Florida promotes catch and release through incentives including fiberglass <b>...</b>

Capt. AJ Jackson, a longtime fishing guide who knows the Kissimmee chain of Lakes well, weighs an 8 pound, 6 ounce largemouth bass caught in the Buenaventura Lakes area recently. He sent proof of his fish to the state's Trophy Bass program, which gives incentives to anglers that catch and release fish that may otherwise get mounted on the wall. (courtesy of Capt. AJ Jackson / Nov 30, 2012)

Anglers may be guilty sometimes of telling fish tales, so displaying a mount of a trophy fish can offer proof of a big catch.

But as part of Florida's latest bass-conservation project, state wildlife officials hope those big fish won't be keepers. Instead, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering incentives through the new TrophyCatch program to those who catch and release those prized largemouth bass.

Proud fishermen can still point to proof of a memorable catch — a fiberglass replica of their whopper.

"It's a great program," said Capt. A.J. Jackson, an Orlando fishing guide since 1970. "It will promote Florida bass fishing throughout the nation. And it's going to be good for the sport, for encouraging catch and release."

Through TrophyCatch, anglers can register their prized fish, 8 pounds and up, by sending photos showing the fish being weighed, measured and then released. In the first month since the program launched in October, some 370 people have registered at the state website, agency spokesman Bob Wattendorf said.

Prizes are available to participants, including a free replica for fish larger than 13 pounds, gift cards to retail stores that specialize in fishing equipment, a rod and reel, and a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau for the largest bass caught in Osceola County during the first year of the program.

In the Kissimmee chain, there are plenty of fish that could take that prize, said Jackson, who registered two fish in the state program: an 8-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass and the other 9 pounds, 7 ounces. Caught in the Buenaventura Lakes area, the fish are the first registered out of Osceola County.

The best season to catch them is now through March.

"This is the beginning of our peak season, when the big female bass are binge-feeding for the spawning season," he said. "A lot of people come from all over the world to catch these big fish."

Releasing the trophy-sized fish is important for the fish population, said Jason Dotson, a fisheries biologist with the state's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, headquartered in St. Petersburg.

The larger the fish, the more eggs it produces. Larger fish also tend to produce larger offspring. Yet it takes a decade to grow a 10-pound fish, Dotson said.

"In Florida, these bass can live to 14, 15 years old, so if a 10-year-old fish is caught and released, and not harvested, it has potentially more years to live and spawn and pass on their genes," he said.

Catch and release also means those prized fish get "recycled," so another angler can catch it another day, he said. That's an added bonus for the freshwater-fishing industry, which generates $1.25 billion in economic impact annually in Florida, according to a federal wildlife study.

A.J. Willequer, who organizes fishing tournaments for the Harris Chain Bassmasters, a Eustis-based fishing club, has seen such "recycling" firsthand, when a fish tagged by a state biologist was caught later as a top fish in a tournament.

"Even in our tournaments, we do not advocate killing the fish," said Willequer, conservation director for the Florida Bass Federation. "We store them in live catch-and-release tanks of 400 gallons of water."

And even a local taxidermist agrees it may be better — though more expensive — to get a replica of a trophy fish, instead of a mount of the actual fish.

Bill Burns, owner of Back to Life Taxidermy in Orlando, said about half of his fish orders are mounts of fish, while half are replicas. In the 30 years since fish replicas were first created, the quality has improved dramatically, he said.

"The older fiberglass replicas looked very plastic, but the detail on the replica is so precise now, if you look at it up close it looks like the real fish," he said. "The nice thing about the replicas is that you're allowing the fish to continue living."

llelis@tribune.com or 352-742-5927

Comments (3) Add / View comments | Discussion FAQManfred Emslie at 5:46 PM November 30, 2012

Been catching and release bass for years ,where the hell have you been.

Bassman1953 at 5:22 PM November 30, 2012

First of all, holding a bas this size in this manner may break its jaw, resulting in starvation. Secondly, tell the folks at water management to stop drawing down the lakes at the peak of spawn, we've seen the bass knocked off their beds for the past 4 years on Lake Mary Jane and Lake Hart. The bass population can't thrive when the eggs are drying in the sun. Finally, true fishermen care more about protecting the fish than what goes on their walls. Take a picture, give it a kiss, and send it on its way!

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End of pier the place to catch big <b>bass</b>

SPECIMEN bass continue to be caught from the Admiralty pier at Dover with the very end of the pier again producing double-figure bass, writes Alan Yates.

