Is It Time For A separate Boats for Hire category

[george]

Hello NY Angler,

The question is simple. Should Charter and Party Boats have their own set of regulations? It’s an argument that’s been going on for decades, and one I’ve gone back and forth on myself.

On one side, I see these boats as taxi cabs, just taking anglers like me to the fishing grounds. But the industry looks at it differently, and who am I to tell them what they need. Still, is it really fair? Some say they pay to get on the boat, so maybe they should get more. But let’s be honest—we all pay. Have you looked at what a fluke trip costs today?

And remember when we gave up that half inch, raising the limit to 19½ inches just to stretch the season until October 14? Tell me, who’s fishing for fluke that late in the year outside of the East End?

These are the things worth thinking about before casting your vote. Because the truth is, once we head down the path of separate rules, there’s no turning back. It could divide us even more, and at the end of the day we’re all fishing the same waters, chasing the same fish.

 

[Roccus7]

If for hires want separate regulations, then YES, with a separate quota system and mandatory, real-time reporting. When the quota gets filled, the fishing stops, or any overages are taken out of the next season's quota.

If they see a separate quota and mandatory reporting as onerous, then NO. Pretty damn simple.

The bigger challenge in the For Hire Mentality is redefining their business model. Most members, especially the party boat crowd, business models are "Come sail with us and we'll fill your freezer!!" In the current, real world, highly regulated environment, this model is untenable. The model should evolve to "Come and have a lovely day out on the water, while getting a chance to go home with a meal or two of nice fresh fish."

To the old guard, that will go over like a fart in church, but that's the reality.