Let's talk about the Atlantic Striped Bass Moratorium
It happened so long ago that many anglers today didn't fish during the time before and leading up to it.
Let me be the first one to stand up and say I didn't fish through it.
I was too busy chasing girls, Sex and Drugs n Rock n Roll..... :)
People sometimes come to me looking for answers. While my thirst for fishing knowledge is insatiable :drool: my experience is nowhere near that of guys who have fished the salt for 50 or 60 years and seen the wide range of fishing that we once had.
I asked myself....
1. How is it fair to for us to expect a guy who has only been fishing for 5 or 10 years to understand what it was like? :huh:
2. How can something that happened so long ago have a bearing on our experiences today?
3. Isn't the striped bass population recovered?
4. If so, why should any of this ancient history crap be shoved down the throats of younger anglers who had nothing to do with the abuses of the past? :kooky:
Shouldn't people educate themselves?
I spend a lot of time watching the results of people arguing their positions, either on the internet, meeting rooms, Assembly meetings, rallys for fishermen, etc.
I've seen a lot of people committed to their causes. That's because they have something to protect, a vested interest, if you will.
I don't mean that disrespectfully. What I would like people to understand is that the ones you find most heavily involved in a protest are those who have something to lose or gain if things don't go their way. That's human nature. We can't change that.
What I do find among fishermen is that we are a tough group to convince of the position of another if it doesn't seem to affect us.
That's human nature as well. Think back to a time when people protested about a prison, psychiatric institute, or garbage dump proposed for a certain area.
The protestors who were most vocal would be the ones who lived across the street from it, right? :D
Naturally. :rolleyes:
Same thing in fishing.
It's been a gradual process for me to learn that people remain unconvinced of a program or platform until you can persuade them how it affects their lives. :learn:
That's why politicians are so effective at getting votes during bad economic times. People are hurting, or struggling. Politicians throw them a lifeline, and many empty promises they'll never be able to deliver on. Works every time, Politics 101.
So it's been my experience that people MIGHT be inclined to change their views, but today's generation wants concrete proof before them every time before they're willing to support a cause or issue. Many remain skeptical.
As JimmyZ says, it is what it is. :HappyWave:
Help me to educate others
As I explained in many other threads, my opinions aren't really important in the end. Everyone has a different take on things. My main goal is to raise awareness on these issues so people can see a different perspective.
The meetings and protests I go to have allowed me to learn that I must turn every one into a learning experience. I've been fortunate to meet people from many walks of life in my travels.
I've met commercial fishermen who tell me stories of being forced to dump thousands of pounds of dead fish, because they weren't permitted to keep them.
I've met recreational fishermen who are blazing with energy in trying to get people to see what they see.
I've also met fishermen on both sides who are concerned with no more than the :clapping::clapping: and $$$ from catching the next big bass. Nothing else matters to them. They feel the striped bass stocks are in danger but disavow any personal responsibility for it. So they might as well keep quiet about it.
It's always the fault of the other guy. :rolleyes:
Help me help others to understand the Moratorium
I can't do this alone guys and girls. I tend to get too involved in these things as it is. I'm asking you to share your experiences with us (Again):kooky: if you did fish through the Moratorium.
What was it like leading up to it?
How did you know that things were in trouble?
Tell us about the slow road to recovery.
Tell us about any parallels you see to then, and now.
If you're too young to be able to answer any of these questions, please help us help others see things differently by posting any references or stories related to how things were back then. As always, please cite your sources if referencing copyrighted material.
Thanks for the help, guys and girls. :HappyWave:
Just remember, all opinions welcome here. Please make any discussions respectful so I don't have to waste time editing.