Dover regular Brian Price, who works as a steward on Dover's Admiralty pier, landed three bass in midweek with the biggest a superb specimen of 12lb 8oz.

?I CAN SEE A RAINBOW: Martin Gibson with his 15lb rainbow trout.

The Sea Angler magazine cameras were there to record the event and the full story, with some impressive pictures, will appear in the next issue of the magazine. Others to catch bass from the pier include Dover's Matt Pennall, who landed a seven-pounder.

Around the region the fishing reflects the gradually changing season with the autumn fish starting to show up and a change coming over the inshore.

In the club competitions, the best fish was a 4lb 8oz smoothhound hooked by Folkestone angler Melvin Lee in the latest Martin Walters Sea Anglers event fished from Folkestone pier.

Lee totalled 6lb 6oz to beat second-placed Jimmy McMurray and third-placed Rowan Lee.

THE latest Dungeness Angler Association event, also fished from Folkestone pier, was won by Paul Gunner with 7.80lb. John Smith of Ashford was second and Steve Harvey third.

The Fountain sea anglers fished a rover between Folkestone and Sandgate and the winner there was Sam Warne, of Hythe, fishing in the rocks at Folkestone where he landed two dogfish and pouting. Best fish of the event was a sole of 1lb 6oz.

FRESHWATER results include a nine-carp catch at Nichols Leisure lakes, Palmarsh for Mark Edwards, of Sheerness, who included a best 29lb 3oz mirror and a 19lb common fishing in the Long Bay with Matrix Boilies. The recent competition at Nichols was won by venue specialist Paul Watts, of Dover, fishing peg 58. Second was Paul Uden, third Rueben Heaton.

Folkestone Fly angling club anglers Martin Gibson and Ian Watts won the Hampshire and Kent heats of the Fishing for Heroes national competition and raised over £2000 in the process.

Martin won the Dever, Hampshire event with a 15lb rainbow trout and a total of four fish for 30lb. Ian took the Kent heat at Springhill fishery.

COMPETITIONS coming up include the Deal Marines Sea Angling Club charity competition in aid of Help for Heroes on the beach at Deal this Sunday, September 23. The fishing is from 12.30pm until 6.30pm. Entry fee is £10. For tickets and more details contact John ChidwicK on 07917 330034.

IF you have caught a big fish, won a match, freshwater or sea, why not let us know about it. Contact Alan Yates on 01303 250017, 07790 132656 or e-mail alankyates@aol.com.

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Catch <b>Bass</b> Under Bridges With These Tips from Pro Angler Aaron Martens

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If you’re not sure where to cast for bass on any given lake, head for the nearest bridge. Most bridges provide bass with deep water, shade, bridge pilings and riprap for cover, and baitfish. Current caused by the wind or a power-­generating dam boosts its desirability. But don’t take my word for it. Just ask bass pro Aaron Martens, who’s finished second twice in the Bassmaster Classic by fishing bridges exclusively.

Top of the Morning
At daybreak, largemouth bass often feed on shad near the surface around bridge pilings. Martens picks off these fish with a Megabass Giant Dog-X walking stickbait. He works the Dog-X alongside the bridge pilings and over the eddy water on the downstream side of the pilings. “I catch a lot of bass by fishing the eddy 50 to 100 feet down­current from the pilings,” Martens says. “Most fishermen overlook these bass.”

Let’s Get Cranking
Largemouths feed deeper when the sun starts to get up. Martens uses his fishfinder to see how deep the bass are suspended next to the pilings. Once he has the depth, he selects a diving crankbait that runs at or just above that depth. “Cast past the bridge pilings and retrieve the crankbait with the current,” Martens says. “Try to bump the pilings with the crankbait and hit them from different angles. Don’t sit in one spot all the time.”

Give Them the Shake
When the lunkers are refusing crankbaits, or are too deep to reach with them, Martens starts targeting the fish with a shaky-head jig dressed with a Zoom Fluke. Depending on the depth and current, Martens uses a jig that weighs from 1/8 to 3/4 ounce. “Cast upcurrent past the bridge pilings, count the jig down to the right depth, and reel it back slow and steady,” Martens says. “Try to hit the pilings with the jig.”

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<b>Bass</b> catch affords deeper satisfaction

BIG bass are very much in the news with some large specimens coming from the boat and shore as they chase the mackerel shoals, writes Alan Yates.

