IMPORTANT - Public Fishermen's Meeting - 9/17
The face of saltwater fishing as we know it is changing. Each year we as fishermen are faced with further regulations, even in the face of increasing fish stocks based on our previous conservation efforts. When are we going to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH??!! This past Tuesday was one of the saddest days in my fishing memory as I saw scores of boats tied to the dock here in NJ as a result of our closed Fluke season. At least we knew this day was coming. In NY, the story is worse. They expected to have a longer season, but will BE SHUT DOWN EARLY. Imagine booking a fishing trip and being told a week before your trip that sorry, fishing is as good as anyone can remember, but the government says we have to stop fishing now. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
This coming Monday, 9/17, there will be an important fishermen's meeting that all fishermen should make an effort to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the tightening noose of fisheries regulations, fluke and blackfish in particular. Scheduled to speak will be the Bogan's, RFA, the Division of Fish & Game and NJ State Legislators. The goal of the meeting will be to present the challenges of the current state of fisheries management and to voice ideas on how to protect our ability to utilize the resource. This is an opportunity to do more than sit behind a keyboard, it's a chance to come out, meet some people, share some ideas, and HELP US ALL! Bring a friend (or two or three). Media representatives are expected, so the greater the turnout, the better.
Meeting is 7:30 pm Monday at the Taylor Pavilion located between 5th and 6th Avenues on Ocean Avenue in Belmar.