The commercial guys have ruined the fishing in all species and will continue until they are stopped, the state isn't doing anything so I guess that leaves ???

Stan: We're sure you mean well, but the problem isn't so simple and isn't all about commercials, and we don't agree that many of the fish populations, such as the fish at the wrecks that were talked about, are suffering. Some populations certainly are, but some certainly aren't.

You're correct that the state or government isn't really effective. An example is that NOAA Fisheries' latest proposed budget reduces money for surveys of the fish populations, and highly flawed and irresponsible surveys is the root of the problem. How they could do anything but spend more money on better science should make an angler speechless.

If the government isn't stepping up, who does that leave to solve the problem, you ask? Well, you, and us, recreational anglers. Nobody else.

Until individual anglers become outraged enough to influence the government to do a responsible job, this is going to get worse. Are you going to the Anglers Rally in Washington, D.C., at the Capitol on Wednesday? If not, why? Support as much as you can the angler organizations that are fighting this problem.  

Have you noticed the ridiculously poor fisheries management lately? Things like: the impossible fluke size limit; the winter flounder two-fish bag limit; the closure of the sea bass fishery, devastating to recreational fishing this winter, followed by the government's admission that the sea bass population is not overfished, they made a mistake; and the recent declaration that N.J. is out of compliance on sharks, a threatened moratorium on sharking?

You call that management? What is left to fish for? We call that mismanagement. Hard to believe the management could get worse than it was.

Do something about it, Stan, if you're not already.

Again, who does that leave, you ask? You and all of us recreational anglers, and nobody else.--FRN