From the shore, a big attraction to the bass is the number of mackerel heads and guts that are tipped back in the sea from the local piers and beaches as the mackerel anglers clean and gut their catch before leaving for home.

Hot spot has always been Dover's Admiralty pier, with the end pegs the place to fish with a fresh mackerel head, fillet or whole mackerel.

Dover angler Brian Price has been among those bass this week from the end of the Admiralty pier extension.

Fishing alongside the wall with fresh mackerel, Brian landed bass of 4lb 12oz, 8lb 11oz and a best of 10lb 5oz.

Other spots worthy trying this method include Samphire Hoe and most of the deep shingle beaches in the region, including Folkestone, Sandgate and Dungeness.

AROUND the beach competitions there is only one result this week and that was the Seabrook Angling Associations Super Comp which was won by Thanet angler Steve Harvey with 2.10lb. Second was Dean Thomas with 1.40lb and third Jake Duncan with 0.60lb.

Catches included school bass, whiting, flounder and sole, with Steve Harvey recording the heaviest fish.

Freshwater results include the Cinque Ports Angling Society's latest competition for the Wagstaff Shield, fished at Aldergate on the Romney Marsh section of the Royal Military Canal. Competitors usually struggle on the venue, although there are some big tench and slab bream among the roach shoals.

Winner was canal specialist Laurie Webster, of Hythe, who landed two tench in his 4.590kg total. Runner-up was Neil West, of Hythe, with 3.170kg and third Bill Usher, of Hawkinge, with 3.0kg. The junior winner was Sam Webster, of Hythe, with 1.16kg. The next CPAS fixture is against Maidstone Victory at Moat Park.

The Cinque Ports AS disabled section held a competition at Beachborough Park Lake for the Andy Lewis Trophy. Paul Fagg, of Hythe, came out on top with 17lb 12oz of bream and carp. Ben Goss was the runner-up with 2lb 4oz and Paul Goss was third with 1lb 8oz.

OTHER competition results include the latest Ashford Angling Society match at Singleton Lake which was won Bill Postlethwaite, of Ashford. He was fishing single maggot on the pole and netted 23lb 11oz of bream and roach.

Nickolls Lake at Palmarsh are hosting a charity match and barbecue on August 27. All-in entry fee is £20. More details are available from Derek Weller on 07970 704584.

Other events coming up include the second of the Deal 1919 Angling Club junior festivals from Deal pier on August 12. Fishing is 11am until 3pm and the event is open to all juniors. Ring Pat Heath on 01304 361248.

There is a Kent Open at Samphire Hoe on August 26 and fishing is 5pm until 9pm. Details from Lee Heaver on 07983 401368.

IF you have caught a big fish, won a match, freshwater or sea, why not let us know about it. Contact Alan Yates on 01303 250017, 07790 132656 or e-mail alankyates@aol.com.

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FWC&#39;s Big Catch Program Upgraded

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has made several changes in the program effective July 1, including a new series of freshwater grand slams.

And in October, the FWC will unveil a new TrophyCatch program for bass over 8 pounds with three tiers — the Lunker Club for bass 8-9.99 pounds; the Trophy Club for largemouth 10-12.99 pounds; and the Hall-of-Fame Club for bucketmouths 13 pounds and up.

The FWC will encourage fishermen to follow catch-and-release guidelines for TrophyCatch entries with reward incentives.

Bass 8-12.99 pounds can be documented with length, weight and a series of photos before releasing the fish. There will be a different certification process for bass over 13 pounds.

The TrophyCatch program is part of the FWC's new Black Bass Management Plan designed to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World.

Using data on when and where trophy bass are caught and released, biologists will be able to improve management techniques, according to the FWC.

More details on the TrophyCatch program will be forthcoming this fall.

In the meantime, there are upgrades to the Big Catch Angler Recognition Program that started in 1990.

More than 7,500 Big Catch certificates have been issued since 1990 that are full color and suitable for framing.

But as of July 1, the FWC instituted a mobile-friendly online reporting system so anglers can submit catches electronically. New sponsors — FishPhotoReplicas.net and SportsmanOnCanvas.com — offer 20 percent discounts for replica mounts.

And there are now grand slams for bass, bream and nonnative fish.

The Black Bass grand slam includes catching a largemouth, spotted bass, shoal bass and Suwannee bass in one year.

