[minerniner]

an interesting perspective from Louisiana.

letter from Captain Eric Rue to NC Sportsman Magazine
Dear Editor:
I just returned to Louisiana from North Carolina after participating in the ESPN Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Championship, which was held in Morehead City. I found the people extremely friendly and helpful, and look forward to going back there one day. I noticed the recreational and commercial sectors in that area seem to get along much better than they do in our area, and was surprised to find many of the commercial fishermen to be eager to offer help despite the fact we are unable to accept it because of tournament rules.

So as much as I liked my trip, the photos I have attached exemplify what I did not like about North Carolina. The trip brought back many bad memories of the same situation in Louisiana just a few years ago. I caught this fish (see photo) during practice ...

A visiting Louisiana tournament angler caught this red drum, entangled in a gill net near Morehead City, during practice for the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup tournament.

link to full article: http://www.redfishcountry.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=291

 

[Jeffonc]

doesn't look like the link you intended, maybe?

 

[wvlheel]

Pretty sure I read the link he intended from an alternate site. Interesting perspective for sure, but I'm not sure the powers-that-be intend this site for those discussions.

That being said, I'm fully on board, and my seafood purchases reflect my beliefs. That's all I have to say about that.

 

[Drum Runner]

Not everything is a tourism business. Bottom line. The commercial fishing industry is still alive, still putting people to work in NC and generating MILLIONS.
Nothing is fool proof. Obviously you can kill a drum using the wrong rig according to some people hence some regulations, but some still die. A net is going to kill some not intended to be killed.
Aint no different than hunting, trapping or fishing for other species of game and fish. The unintended consequence of pursuit is sometimes death.

You can plant a 1/2 acre of tobacco, tend it with a hoe, and lose your butt in the bargain or you can buy a new tractor, plant 400 acres of tobacco, hire some help, and make some money.
It's all about putting food on the table

What I do down at the coast is play time. I'll get out of the way for a man working. Just my raising.

 

[drumchaser]

We'll never ban nets here. It's 'heritage.'

 

[OptiMystic]

I think one of the reasons we still have them is because our estuaries are so large. The other states aren't that much more progressive, they just got pushed to the brink sooner. The writing is on the wall here. The fishing will probably have to get pretty bad, to the point the coms start having to shut down because they can't harvest enough even with lax regulations. Then the regs will come in and then it will rebound. That's the pattern most of the other states went through. It would be nice if we could avoid that, but I doubt we will.

 

[speckhunter80]

Glad I found and posted that letter on my FB page two weeks ago. Seems to be making it's way onto all the websites. Just a warning, if ya'll start comm vs. rec BS the door on this thread will get slammed and locked quickly

 

[Drum Runner]

Commercial fishing is one of the oldest if not oldest industries in the state of NC. It was an industry before there was a state.
You've got numerous families that are 5,6, 7 generations deep watermen. Like mama always said. Blood is thicker than water.

 

[catfish_hunter]

..........

 

[biglenr]

Commercial fishing is one of the oldest if not oldest industries in the state of NC. It was an industry before there was a state.
You've got numerous families that are 5,6, 7 generations deep watermen. Like mama always said. Blood is thicker than water.

That is a very weak argument.... Lots of westerners had generations of cattle drives over land before it got fenced in.... the public resource they were using became too crowded for them to monopolize it. Generations of blacksmiths and buggy whip makers lost their family work when tractors and cars became popular. Times change. People need to change with the times.

 

[NCTribute]

Commercial fishing is one of the oldest if not oldest industries in the state of NC. It was an industry before there was a state.
You've got numerous families that are 5,6, 7 generations deep watermen. Like mama always said. Blood is thicker than water.

Understand your point, but a significant number of the commercial guys are those who were displaced from other states and are more gypsies than established generational locals. There is also a ladies profession that is one of the oldest known to man, but that fact alone does not make for an argument for its viability.

