commerical guys read

[ChrisS]

Question, so don't yell at me...

How much of the freezing of the lcc's was due to people not reporting any crab catch?  Either because they were not being used, or being used illegally as a way to catch more for a rec, or catching crabs and selling them for cash and not reporting it?  The state really came down hard and quick.

What was the true reason for making some lcc's inactive?

I believe the DNR caved into special interests groups, a casualty was the Lcc holders.

[rdbeard]

Fishing tom, you assume allot of bad things about comm. guys. The stated reason for DNR giving inactive lcc holders an option of freezing or restricting to male only was lantent effort as they put it. they said that if the new regs- female restrictions brought  back the crabs in good numbers they were afraid that those who had not been crabbing would start crabbing again and put too much pressure on a recovering resourse.They also said they would unfreeze those lcc's gradully when the stocks reached a certain level for a period of time which i think was 3 years. This place is starting to sound like tidalfish. I believe, along with some others that the intent was to eliminate as many comm. lic. as possible to clear the way for catchshsares which has run apon stiff oppostion.

[Mr. Ray III]

Question, so don't yell at me...

How much of the freezing of the lcc's was due to people not reporting any crab catch?  Either because they were not being used, or being used illegally as a way to catch more for a rec, or catching crabs and selling them for cash and not reporting it?  The state really came down hard and quick.

What was the true reason for making some lcc's inactive?

the dnr was afraid people who didn't use their license were going to start crabbing again.  This was when soils limits went into effect, and the population was way low

[Mr. Ray III]

Sorry Steve, posted at the same time.

[rdbeard]

Thats cool ray ,i had to modify to add what i thought was the real reason.

[fishingtom]

  I am not assuming anything about any individual.  We all know how The state of Md gov is underhanded.  When they tell you a reason for something it is always political.  ie We need to raise taxes(people complain and say they can't afford it) OK then we will just have to cut police and fire dept(OK then raise my taxes).  It is the same with everything they do.  I am asking are they trying to get rid of the commercial fishermen or, as it seems to me just get their hands deeper in his pockets?  Every new law and every new action in Md. seems to always revert back to more money for the state.  I was an lcc crabber but stopped using my license years ago and didn't renew.  I can't imagine that the true reason is for the good of the bay that they are imposing restrictions on any bay activity.  I know this state and how it works and the bottom line is they will not stop until they have their hand in everything you do...

[crabman1969]

  I am not assuming anything about any individual.  We all know how The state of Md gov is underhanded.  When they tell you a reason for something it is always political.  ie We need to raise taxes(people complain and say they can't afford it) OK then we will just have to cut police and fire dept(OK then raise my taxes).  It is the same with everything they do.  I am asking are they trying to get rid of the commercial fishermen or, as it seems to me just get their hands deeper in his pockets?  Every new law and every new action in Md. seems to always revert back to more money for the state.  I was an lcc crabber but stopped using my license years ago and didn't renew.  I can't imagine that the true reason is for the good of the bay that they are imposing restrictions on any bay activity.  I know this state and how it works and the bottom line is they will not stop until they have their hand in everything you do...

  See you are making alot of friends also fishingtom!  Save some for me.

[flounderpounder]

Don't forget the money the wife spends while you're out on "that stupid boat".

I'd be getting rid of something stupid.....my wedding ring....lmao

[flounderpounder]

Question, so don't yell at me...

How much of the freezing of the lcc's was due to people not reporting any crab catch?  Either because they were not being used, or being used illegally as a way to catch more for a rec, or catching crabs and selling them for cash and not reporting it?  The state really came down hard and quick.

