Three of us picked up fiddlers from Haddrell’s, and went to a nearshore reef where we’ve caught good sheepshead in years past.No other boats, so we moved around freely.Calm ocean. We caught 20 sheeps,and kept 13 up to 6 lbs. But in order to catch those, we had to go through 200 to 300 bsb (all released healthy - and starving).The bsb were regurgitating seaweed. One has to wonder, could any small fry survive on that reef -or any other? I do not think bsb will eat fiddlers or seaweed in a normal healthy environment. Would it not be appropriate for SAMFC to allow taking of 10 fish over 14 inches (males?) per person.
Thinking in those terms would require some level of basic intelligence (just beyond the ability for the brain to keep the major organs working), something that the SAFMC has proven time and time again that they are lacking… Part of the requirement to be a SEDAR scientist is to have a most of your brain removed and backfilled with horse manure…
The most prolific fish off the coast and we are not allowed to take them. It is only going to get worse unless we use politics to remove people like DAVID CUPKA from the board. Nikki Haley gave this buffoon another 3 years on the board!!! He needs to go, he has an agenda (has had it for 20 years) He is anti fishing in any form. He does not like commercial or recreational fisherman. Ask the politicians questions, make THEM accountable! I have learned that the board DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK. The give you lip service at the “scoping meetings”, they already have made up their minds by the time we have a meeting. The SEDAR reports are written in a way, that you need a PHD in order to read them. I am up on all of my fish knowledge, and I have a very hard time making heads or tails of these reports. how come none of the board members ever come on these public forums to answer or counter our claims. The GOOD NEWS is that China will be able to buy up some enormous CATCH SHARES on OUR Black Sea Bass in a few years.This is ans has always been about money and taking away a public property for privatization. Why do you think the PEW foundation pours so much money into groups like the EDF, Ocean conservancy, CCA, They see the big picture, and will be buying catch shares for future sale.
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”