisherman. We have spent many an hour in front of the beach house talking and fishing. It didn't matter if we caught anything or not it was the time together that was important. He is physically fit and is doing well in his career. Is that because he fishes? Who knows? But I can tell you it hasn't hurt.

So why is it Our Country wants to limit or abolish something like this that builds bonds in families? Do we not have enough problems with broken homes, street gangs, violence in schools, poor school performance etc. etc. So why curtail something that does keep kids off the streets and out of trouble.

I spend a lot of money fishing every year. With tackle, fuel, bait, ice and food I help to stimulate the economy on the coast. I never keep more fish than I can eat because I do care for the fish stocks and the environment but I do not like the fact that this freedom may be taken from me. If it is taken then I will take my money and spend it in a country that appreciates it.

I FISH AND I VOTE AND I CAN PROMISE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO TAKE MY RIGHT TO FISH AND KEEP FISH FOR CONSUMPTION.

Fishing to me is.....time with family, time with friends, time to relax and unwind.

[wahoojack]

Very well said!!!