New Crab restrictions out this week. Rumor has it

[tattoo]

You are better that pINCHY. 

[Pinchy]

I can google search too   

Solow - Yeah, but did you write that, or merely cut-and-paste? and, when I quote, I cite sources (see my stuff on crab vision).

ILLSWIM - Don't be such a baby - Rich knows this is kidding, he busts my walnuts all the time.

[tattoo]

 

[horsefly]

I have said this time and time again. If we can't reverse all the harm we have done to or water ways it is time for change in operations. All states that have a productive Blue Crab fishery need to do the following: 1)Eliminate all dredging of crabs from all waters(inland and out 3 miles) 2) Reduce or eliminate crab trawling(There is stricter rules here in NC) 3) Change size limits to all hard crabs to 5 1/4"     4)make size limit on peelers to 4" and only allow red liners to be kept  5)close all waters known to hold spawning females only during spawing periods.   LAST........6)Make nationwide ban on keeping sponge crabs, regradless of price for picking crabs, we as whole must give something back..........and thats a good place to start.
I believe we still need to make big steps in improving water quality, but at our present growth rate, we have better chances of being hit by lighting.
Oh, if all those picking houses didn't get their H2B visas for the migrant labor, crabbers could be dumping a chunk of crabs back this year.

I left off couple more thoughts or plans, I thought they might be to harsh or harassing to some....but heck on it here it goes:7)Since there is quite a few part timers in the crabbing or fishery, how about  elminate those who do not make 80%+  of the income from commercial off the water. 8)SINCE in some states, holders of multi-licenses and boats lease/rent or have signed them out to individuals to operate their gear. My proposal is to limit those or the whole crab pot fishery to a 450 pot limit.....license, extra use pots for leased/rented and turned over license/boat has a $30 tag per pot added for usage quartly ......LASTLY 9)Limit peeler pots to 150 per license and require escape rings to allow 3 3/4" crabs to escape.
I don't think these ideas are that bad and would be better if we as in all coastal Blue Crab states adhere to a time on/off water as well. Most crabbers can fish the pots in the morn, at that time the air is generally cooler allowing for a lower death loss of crabs that must be returned for undersize/or non red line peelers etc. We as people must look to the future, even if that means serious cuts in the way we operate. We as people need to do more to help get our envrioment better (I would say back to old times, but that is a pipe dream)Problem I see is the lack of public info on the crab/fish or fishery as whole and envrioment. The public needs to be informed of declining water quality and decline of seafood......with that the decline of the American Commercial fishermen......REMEMBER COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN FEED THE WORLD.....GOD BLESS

[Solow]

Solow - Yeah, but did you write that, or merely cut-and-paste? and, when I quote, I cite sources (see my stuff on crab vision).

ILLSWIM - Don't be such a baby - Rich knows this is kidding, he busts my walnuts all the time.

Merely copy and paste   

Source was Wikipedi 

all good now?

[horsefly]

Solow - Yeah, but did you write that, or merely cut-and-paste? and, when I quote, I cite sources (see my stuff on crab vision).

ILLSWIM - Don't be such a baby - Rich knows this is kidding, he busts my walnuts all the time.

At least you hope he thinks you are playing. Seriously, this is a serious issue let's keep the ball in the same court

[Solow]

it is a serious issue, thanks

it was merley pointed to someone else, thanks and have a fabulous upcoming crabbing season

[tattoo]

 

[ChrisS]

Horsefly,
It is very easy to report 80% of your income from crabbing, if your the one reporting your income.

[rivercrab]

I went to the TFAC meeting last night.. There are going to be three more meetings on this within the next 2 months...From the proposals that they showed us last night things should rebound but some folks arent going to happy with the restrictions..for the worst case scenario Looks like recreational crabbing without a license is a thing of the past.. No sooks for the recs and line and catch reductions...But dont worry they are also capping the LCCs and putting some pretty strict restrictions on us comms to.

[crabbygramps]

Thanks RC... if we share the pain,...we will share the gain. Gotta be give and take!!

[genecrabman]

Horsefly,
It is very easy to report 80% of your income from crabbing, if your the one reporting your income.

If all the states would implement a "TRIP TICKET" program they could eliminate the SLACKERS in the Waterman Industry. Since the Start of the program 20 years ago,Every pound of Crabs and Fish I've sold in the past 20 years can be looked up in seconds by the State of NC.. When this program was started many guys were thinking it would screw us "SOMEHOW"  down the way..But so far it's been a pretty good idea...Using this method it would be very easy to see who's working, either by the number of days crabbed or by the pounds of crabs landed..I will never be for a "LIMIT", for FULL-TIME Crabbers.  They are out there working through the GOOD DAYS and THE BAD.  Where a partime crabber just jumps in and rapes the resource,and when it's gone they will go back to their regular job....ALL I've done ALL my life is be a WATERMAN,not many can say that..over 30 years of seeing the good and the bad...

