Sea Bass Regulations for 26/27: your comments are needed by MAFMC by Wed!

[OVERBORED]

Recs. need to counter with their own science and numbers. Problem is we have people in our own community who fish casually and don't care or they drink cool aide our fisheries managers give them.

Striped Bass is a perfect example. Guys want gamefish status.........others don't. Some only C&R......etc, etc

Comms. have always had a strong lobby. Thats why they get what they get while we settle for crumbs

 

[george]

Science and numbers have little to do with what we're dealing with. There are plenty of fish to be had right now. I know I'd be happy with a 15-inch fish. Problem is not only equivalents it's also "historical landings" Which in my view should have zero to do with any recreational fishery. Commercial is one thing, but to say because @heartattack 's grandfather caught them they deserve them now, just doesn't work.

That's the unfair part that a normal politician will look at and quickly question what's happening. He will never look or care what the science says. Only what do my constituents think. I'm telling you that's how it work

Here's another point, they both have constituents and know each other well. I'm telling you this is set up for us to win.

 

[OVERBORED]

I'll believe it when I see it!

Until then we settle for crumbs.......

 

[george]

@OVERBORED Would you join in the effort? I pushed the bunker boats out of New York. Not single handedly, but almost. It was the relationships I built. I am currently the Weakfish Advisor to the ASMFC and you would be hard pressed to find anyone with more creds than I.

 

[george]

I have been running a super deep dive into how we got here. All of which I will put together and publish here. But here is the feedback I'm getting from the worlds smartest AI today:

The Bottom Line on NY's Options​

New York is not powerless. The state has multiple avenues to challenge the current unfair system:
1.File immediate appeal using 2021 precedent
2.Challenge technical basis of NJ's calculations
3.Develop alternative proposal for NY conservation equivalency
4.Build political coalition for broader reform
5.Use federal leverage on discrimination and commerce issues
The key is political will - NY needs to decide that fighting for fair treatment of its anglers is a priority worth the effort and resources required to challenge the current system.
Given that NY successfully challenged commercial allocations in 2021, there's no reason the state couldn't mount a similar challenge for recreational regulations that are clearly creating unfair outcomes for NY anglers.