On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 17:01:23 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

It comes down to common courtesy. As big as the Gulf is, I have to wonder
why someone has to fish in *my* chum slick 15' behind my boat. I was
sitting on a nearshore wreck 2 miles off Gordon Pass fishing for bait, when
a 40' charter pull up not 10' off my port side. I guess I was sitting on
*his* bait spot. I yelled out that we were casting 4 oz. jigs in that
direction and if he'd like to avoid one going through the windows in his
salon, it'd be a good idea to move back a little ways. I also reminded him
that he was responsible for the safety of the people on his charter, and
that he was placing them in a potentially unsafe situation where there could
be 4 oz jigs and 8/0 hooks flying by their heads.

Happens all the time around here - in particular on weekends. You get
the weekend OUPV charter types who seem to feel that every hot spot is
theirs and if you aren't in a certain "club", you can just as well get
the hell out. And the intimidation factor among the "light tackle
specialists" is pretty amazing too. Just last week, I was fishing a
really nice rock pile for 'tog and one of the local "big shots" tried
to call me off his "pile" that he was fishing that morning and now
wanted back in the afternoon. "I'm Captain X of XYZ CHARTERS and I
was on that spot this morning - can you please move clear?" Right -
byte me. What a crock.

I've had these clowns move right up next to me if I'm on a hot bite
and I've even had their customers hook my T-top and trolling motor.
And the fly fishing types - god save us from lead core fly fishing.

And the biggest mouths in the regulation and policy hearings about
fish stocks are these bozos who are the worst abusers in terms of
undersize keep rates.

My own personal opinion is that the Charter industry needs to moved
from the Recreational category and into the Commercial category so
their catch and by-catch are more closely regulated.

~~ mutter - grumble ~~ :)

Later,

Tom