What was the true reason for making some lcc's inactive?

because they werent reporting..or being used.. and  even if recs had to report their catch... dnr would be better off making a guess at the yearly catch from how many licenses are sold and go from there..  rather then expect people to be honest and report

[jack1747]

Fishing tom, you assume allot of bad things about comm. guys. The stated reason for DNR giving inactive lcc holders an option of freezing or restricting to male only was lantent effort as they put it. they said that if the new regs- female restrictions brought  back the crabs in good numbers they were afraid that those who had not been crabbing would start crabbing again and put too much pressure on a recovering resourse.They also said they would unfreeze those lcc's gradully when the stocks reached a certain level for a period of time which i think was 3 years. This place is starting to sound like tidalfish. I believe, along with some others that the intent was to eliminate as many comm. lic. as possible to clear the way for catchshsares which has run apon stiff oppostion.

I beg your pardon...  Mom, give me the bar of soap...

[Mr. Ray III]

These female regs are the stupidest thing I've heard from the DNR.  Why and HOW, can you make catch limits without having the data from the dredge survey, which is a CROCK in itself, and I don't believe the DNR when they tell us the numbers anyway.

Also, before anything happens with recs and sooks, we need recreational accountability.  DNR needs to get off the comm's azz about needing more accountability.  Every idea suggested flat out stupid, a waste of time, and wouldn't help in any way, except get them closer to catch shares.  We give our harvest reports every month.  Believe them or not.  If not, prove we are liars.  If the DNR would quit hanging catch shares over our heads, they wouldn't even need to worry falsified reporting. 

[bigcrabrob]

ray you hit the nail on the head . i think the only way they could do catch share is stop giving out comm licenses and do a 10 year period and then do the average .

[crabman1969]

These female regs are the stupidest thing I've heard from the DNR.  Why and HOW, can you make catch limits without having the data from the dredge survey, which is a CROCK in itself, and I don't believe the DNR when they tell us the numbers anyway.

Also, before anything happens with recs and sooks, we need recreational accountability.  DNR needs to get off the comm's azz about needing more accountability.  Every idea suggested flat out stupid, a waste of time, and wouldn't help in any way, except get them closer to catch shares.  We give our harvest reports every month.  Believe them or not.  If not, prove we are liars.  If the DNR would quit hanging catch shares over our heads, they wouldn't even need to worry falsified reporting. 

Mr. Ray what do you think could happen with recr. crabbers and sooks???  I think they should leave it like it is!  And as far as rec. accountability maybe if they made us tag our bushels like hunters do they could get an idea of our catches.  Just an idea.

[ChrisS]

And as far as rec. accountability maybe if they made us tag our bushels like hunters do they could get an idea of our catches.  Just an idea.

I do not think this is a bad idea, but I'd like to add a little to it. Maryland has launch a "new" system, if you havent bought a license be it fishing or hunting yet, you will be asked some questions you may not be familiar with or comfortable with, called "COMPASS". It will require your SS# and give you a lifetime "DNR number" and you will use that number to purchase license from here out.

With that said, I feel the DNR can utilize it to make crabbers call in their daily catch not unlike we currently do when harvesting a wild turkey or deer. Simply, call in your catch and get a confirmation number. If stop and checked, the catch should match the confirmation number.

[ChrisS]

ray you hit the nail on the head . i think the only way they could do catch share is stop giving out comm licenses and do a 10 year period and then do the average .

Im not sure that's gonna happen, or even what the DNR wants despite what some may believe.

HB1372: Requiring that specified appropriations for fishery management purposes be allocated in a specified manner between the recreational and commercial fisheries; authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to assess specified costs on specified commercial fishing licensees; repealing a provision of law that limits the number of participants in the commercial and charter boat fishery; establishing a $50 application fee for the transfer of a commercial fishing license or authorization; etc.

http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB1372.htm

[Mr. Breeze]

Im not sure that's gonna happen, or even what the DNR wants despite what some may believe.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB1372.htm

Chris,  I think that you are interpreting this to mean they want to increase the number of licenses?  I was at the House hearing for this bill, and have the straight poop.
 
A little background: Currently DNR is required by law to maintain a set number of commercial licenses in each license category.  ie.  The following numbers are for example, do not necessarily reflect correct numbers.  Suppose there are 1000 unlimited TFL licenses.  if only 900 are renewed, DNR is required to maintain the 100 that did not get renewed for re-issue to a qualified applicant.

