Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge - View Single Post

GregAndrew · 01-27-2016, 06:14 PM

Chris, I will concede that there may be "Homeguard" YT, but to assert that an MPA is a benefit to them is a stretch. What is the intent of the MPAs? It is to grow more and bigger predators for the most part. What are these fish going to eat? More and bigger are going to tax the local bait population. How will that help the YT population that dine on the same bait? The YT, even if "Homeguard", are not going to be protected from fishermen in the MPAs because they are pelagic. Even the Homeguards are going to swim in and out of them all day long. Their bodies are not designed to sit still like many other fish.

Your claim was that there had been 8 years of great year round fishing that people had been gluttons for. I simply stated that there were some pretty good fishermen (like Jasmin) that went at least 1 month during the year 2010 where they could not catch 1 qualifying fish of 3 species. I agree that we need to do something, but doing something wrong or arguing that something done wrong is better than nothing is not right. I also would not trust the future of the environment to many of the people that believe "if it is legal I am taking it". Nor do I trust the people that say "since we don't know the health of the population, we have to have no season".

The reason most fishermen are against the "conservation" idea is the result of the bad taste left in their mouths from the actions of "Conservationists". I don't believe that most fishermen are against science, just the bought and paid for science. Now all the decisions seem to be made by research from groups that would not let you fish, or the lawsuits they threaten. The state cannot afford to do any meaningful science and will have no data for our MPAs probably in the rest of my lifetime.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone that would be against fishing in more productive waters. But we have become a "me first" society, and most people don't stop to ask the question "would it be ok if everyone took what I take?". Gaffing fish can be addicting, and it can be hard to break the habit. And there are tons of excuses like "all my friends/family are asking for some". The more you give them, the more they will want (remember "Me first"?). Great fishing, for great tasting fish, is a prize that should not be squandered or given away loosely.

01-27-2016, 06:14 PM	#35
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Chris, I will concede that there may be "Homeguard" YT, but to assert that an MPA is a benefit to them is a stretch. What is the intent of the MPAs? It is to grow more and bigger predators for the most part. What are these fish going to eat? More and bigger are going to tax the local bait population. How will that help the YT population that dine on the same bait? The YT, even if "Homeguard", are not going to be protected from fishermen in the MPAs because they are pelagic. Even the Homeguards are going to swim in and out of them all day long. Their bodies are not designed to sit still like many other fish. Your claim was that there had been 8 years of great year round fishing that people had been gluttons for. I simply stated that there were some pretty good fishermen (like Jasmin) that went at least 1 month during the year 2010 where they could not catch 1 qualifying fish of 3 species. I agree that we need to do something, but doing something wrong or arguing that something done wrong is better than nothing is not right. I also would not trust the future of the environment to many of the people that believe "if it is legal I am taking it". Nor do I trust the people that say "since we don't know the health of the population, we have to have no season". The reason most fishermen are against the "conservation" idea is the result of the bad taste left in their mouths from the actions of "Conservationists". I don't believe that most fishermen are against science, just the bought and paid for science. Now all the decisions seem to be made by research from groups that would not let you fish, or the lawsuits they threaten. The state cannot afford to do any meaningful science and will have no data for our MPAs probably in the rest of my lifetime. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that would be against fishing in more productive waters. But we have become a "me first" society, and most people don't stop to ask the question "would it be ok if everyone took what I take?". Gaffing fish can be addicting, and it can be hard to break the habit. And there are tons of excuses like "all my friends/family are asking for some". The more you give them, the more they will want (remember "Me first"?). Great fishing, for great tasting fish, is a prize that should not be squandered or given away loosely.