 

[OptiMystic]

Some of my ancestors were gentleman farmers in the textile industry in the deep south. At one point it became abundantly clear that perhaps another line of work should be considered...

 

[crappie89]

I think the hard pill for many people to swallow is the effect that commercial fishing has on the finfish fishery in this state when a significant majority of the commercial landings (from a dollar perspective) is from shellfish. That is the way I perceive it at least.

 

[Drum Runner]

Some of my ancestors were gentleman farmers in the textile industry in the deep south. At one point it became abundantly clear that perhaps another line of work should be considered...

Apples and oranges. The textile industry just wasn't here one day. It packed up and moved off.
I will NEVER as long as I'm breathing tell another man he needs to find another line of work ESPECIALLY when it seems his line of work seems to be working for HIM. I absolutely hate the smell of a rose. If a man started a rose farm next to me...I reckon I would either have to move or learn to like the smell of roses.

The problem here is the landlubbers want the commercial fishermen buried so it doesn't interfere with their RECREATION.
Typical not from around here but want to change it mentality.
The same has gone on with farming in this state. Somebody comes from somewhere else and builds a house next to hog farm then sues the hog farm trying to get it shut down, sway public opinion, set precedence and shape policy.

There is room for both commercial and recreational interests. Every side has to give. The recreational fishermen seem to have an all or nothing attitude. If you notice, it aint working.

But I can tell you, there aint nobody elected democrat or republican from coastal counties that will go against commercial fishing interests. It aint happening. That would be considered a traitorous act upon one's community. That is why it's still here. Until you can manage to get the northerners to take those seats it's the way it will be. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[biglenr]

How does a discussion about redfish becaome an excuse to attack northerners and people coming from "somewhere else"? A perfect example of times changing.

Time to close this thread.

 

[Drum Runner]

Attack? Try fact.
I'm an outsider. I am a landlubber. I love to recreational fish.....but I can see past the end of my nose.
On the scale of importance of what I do at the coast..it aint very important.

Wear your heart in your chest, not on your sleeve.

 

[OptiMystic]

I think you missed the point; my ancestors were part of a way of life that is gone for a good reason.

A resource that provided for a few million is stretched thin when there are hundreds of millions. Not sure that math is going to work no matter how hard we try.

 

[trigger22]

I've been watching this and would like to keep it open. Please allow me to do so by keeping it civil and respectful of everyone's opinion.

 

[NCTribute]

Apples and oranges. The textile industry just wasn't here one day. It packed up and moved off.
I will NEVER as long as I'm breathing tell another man he needs to find another line of work ESPECIALLY when it seems his line of work seems to be working for HIM. I absolutely hate the smell of a rose. If a man started a rose farm next to me...I reckon I would either have to move or learn to like the smell of roses.

The problem here is the landlubbers want the commercial fishermen buried so it doesn't interfere with their RECREATION.
Typical not from around here but want to change it mentality.
The same has gone on with farming in this state. Somebody comes from somewhere else and builds a house next to hog farm then sues the hog farm trying to get it shut down, sway public opinion, set precedence and shape policy.

There is room for both commercial and recreational interests. Every side has to give. The recreational fishermen seem to have an all or nothing attitude. If you notice, it aint working.

But I can tell you, there aint nobody elected democrat or republican from coastal counties that will go against commercial fishing interests. It aint happening. That would be considered a traitorous act upon one's community. That is why it's still here. Until you can manage to get the northerners to take those seats it's the way it will be. Be careful what you wish for.

Way off base, it is not that it interferes with someone's recreation, but that it is ruining a natural resource to the point that it will be unsustainable, two extremely different things.

But you are the same person against limiting beach access, because it interferes with your recreation?????? I know it is not the best example, but you seem to only offer the arguments that suit your personal interests, rather than the greater good.

 

[turtlestew]

I'm afraid it's already gone past civil and respectful of other's opinion imo. Posts using cute little metaphors to suggest someone is ignorant and heartless gots to go. Especially when it's the exact opposite.