Oyster Protest!

[jonboy726]

Originally Posted by Ray

I know one Oyster fisherman that had 1 license when it was tongs only.
He now has 5 boats with 5 licenses after dredging was allowed.
Dredging gets a quick limit. Tonging in the winter time is not near as easy.

I will admit that this is a problem and that is one issue that I was actually "for" with the permits. I think that every commercial fisherman should have the same opportunity to fish our lake just like anyone has the right to recreationally fish it. The permits chose WHO was able to fish and nothing was guaranteed from year to year. I think every fisherman with historical trip landings should receive a permit. Alot of oyster fishermen are ONLY fishermen. That's all they know and for some it's too late to attempt to get out into the job market with their lack of experience and/or education. I believe permitting, with revisions, could work by limiting each fisherman to only 1 boat, 1 load, 1 day. The commission can set the sack limit as necessary to accommodate the number of oysters being harvested compared to the amount determined available by LDWF. This would give everyone a chance and a choice.