The LaJess II

Burnt Drag would like to elaborate on something. When I said I have been down this road also. What I mean by this is yes I have been down this road and will continue to go down this road. I am one of those people that doesn’t give up. On your comment to me that
I'm sorry, sir. We've been down this road. Join this, write a letter to ____.
Donate to______. You'll have to admit, none of this has worked.

You sir are wrong. And no sir I will not admit that it has not worked. When RFA can get a bill introduced to amend the Magnuson Stevens Act that sir is a accomplishment. That accomplishment was achieved by many people taking their time to contact their legislators and becoming members and making donations by RFA, FRA, Keep America Fishing and so on staying on top and getting the word out and letting us know what we need to do.
Unlike NOAA these people are not paid by the government. They have to depend on people like me and others to donate and become members and pay dues and contact our legislators in order to be able to go to Washington and defend our right to our resources.
I by no means have the know how or resources to even begin to fight against NOAA. So as far as joining in with someone that does have the know how and is willing to sacrifice their time away from their families to fight against our government for something that belongs to us anyway. All I can say is I will contribute to that cause until the day the fat lady sings.
You also need to understand without that bill if we the people don’t right letters and make it clear to our legislators that we want this bill passed we will not win this battle. You really need to read and understand what the amendment will do to change things.
As it stands we have 13 co-sponsors and we need a hell of a lot more. See bill tracker website http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3061 The only way is to get our legislators attention by faxing and not emailing. At least their Aids have to go to the fax machine and pickup the paper and see what is clogging up the machine. That information came to me from a person that works in one of legislators office. No joke.
I commend you for what you are doing to take a stand. But please don’t knock someone else’s stand and say it is not working unless you take the time to check out the facts. We are still fishing so we are not dead in the water yet and I don’t hear the fat lady singing just yet.
Thank You and appreciate what you are doing.

Chet88

Somebody help and post up the fax numbers who and where we need to send. I will send several.

The LaJess II

Chett I will post tomorrow all the fax numbers. I'm not at my desk right now.
Thanks
Debbie

FishGolfDrink

I do this, but unfortunately the members on this forum and others is still such a small % of the demand.

Burnt Drag

No problem sir or madam, keep doing what's working for you. Best regards.

The LaJess II

Thank You, And hope everything works out for your plan.
Good Luck.

Debbie

Tom Hilton

What about organizing a group of concerned fishermen across the Gulf for the purpose of providing the private recs to opportunity to be represented at each Council meeting?

The concept is this - organize fishermen from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida to form a loose-knit group to develop a mission statement regarding what we, as recreational fishermen expect from our regulators. Then, take that mission statement to each Gulf Council meeting by members of this organization - those that live closest to each meeting. It's kinda like a time-share concept - you commit to one meeting to go to out of the entire year.

Since it is extremely difficult for the average Joe to take time off of work, pay for travel expenses, etc. to attend the Gulf Council meetings, we could provide a platform for locals in the area of each Council meeting to attend. Hopefully can get funding to help with travel expenses.

For example, in mid-April, the next Gulf Council meeting is in Corpus Christi, Texas. We need to develop a group of fishermen from Texas to commit to attending the GC meeting, at least for the Public Testimony portion which is half a day - that's it. If we could get 15-20 people to commit to this, it could make a big difference to the Council to see the private recs represented in better fashion. If we could get 30-40, I think the Council will really start paying attention better. Right now, we have 2-3 private recs showing up.

The next Council meeting is in mid-June in Tampa Florida - a different group of local Floridians could represent the organization. You guys could get 20-30 fishermen to attend a half-day meeting can't you?

The next meeting is in New Orleans - we could probably get 10 people from each state; Texas, Louisiana (Venice especially), Mississippi, and even Alabama to justify a trip to the Big Easy, right? That's at least 40 people.

What is lacking is consistent representation at the Gulf Council meetings for the private recs - let's fill the Public testimony where they may have to schedule a second opportunity for testimony the next day since there are so many...

I'm probably crazy for suggesting this, but there it is.

capt. Thomas J. Hilton

Ozeanjager

This argument has been rode down like a rented mule. I am sick of the regulators being so non proactive . Its like congress spending like drunk sailors , raising taxes but being unwilling to cut spending. The only ansewer to low fish stocks is NOT to always shorten the season. From the time a fish hatches to the time its 6 inches long thousands of the hatch have perished. We all know only a hand full of any years spawn actully make it to a eatable size. If they were to just keep fry 6 months then release them to the wild we would have cheated the odds for thousands of fish. This is not an expensive undertaking considering the 3 billion or more in sales due to fishing as a sport each year in the state of florida .... Cmon man , a ling in a farm grows to 15 lbs in one year .

__________________
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

minkmaster

But its your only legal means. Boys you need to expand it past the gulf. The NOAA will screw a small segmented population in 4 states but you let the Atlantic Coast, the Pacific coast, the Greag Lakes region, and all who are concerned about oppressive government and then politicians take notice.

Realtor

i think i said it a few pages back, this discussion occures every year as far back as I can remember. this is a process, we arent going to change anyones minds or data in time for this years season, or next years season for that matter. heck by the time our intentions make it to the decision makers and the rules or date gets an up lift, we may not even have a snapper season. I think it will come down to playing the game of "who knows someone in the position to get it done" and of course, $$$$$$ thoughts?

I wish it were as simple as dragging the boat from Pensacola to Mobile and costs as little as a tank of gas in the truck.... I am afraid it will take more than a tank of gas and a road trip to mobile.....

__________________
Jim Summers
www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com

www.PensacolaHouseHunter.com
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