The Bream grand slam is for catching any four of bluegill, shellcracker, spotted sunfish, warmouth, redbreast sunfish or flier in one day.

The Nonnative slam is for catching butterfly peacock bass, Mayan cichlids and oscars in one day.

In addition, there are changes in sizes for species like Suwannee bass and shoal bass. Yellow perch, Mayan cichlids and jaguar guapotes have been added, while alligator gar, redfin pickerel and skipjack herring have been dropped.

For information, check MyFWC.com/BigCatch.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Tom Yutzy and Buford McCoy took home $1,000 for winning the 13th annual Lake Alfred Lion's Club Tournament on Lake Alfred July 4. With Yutzy's 7-pound, 15-ounce kicker fish, best of the day, they totaled 26 pounds, 1 ounce. Doug Yutzy and Sean Phelps finished second with 23 pounds, 7 ounces. Monte Goodman and Eric Conant placed third with 17 1/4 pounds. The event raised $3,300 for Lion's Club projects.

Richie Upchurch weighed in 25.42 pounds, anchored by a 9.30-pound bass, to win the Camp Mack Open on the Kissimmee Chain Saturday. James Pearson took second with 22.77 pounds. Jeff Crandon finished third with 19.32 pounds, and fourth went to Eric Conant with 17.93 pounds.

David Glenn eked out a narrow victory over Jay Morgan in the Winter Haven Lunker Lovers tournament on the Kissimmee Chain Sunday. Glenn weighed in 20.24 pounds, while Morgan had 20.22 pounds, a margin of 0.02 pounds. Matt Henderson finished third with 19 pounds, while fourth went to Huck Pewitt with 17 1/4 pounds, including the big bass of 7.52 pounds.

Monte Goodman and Eric Conant won the Sunday Open Series tournament on the south Winter Haven chain with 19 pounds, 13 ounces. Jason and Dell Danes took second with 18 pounds, 1 ounce, including the biggest bass at 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Matt Bedenbaugh and Mike Adams tied for third at 15 pounds, 11 ounces with the teams of Robert Gatlin and Stan Adams, and Terry Pierce and Louis Veal.

Eric Conant, fishing solo, swept big-bass and overall honors with a 7-pound, 1-ounce bass and a 17 1/4-pound stringer in the Ron's Tackle Box evening tournament last Thursday on the south Winter Haven chain. Rick Combee and Brooke Shock placed second with 9 pounds, 13 ounces, while Robert Gatlin and Stan Adams had 8 pounds, 5 ounces for third.

Robby Wright won the Bass Bandits tournament on Lake Toho Saturday with 12.20 pounds. Rick Schuler placed second with 10.70 pounds with the top fish of 5.05 pounds. Donnie Rooks had 8.05 pounds for third.

[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]

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Marc Folco: Now&#39;s the time to catch a whooper largemouth <b>bass</b>

Fishing and lots of things in the wild world are heating up earlier than usual because of the mild winter and unseasonably warm spring. Three weeks ago, I opened my shed and found a baby cottontail, which had already left the nest and was old enough to be on its own. The magnolia in my dad's yard has bloomed and the blossoms are already dropping their petals. The grass needs mowing. Already?

Birds began mating and nesting early and wild turkeys started their spring mating rampage a couple of weeks ago, moving into their breeding areas with the toms strutting, fanning and gobbling in hopes of winning breeding rites with hens. It's in such full swing, it might be all over even before the spring turkey hunting season begins on April 30.

I could be wrong, but I also think the largemouth bass spawn, which traditionally occurs in June, will be early this year, by a month. Bass are biting and they're leaving deeper water and seem to be staging closer to shore, where they'll soon be preparing to make their nests and spawn. On Sunday evening, Farell Plank and I put the canoe in at Leonard's Pond in Rochester to fish for just a couple of hours. Within that time, we went through a dozen shiners and caught half as many stocky largemouths up to five pounds. They were hungry and on the bite.

What surprised us was how ripe with eggs the females were. So full and bloated that it would be impossible for them to hold any more, never mind keep growing with roe for another two months. One particular fish looked like it was about to burst open and the outline of the two lines of roe were evident along its belly. We found fish just a short ways from shore, along weed beds and against deep undercut banks with overhanging trees. One shady cove was also full of big yellow perch and crappie.

