03-16-2016, 04:42 PM
I 100% agree with Chris penn about giving the shore anglers a chance to catch them when they're accessible. Many of us with a boat take it for granted that catching fish and boats go hand in hand, but when I think about it, most of my friends and acquaintances don't have a boat that allows them access to many of the fish in our state. I have a boat, kayaks, pontoon, etc.., so I really have no problem going where the fish are, but a lot of my friends aren't so lucky unless they go with me.
Their dollars are funding these fisheries too, so I think it is very reasonable to allow them the opportunity to fish for spawning fish if it can be demonstrated that the fishery isn't impacted for the negative.
I live up on bear lake and I absolutely love that we can fish for lakers during the spawn while others are rabid about wanting it shut down. Again, it allows people that may not have a chance otherwise to access those fish and I think that it is a good thing. The lakers don't successfully spawn there anyway, and FAR more fish are caught and kept by trollers and people jigging from boats than are kept by bank fisherman. Again, those of us that enjoy fishing it keep an eye out and report illegal activity, but the nice thing is that we don't see too much of it AND WE ARE WATCHING.
If I go to fish the Willard inlet again I'll be watching, but mostly I'll be fishing for my own enjoyment and if I see illegal activity I'll certainly report it, but it will be a cold day in Hades before I'll actually be confrontational and fight over a stupid fish......that is for law enforcement to do.
Well, it is what it is and people griping about it most likely won't change anything because it was a decision based on sound study and biology. Keep it open and keep an eye out..... Profiling works very well, so you know who to keep more of an eye on than others....and mostly JUST HAVE FUN! After all, isn't that why all we fish?
Mike
[signature]
Their dollars are funding these fisheries too, so I think it is very reasonable to allow them the opportunity to fish for spawning fish if it can be demonstrated that the fishery isn't impacted for the negative.
I live up on bear lake and I absolutely love that we can fish for lakers during the spawn while others are rabid about wanting it shut down. Again, it allows people that may not have a chance otherwise to access those fish and I think that it is a good thing. The lakers don't successfully spawn there anyway, and FAR more fish are caught and kept by trollers and people jigging from boats than are kept by bank fisherman. Again, those of us that enjoy fishing it keep an eye out and report illegal activity, but the nice thing is that we don't see too much of it AND WE ARE WATCHING.
If I go to fish the Willard inlet again I'll be watching, but mostly I'll be fishing for my own enjoyment and if I see illegal activity I'll certainly report it, but it will be a cold day in Hades before I'll actually be confrontational and fight over a stupid fish......that is for law enforcement to do.
Well, it is what it is and people griping about it most likely won't change anything because it was a decision based on sound study and biology. Keep it open and keep an eye out..... Profiling works very well, so you know who to keep more of an eye on than others....and mostly JUST HAVE FUN! After all, isn't that why all we fish?
Mike
[signature]