Voice your opinions on this serious matter
Guppie site:
Sorry, We all expect a one or two man like Tommy fote & Tackle shops to do it .

Us anglers are losing a fishing war, Think this over

GET INVOLVED OR ELSE THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO THINK OVER, IT WILL BE OVER FOR US .
New Jersey anglers are preparing for another battle with federal fisheries managers about the amount of flounder they are permitted to keep each year.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a preliminary flounder stock assessment that recommends a possible 32 percent reduction in the amount of flounder allotted to East Coast fisherman next year.

The assessment suggests a preliminary change in the quota from the 17.1 million pounds allotted this year to a 2008 quota ranging from 11.6 million pounds to 15.7 million pounds.
Such a cut would require significant changes to New Jersey flounder regulations, restricting the dates that flounder, also known as fluke, may be caught and the numbers and size at which they may be kept.
Fishing advocates and bait-shop owners said recreational anglers already are upset about quota reductions this year that shortened the New Jersey flounder season about seven weeks and increased the minimum keeper size from 16.5 to 17 inches. They say further restrictions would frustrate them and put Jersey Shore businesses that cater to anglers in danger of going under.

“We're getting flak from guys now about not being able to catch a legal fish,” said Bob Givens, an employee at the Surf City Bait and Tackle shop on Long Beach Island. “Any more cutbacks and fishing will be over with. Who wants to pay $35 to go out on a boat and not keep a fish?” Fisheries managers said the flounder assessment is far from final and more scientific information and public input would be gathered before a 2008 quota is announced. “This is the most up-to-date data we have, and it reflects where we believe the stock is related to rebuilding goals,” said Teri Frady, spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Frady said fisheries managers are required by federal law to restore the flounder stock to 204 million pounds by 2013. The National Marine Fisheries Service had estimated the stock at 105 million pounds in 2005.

Fishing advocates believe that goal is unobtainable no matter what restrictions are placed on anglers. They question the scientific methods and formulas used by the service to estimate the numbers of flounder in the ocean.
“We're destroying the fishing industry with no real goal in sight,” said Tom Fote, legislative chairman for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association.
New Jersey's congressmen, U.S. Reps. Jim Saxton, R-3rd of Mount Holly, Chris Smith, R-4th of Robbinsville, Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd of Mays Landing and Frank Pallone, D-6th of Long Branch have also entered the fray by calling on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council to provide an independent review of the most recent assessment.
The Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council is made up of representatives of coastal states and helps establish quotas for flounder and other fish species.
“We are all pretty upset about the NMFS proposal and have asked (Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council) to help provide a fully independent review,” Saxton said yesterday in a news statement. “The livelihoods of our fishing community is at stake. If the latest proposed cuts are put into place, our fishing-related jobs and businesses will definitely be negatively affected.”
“Our request for an independent review aims to open and enhance the flounder management process and assure a more comprehensive, thorough and extensive assessment of the critical and mitigating factors,” Smith added.
Seems like Tom Fote, legislative chairman for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association is fighting for all us anglers, I think it’s about time We all get together with him and help, give a helping hand, or what we just read will indeed happen,
New Jersey Anglers are getting screwed in Plain English and we’re letting it happen..
Think about the future of our children and grand children.
I have seen the worst year of Kids in to fishing?? Why??
Guppie