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.

 

[captmike28]

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.

While it might be very painful, I would be OK with the suggestions you make Roccus. IMHO it is still better than a total moratorium.

I also agree that all businesses, fishing and otherwise, have to evolve with changes that occur over time. It is true that "filling the freezer" days are long since gone. But having the opportunity to put at least one meal on the table is still a big issue for most of the anglers I know.

 

[OVERBORED]

I agree that expectations need to change for every user group. Just because your grandfather dragged on the Southside of Montauk catching thousands of fluke doesn't mean you should be allowed to! (Yes, I had that argument)

 

[Roccus7]

I also agree that all businesses, fishing and otherwise, have to evolve with changes that occur over time. It is true that "filling the freezer" days are long since gone. But having the opportunity to put at least one meal on the table is still a big issue for most of the anglers I know.

You have certainly begun this metamorphosis. In reading your reports, but more importantly when I was able to host life-long friends for a memorable outing, Captain's Table presents, plans and executes the experience as a most enjoyable day afloat with you; my "crewmates" and I still gush over it!!

The days of the ice-packed shelves on the "Fish Car" of the Penn Station to Montauk LIRR Fishermen's Special are long gone. We all have to stop living in the past, including the entire coast's fishery managers.

Some critical "New World" paradigms for fishery managers to act on are:

• Replacing the archaic, and illogical "State Fishery Management" model and manage fisheries by bodies of water so Western South Shore fisherman share the same regs as Northern NJ fishermen, all fishermen on LIS, no matter where their boat is tied up share the same regs, etc.
  
  Fishery manager's first responsibility should be to the fish, not about their state's fishermen ability to keep a maximum number of fish! I know, that's like holding a Politician to a primary responsibility of the welfare of the people, not their chances of being re-elected and Party loyalty...
  
  
• If there are gaping wounds in a fish's life cycle like continued spawning failures, all efforts MUST BE FOCUSED on that on the root cause and a solution for it, instead of bickering over regulations that have no impact on that problem. The current striped bass situation is a great example of that with the managers spending hours on some short-term improvements that may or may not meet the stated goals. Bottom line is that if the current, horrid spawn trend continues, all of these actions are worthless, as the entire population will crash again...

OK, getting far too OT, too early in the morning...