[Seaweed]

The proposed regulation changes are merely discussion points at this time.... nothing is set in stone yet.  Scott hit the highlights.  They also mentioned partial closures of peeler and/or sook harvest (a week here, a week there kind of thing)

Again, its all just ideas for discussion.

[rivercrab]

The proposed regulation changes are merely discussion points at this time.... nothing is set in stone yet.  Scott hit the highlights.  They also mentioned partial closures of peeler and/or sook harvest (a week here, a week there kind of thing)

Again, its all just ideas for discussion.

Its going to be interesting..We just have to wait and see..But you are right weed its just discussion..But one thing for sure there is going to be some changes somewhere 

[Seaweed]

Its going to be interesting..We just have to wait and see..But you are right weed its just discussion..But one thing for sure there is going to be some changes somewhere 

I agree... and I think its time... Lynn's presentation was excellent, and I thought she did a great job at explaining what all the numbers mean and showing the state of affairs that the blue crab is in.  It might not be perfect science, but I think the trends are clear.

I thought the proposed regulation change ideas were fair, and something that most people could live with.  We'll see.

[ChrisS]

...now, if they just bump up enforcement, perhaps it will make a difference.......if they don't, these new regs are useless!!!

GCM........for a "full time crabber, you spend alot of time on the internet complaining about part-timers. lol

[rivercrab]

...now, if they just bump up enforcement, perhaps it will make a difference.......if they don't, these new regs are useless!!!

GCM........for a "full time crabber, you spend alot of time on the internet complaining about part-timers. lol

i


I was told last night that they hired 35 more NRP officers..So maybe that will help..I was talking to one of the NRP officers last night about the situation on the Patapsco and he told me that there will be enforcement there this year..So we will see. Chris you know how big a problem it is down there..So what is it like elsewhere?

[Pinchy]

...a part-time crabber just jumps in and rapes the resource,and when it's gone they will go back to their regular job....ALL I've done ALL my life is be a WATERMAN,not many can say that..over 30 years of seeing the good and the bad...

Non sequitur est...palmam qui meruit ferat.

[tattoo]

Wha, The Heck.

[madcrabber1113]

Non sequitur est...palmam qui meruit ferat.

Translation please. 

[tattoo]

Mr Wizard is at it again. 

[genecrabman]

...now, if they just bump up enforcement, perhaps it will make a difference.......if they don't, these new regs are useless!!!

GCM........for a "full time crabber, you spend alot of time on the internet complaining about part-timers. lol

Nope Chris, The only time I complain is when I hear someone mention Limits or restrictions. It seems not many guys are being a Waterman "FULL-TIME". DARN, somebody has to speak for us          

[Seaweed]

GCM-

Please keep in mind that there are very few full-time watermen that are active members of this site. I could probably count the true full-time guys on one hand. Please also keep in mind that we (as in full time, part time, whatever) are all on the same "side" and have some degree of interest in commercial fishing.  Nobody is out to get you... sure, we'd all love to see clear waters full of fish with no limits on what can be caught... but lets not be ignorant to the situation at hand... the bottom line is that we all need to do something, and fast, or there won't be anything left... especially full-timers.  Namecalling, ranting and raving,  and pointing fingers is not going to make anything change, or make anything better.   Ranting and raving about the way things were is not going to bring the "good old days" back, I am afraid to say.

[tattoo]

Right you are. 

[crabbygramps]

GCM-

Please keep in mind that there are very few full-time watermen that are active members of this site. I could probably count the true full-time guys on one hand. Please also keep in mind that we (as in full time, part time, whatever) are all on the same "side" and have some degree of interest in commercial fishing.  Nobody is out to get you... sure, we'd all love to see clear waters full of fish with no limits on what can be caught... but lets not be ignorant to the situation at hand... the bottom line is that we all need to do something, and fast, or there won't be anything left... especially full-timers.  Namecalling, ranting and raving,  and pointing fingers is not going to make anything change, or make anything better.   Ranting and raving about the way things were is not going to bring the "good old days" back, I am afraid to say.

 Right on the head Weed...ranting raving,  finger pointing and the old "nimby attitutde" is what got this mess where it is.. jmho