Pogy Boats and Recreational Fishermen

[eelman]

You can complain all you want, they are not going anywhere. There is no law against them being there. By not getting bait off the bunker boat all one would be doing is hurting themselves, it serves no purpose to deny yourself the bait. I saw it first hand this year and I think everyone who is everyone in the fishing business was lined up waiting to get there bait for the day...Its the same stuff everyone buys in the local shops to use as chunk bait.

I think certainly they "rape " the resource and I am not saying something should not be done, however I also have had many conversations with the RISAA president and the truth is ark bait does not even have to sit down and talk about it, they are protected beyond protected, The state acually has no control over it. The federal govenment does because its a migratory fish. Fact is the Pogie boat is here to stay like it or not, no harm in getting free bait........

[spence]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

The state acually has no control over it.

Hasn't the State already passed restrictions on the taking of Menhaden for reduction?



-spence

[Clammer]

Spence:

I believe the area,s that were legally marked prohibited are area,s where there is very seldom any descent amount of pogies .. The agreement your thinking about is a gentleman,s agreement & we all know how good that is ><><><><<


PS / Very often shore guys do have access to schools of adult bunker // ya just have to know where & when <><<><><><>><

[spence]

Originally Posted by Clammer

I believe the area,s that were legally marked prohibited are area,s where there is very seldom any descent amount of pogies .. The agreement your thinking about is a gentleman,s agreement & we all know how good that is

Help me understand RI Law then...

§ 20-4.1-1 Designation of menhaden management area. – Narragansett Bay in its entirety is designated a menhaden management area. The area shall include the east and west passages of Narragansett Bay, Mt. Hope Bay, and the Sakonnet River, and be bordered on the south by a line from Bonnet Point to Beavertail Point to Castle Hill Light. The southern boundary will then extend from Land's End to Sachuset Point and then to Sakonnet Point. All sections of the management area north of a line from Spink Neck in the town of North Kingstown to Pine Hill Point on Prudence Island and from a point at Homestead Dock on the easterly shore of Prudence Island, thence northeasterly to Hog Island Shoal Light, thence to the most easterly end of the Mt. Hope Bridge in the town of Portsmouth, and north of a line extending from McCurry Point, so called, on the east side of the town of Portsmouth northeasterly in a line to the southerly point of Jack's Island, so called, in the town of Tiverton will be permanently closed to the taking of menhaden for reduction purposes by the use of purse seines.

§ 20-4.1-2 Areas where purse seining allowed. – All sections of the management area where purse seining for menhaden is allowed will be open as determined by the department of environmental management.

§ 20-4.1-3 Prohibition on the taking of menhaden. – (a) The taking of menhaden for reduction purposes (fish meal) is prohibited in Rhode Island and all state waters. A vessel will be considered in the reduction (fish meal) business if any portion of the vessel's catch is sold for reduction purposes.

(2) The director of environmental management shall have the power to make emergency rules regarding this prohibition to protect the public health and safety from an unexpected hazard or risk. The marine fisheries council shall be notified of all emergency rules on or before their effective date.

(b) These restrictions shall in no way prevent the taking of menhaden by purse seine for bait, chum, or purposes other than fish meal reduction.

I'd be curious to know what Federal law would keep RI from banning non-reduction fishing...given than it would seem they can certainly restrict it for reduction purposes...

And Bill, I'm not trying to start a fight...I just don't understand the law as written vs what you're saying

-spence

[Krispy]

NJ stopped the reduction boats in their waters a few years ago, look at their fishery now. Incredible
I dont believe the Fed controls bunker harvest in RI
You can reference the "salty dogs" on SOL search to follow the successful lobbying to end bunker reduction in NJ waters

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Krispy

NJ stopped the reduction boats in their waters a few years ago, look at their fishery now. Incredible
I dont believe the Fed controls bunker harvest in RI
You can reference the "salty dogs" on SOL search to follow the successful lobbying to end bunker reduction in NJ waters

Jersey guys are literally debating whether catching a 30 pounder requires skill or not when you use bunker, or even fishing around them for that matter with plugs.

It's apparently that good....

[Clammer]

As I stated earlier ///this is RI //

Spence /
from tha take from your post of the laws /it makes reference to taking as bait ---not fertilizer or cat food .. I don,t believe Arc bait sells to anyone except bait dealer, lobsterman & fisherman ...

WTF knows why & how the big boat from Maine got in & worked our waters this year ?????????

[eelman]

Originally Posted by spence

Hasn't the State already passed restrictions on the taking of Menhaden for reduction?



-spence

Clammer is right, it was a gentelmans agreement and basically they can laugh at it if they want, the state has never passed any restrictions on them and , they cant even if they wanted to.........

[eelman]

I hope this thread does not head into the toilet like so many others.....If you really want to know, call your legislators.....But the fact is, there is nothing at all that can be done by any state official or anything else to stop, reduce or anything concerning the bunker boat...It is what it is. There is a fedaral law that trumps everything when it comes to the taking of menhaden, I dont know the particulars but, I do know there isnt anything that can be done...

To some of you guys this may be new, but it has been going on for many years....Lots of influencial people have been involved and many advocates of fisherman etc... have spent half there lives fighting this...Its fruitless...

Lobsterman also carry considerable weight as they have a stake on the menhaden as bait, in fact the whole fishing industry does so, you would also take on the lobsterman etc... It goes deep...Then you have the catfood industry and there millions and lobbyists...Like I said its deep. I am sure the recreational "bait" use of menhaden is way, way down the list.


DZ, They have been taking pictures of guys getting bait from them for years...Nothing new....

[Springtides]

DZ's first question:

"Should local anglers be asking for and accepting live pogies from these boats on one hand while at the same time trying to ban these same boats from taking pogies from Narragansett bay?"

My answer is .....NO

DZ's second question:

How do you feel about this issue?

My answer:
Let's clarify the isuues raised in the thread once and for all.
Is and where is the ban?
Is RISSA for or against this?

I do not know enough about the commercial end of this and certainly do not want to ruin anyone's ability to make a living but remember what Striper1 just said:

"that has seen the Donna Mae a "pogie Boat" clean out our Quincy Bay of POGIES about 10 years back......

I am just starting to see adult pogies up this way the last few years"

So, my feeling is don't rape it dry and manage it properly. I would like to hear what Captain Don from Captain Don's Bait and Tackle has to say about this. I respect his knowledge of the fishery in general.

Thanks DZ you bring up another great discussion.

Good points #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& but women were never going to be allowed to vote either. Not arguing with you just saying "never say never."

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