Bass often bite heavily before the spawn, and will readily eat big, live shiners along with a myriad of lures. I'm not a purist, therefore I enjoy using live bait and the action associated with such a presentation. To fish big shiners, a 6½-foot medium-heavy action rod with good backbone and a reel loaded with about 15-pound test is a typical rig, though some go heavier with the line.

Simply tie a stout, sharp, single hook on the end of the line. The hook size depends on the size of the bait, but about a 3/0 or 4/0 is standard for large size shiners, but go larger with bigger pike-size or native shiners, and go smaller with medium-size baits. Put a float (bobber) about three feet up the line, hook the shiner ahead of the dorsal fin, then toss it near likely-looking cover and let the shiner do its thing. Some prefer to hook the shiner behind the dorsal fin, but bass like to swallow the bait headfirst, so I like to hook the bait up front, which results in more hookups.

Often a bass will chase a shiner clear out of the water resulting in a big, exciting surface boil. When a bass takes the bait, I usually let it run a few seconds before engaging the reel and setting the hook, but if it's near trees or heavy cover and the fish is headed for it, I set it sooner before the fish gets the line tangled around roots, branches and such.

Another method is to troll or drift shiners. For this, you can do it with or without a float. Hook the shiner through the lips, flip it behind the boat, let some line out and troll or drift very slowly, snaking it along undercut banks, over submerged weed beds, around rocks, and in front of weed lines. A weedless hook is better if you're going to be covering some weedy areas. You can usually tell when a bass is after the bait because the shiner will get antsy and you'll feel it through the rod and line.

If you're using a baitcasting reel, leave the reel in free-spool with just enough spool tension to stop the shiner from taking line, but allows a bass to grab it, run and take line without feeling resistance which would cause it to spit out the bait. If you're using a spinning reel, keep the bail open and hold the line with your forefinger, then release it when the fish eats your bait so it can take line before you flip the bail and rear back on the rod to set the hook. Those "baitrunner" type spinning reels are ideal.

Once the spawn begins they usually only hit out of being annoyed or to protect the nest. Pre-spawn is the time of year when the large females are at their heaviest, sometimes a pound or more than their usual weight because of the eggs, therefore it's the best time to catch a trophy. There are mixed emotions on keeping heavy pre-spawn or spawning females. Some release them so that the fish can spawn and the population will flourish, with those offspring carrying on the genes to grow big, like their mother.

Others, like myself, figure if you catch a trophy fish, there's nothing wrong with taking it home and having it mounted to preserve the memory and enjoy its beauty for many years. It's an old fish, will die soon and has already made its contribution to the gene pool over many years. It's not going to hurt the population. Bass are prolific, their populations are self-sustaining and there are many others to take its place. If you were deer hunting, would you pass up a monster 12-point buck? Like hunting, being selective in the fish you take home is conservation, the wise use of renewable natural resources, as opposed to preservation, which means you leave things as they are, unaltered and disturb nothing. I believe in conservationism.

In Massachusetts, a largemouth bass must be at least seven pounds to be considered a trophy and qualify for a bronze pin in the adult division of the Sportfishing Awards Program. In the junior division, the minimum weight for trophy status and a bronze pin is four pounds. The state record is 15½ pounds, a 37-year old record that has held since 1975. The fish was reportedly caught through the ice at Sampson's Pond in Carver.

MassWildlife has a "best bets for bass" list and most of the ponds are in our Southeast District, which typically produce the biggest bass in the state. The list is based on waters that have turned out trophy largemouths over a10-year period of the Sportsfishing Awards Program records. They are: Agawam River, Glen Charlie Pond and Dick's Pond — Wareham; Sampson's Pond — Carver; John's Pond and Mashpee/Wakeby Pond — Mashpee; Long Pond — Plymouth; Long Pond — Lakeville; Snipatuit Pond, Mary's Pond and Leonard's Pond — Rochester; New Bedford Reservoir (Lake Street) — Acushnet; Lake Noquochoke — Dartmouth; Wachusett Reservoir; Quabbin Reservoir; and Webster Lake — Webster.

The largemouth bass remains the most sought-after species in freshwater and now's the time to catch a whopper.

The Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) opened the Quabbin Reservoir for the spring fishing season yesterday. In addition to shore fishing, all three boat launch sites in the reservoir — Gate 8 in Belchertown, Gate 31 in New Salem and Gate 43 in Hardwick — are now in full operation. During the season, which runs through Oct. 13, the launch areas will be open at 6 a.m. seven days a week.