This bill will remove that requirement and allow for DNR to reduce the number of licenses in play, rather than re-issuing them.  This bill will reduce the number of commercial fishermen.

[Crabbyd]

These female regs are the stupidest thing I've heard from the DNR.  Why and HOW, can you make catch limits without having the data from the dredge survey, which is a CROCK in itself, and I don't believe the DNR when they tell us the numbers anyway.

Also, before anything happens with recs and sooks, we need recreational accountability.  DNR needs to get off the comm's azz about needing more accountability.  Every idea suggested flat out stupid, a waste of time, and wouldn't help in any way, except get them closer to catch shares.  We give our harvest reports every month.  Believe them or not.  If not, prove we are liars.  If the DNR would quit hanging catch shares over our heads, they wouldn't even need to worry falsified reporting. 

Ray

Isnt the commercial female limits the same as catch shares but instead of doing them by individual license, they are done by class of license and cant be sold like traditional catch shares?   

[rdbeard]

Sorry Jack, i hope the soap ain't lifeboy,that stuff tastes terrible.

[Ronster]

Sorry Jack, i hope the soap ain't lifeboy,that stuff tastes terrible.

 

[ChrisS]

Chris,  I think that you are interpreting this to mean they want to increase the number of licenses?  I was at the House hearing for this bill, and have the straight poop.
 
A little background: Currently DNR is required by law to maintain a set number of commercial licenses in each license category.  ie.  The following numbers are for example, do not necessarily reflect correct numbers.  Suppose there are 1000 unlimited TFL licenses.  if only 900 are renewed, DNR is required to maintain the 100 that did not get renewed for re-issue to a qualified applicant.

This bill will remove that requirement and allow for DNR to reduce the number of licenses in play, rather than re-issuing them.  This bill will reduce the number of commercial fishermen.

Thank you for clarifing that and for taking the time to attend the meetings, I had a hard time understanding it when I read it.

[soggybottomboyz]

A problem is new development is increasing nutrient and sediment loads in the bay at rates faster than restoration efforts are reducing them.

[tedbo]

I believe the best solution, for the resource, would be for MD to outlaw trot lining all together, comm. and rec. And I'm not saying this to upset anybody.

Commercials would have to pot only.  Yield would be based on equipment investment, not a string, a net and some bait.

Recreationals would have to trap or handline, 30 max.

I don't know what % of the comm. yeild comes from lining vs. potting, but I think it's a good bit.  But as someone said eariler in this post "prove I'm lying" when it comes to reporting. So who really knows.

It may seem over-simplistic, but it just makes sense to me.

And it seems to work in Jersey.

[bigcrabrob]

there is so many pots out now that if all comm guys use pots you wouldnt get a boat thru anywhere . i use pot and trotline .when my pots do good is spring and fall time . the summer trotlining does better then pots

[fishingtom]

I believe the best solution, for the resource, would be for MD to outlaw trot lining all together, comm. and rec. And I'm not saying this to upset anybody.

Commercials would have to pot only.  Yield would be based on equipment investment, not a string, a net and some bait.

Recreationals would have to trap or handline, 30 max.

I don't know what % of the comm. yeild comes from lining vs. potting, but I think it's a good bit.  But as someone said eariler in this post "prove I'm lying" when it comes to reporting. So who really knows.

It may seem over-simplistic, but it just makes sense to me.

And it seems to work in Jersey.

Some potters are bringing in 40 or more bushels daily and your worried about the trotliner who gets 3 or 4 bushels of good crabs maybe 4 days a week?  Crab pots who continue to fish when others have to take a day off...Not to mention it takes quite an investment to keep the 40' box stern fueled up and running year after year.  Your in Delaware right?

  I also think it is a little more complicated than a string, bait and a net.  Not to mention it is a heck of alot of work...

[tedbo]

You know what, you're right, change everywhere I said lining and insert potting, and everywhere I said potting and insert trot lining.

And then limit the recs. to a jersey trot line.   

That should solve it.