I have not voiced my opinion and will not, except to say, WELL SAID, I could of not done better. Tony [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Stephen DiCerbo wrote: > > > > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >> >> > These fish have a 2 year life cycle, at the >> > end of which they spawn and then die, so who >> > cares if they get snagged. Supposedly >> > delicious smoked... :-) >> > I care ...... > > so do many others........ Having > been involved with ten years of battle to get > New York State to remove legalized snagging > from the sport fishing regulations, I have seen > the damage that setting a precedent like this > can do..... > > Don't get me wrong..... I have no qualms > whatsoever about utilizing a resource..... > whether they will die or not is not an issue, > really..... It becomes a question of ethics > and a "fisherman's" system of values.... > > I draw the line thusly: in order for a > fish procurement method to be considered > "sport" it must involved the enticement of > fish to strike or eat or consume the offering. > If not, it is not sport fishing. > > The best way for me to describe snagging is > Harvesting, not fishing.... (incidentally, in > the area in question, they used to use pitch > forks to collect the "they just gonna die > salmon").... gill netting, purse netting, and > fish traps and the like are not considered > sport fishing either... they are commercial > fishing techniques and harvesting methods. > > again, I have no issue with the harvesting > of a resource (managed of course) at all. But > call a spade a spade. > > When the state of New York (and some other > states, from my understanding) set up > regulations for the harvesting of fish by > snagging under the guise of sport fishing, they > created a monster...... > > Although we have finally gotten the > "legalized" stipulation for snagging off the > books, the damage has been done... two > generations worth..... the practice is still > pursued, and we have at least two generations of > what could have been ethical fishermen who have > been taught by their fathers that ripping a > weighted hook (or whatever device the current > regulations will allow them to get away with > using) with a jerking motion, into the bodies > of fish , and dragging them upon shore in > disgrace is what constitutes the sport and > ethical enjoyment of fishing.... > > This practice and lack of ethical fishing not > only spread across generations of fisherman in > the state (and neighboring states who came to > partake), but across the species and across the > water systems.... > > These so called fishermen now deploy these > harvesting methods indiscriminately to > steelhead, trout, walleyes, any species , and do > so in any body of water and in any situation. > > It has been one of the most negative impacts > to sport fishing in recent history. > > so, you see , I care. They are delicious > smoked, but some carry the bitter aftertaste > of this behavior called snagging. > > > Merry Christmas to all and to all a good > night. > > > Splinta'