Quabbin Season Parking Passes, which include parking and launching fees, are available for purchase at all three boat launch areas. Passes are $50 for the year or $25 for seniors over 62 with proof of age. Passes are also $25 for handicapped individuals with handicapped placards. The vehicle and trailer parking fee without the season pass is $8 per day.

All private boats launched on the reservoir must meet boat specification regulations and have an intact Quabbin Boat Seal which affixes the boat to the trailer. Boat owners who do not have a seal can make a boat inspection and decontamination appointment through the Quabbin Visitor Center.

In addition to private boat launching facilities, boat rentals are available on a first come-first serve basis at all three boat launch areas. The cost for a boat and motor is $40 per day with a $6 per vehicle parking fee. The reservoir is home to 27 species of fish, including lake trout, salmon, smallmouth bass and white perch. For more information, visit the DCR web site at mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/watershed/quabfish or call the Quabbin Visitor Center at 413- 323-7221.

West Marine's free boating seminar on Saturday from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. at its Berdon Plaza location in Fairhaven will feature a fishing show on topwater tactics and trolling techniques for stripers and blues. Call 508-992-8484 to reserve your seat. You can also sign up for the store's free striped bass and bluefish derby, which begins on May 1 and runs through Sept. 3.

Marc Folco is the outdoor writer for The Standard-Times. Contact him at openseason1988@aol.com

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Catch shares: A nation divided

The Sorting Table: Catch shares: A nation divided

The Sorting Table delves into commercial fishing news from coast to coast. The editorial staff of National Fisherman invites you to share your insights on what’s going on in the industry.

CategoriesRecent EntriesCatch shares: A nation dividedSupporting cast growingGetting ready for the rallyWhat's next for Maine's shrimpers?"That conversation is going to have to happen"California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos? No accounting for fund mismanagementAt least put a label on itWhetting your app-etite for Copper River salmonCod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rallyRecent CommentsMike Dolan on NOAA is all apologiesBrian on Introducing the iLobsterBen on Introducing the iLobsterBeringFisherman on Groundfish catch shares going bi-coastal Dick Allen on Jane, doh!National Fisherman on Jane, doh!Wreckfish on Jane, doh!Sierra Anderson on Facing factsken grimshaw on Tough loveJessica on Recovery in a snapArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011« Supporting cast growing |Main

March 23, 2012Catch shares: A nation divided

For some fishermen, catch shares have been a blessing. Buddy Guindon of Galveston, Texas, says they’ve changed his life for the better. Since the implementation of Gulf red snapper IFQs in 2007, the 30-year fishing veteran says he gets double the money for his catch, spending a third of the time — and fuel — at sea.

I talked to Guindon about catch shares for a two-part story I wrote for the April and May issues of National Fisherman. As catch shares have become the predominant fishery management system in this country (there are now 18 fisheries under some type of catch share management), my goal for the story was to talk with fishermen on all coasts for a national perspective on this national policy. I asked them to share their experiences about what worked and what didn’t.

For some, catch shares clearly aren’t working. David Goethel of Hampton, N.H., has seen the number of his state’s small boat fishermen shrink and has little hope for that fleet’s future under this management system. He wasn’t the only one to dislike catch shares as they have triggered lawsuits on both the East and West coasts as well as protests and accusations of serving special interests.

Of course controversy probably isn’t a big surprise to those involved in fishery management. Fish are a limited resource and it’s not always possible to make sure everyone gets a piece of the pie. But catch shares in particular seem to divide fishermen into the haves and have-nots, the winners and losers. In the stories, you’ll read a variety of views, including those in favor and those who are adamantly against them. You’ll also hear from people who remember the early days of catch shares in Alaska and who note the importance of carefully crafted catch share plans.

It’s difficult to paint a broad-brush stroke over an issue as complex as fisheries management, and to be perceived as fair when covering something as controversial as catch shares. I wanted to include voices of fishermen who had a positive story to tell since their voices weren't usually in the news stories about catch shares. On both sides, however, not every point could be made, not every view could be expressed and not every detail could be explained in full.

That’s why I’m hoping these articles will serve as a springboard to make this an ongoing conversation about catch shares. We’ll continue to cover catch shares as they make news, but we’d also love to get letters from more fishermen who have worked under the program and hear what your experiences have been like too.

Please check out the April and upcoming May issues of National Fisherman and let us know what you think. And if you'd like to have your views in print, email your letter to the editor to jhathaway@divcom.com.

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