Oyster Protest!

[mcjaredsandwich]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

actually dredging is not the worst thing to happen to the lake since the dredge has been allowed the reefs are bigger the worst thing is the people who do not cull their oysters right the people who sell the undersized oysters and buyers who buy them is the main problem

I disagree. Dredging is a major problem with reef size and structure. Yall dredge and displace oysters giving them no natural habitat to "cling" onto. Not very smart for reproduction purposes. It will take years to repair what yall have destroyed. Go back to to tonging.

["W"]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

actually dredging is not the worst thing to happen to the lake since the dredge has been allowed the reefs are bigger the worst thing is the people who do not cull their oysters right the people who sell the undersized oysters and buyers who buy them is the main problem

This probably makes to much sense but the best way to protect and expand our beds is

Tong only and dredge once every 7 years to break up muscles and revive beds

This is how you become successful

[ckinchen]

It is great to see several oyster fishermen on here presenting their side. Welcome to the site, thanks to everyone for keeping this civil so it does not have to go to the gill net/ premium area.

[Raymond]

Here is the bill intotal, oystermen should make sure to read the last page dealing with penalties since it will affect your livelyhood.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...eu177_oAaXA4Dg

[southern151]

Originally Posted by ckinchen

It is great to see several oyster fishermen on here presenting their side. Welcome to the site, thanks to everyone for keeping this civil so it does not have to go to the gill net/ premium area.

100% agree! There are two sides to everything and those of you here representing your way of living are appreciated!

[jonboy726]

Originally Posted by mikedatiger

Why is always up to some one else to check on others? If people were more honest in the actions then you wouldn't need as many checks in many different facets of our lives. DWLF doesn't know who the "right people" are so they have to check everybody. If it were me, and my livelyhood depended on it, I'd make dang sure that everyone else in the sandbox knew the rules and played by em. From my perspective it seems like a simple case of greed...

There is a misconception that the majority of the oyster fishermen outlaw. I don't condone it at all and am not justifying it but how many sports fishermen keep over their limit? It's not fair to say that just oyster fishermen are "greedy". With that said I really think that we need more enforcement and checks. There are, in all facets, people that break the law. There always will be and the ones who do it one time are most likely the same to do it next time. That lake is a humongous "sandbox" and it's not my job to check other fishermen to make sure they're doing their job. It's hard enough to do mine. That's what LDWF is for. There is an enforcement division for a reason. They don't know the "right people" to check? Neither do police officers but they're out there everyday putting the fear in people. And I don't think outlaws should get just a slap on the hand for breaking the law. lol punch them in the face with some brass knuckles! That'll make them think twice next time. The ones who do outlaw give us all a bad name. It's not fair.

[Capt.B]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

actually dredging is not the worst thing to happen to the lake since the dredge has been allowed the reefs are bigger the worst thing is the people who do not cull their oysters right the people who sell the undersized oysters and buyers who buy them is the main problem

9x's outa 10 if you were tonging you would cull and clean and dump right back on the spot which kept the integrity of the reef instead of removing reefs completely....I mean I've had oyster fisherman come brag to me how they wiped out a secluded reef in a day....no more hump no more rock....went and checked it and I couldn't hang up a grub drag'n the bottom. It cost me a ton of time and money to find those reefs and marks...I go to them now and there is nothing!! And Im supposed to be upset why, abt the reduction of permits??

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by jonboy726

There is a misconception that the majority of the oyster fishermen outlaw(AGREE). I don't condone it at all and am not justifying it but how many sports fishermen keep over their limit? It's not fair to say that just oyster fishermen are "greedy"(AGREE). With that said I really think that we need more enforcement and checks. There are, in all facets, people that break the law. There always will be and the ones who do it one time are most likely the same to do it next time. That lake is a humongous "sandbox" and it's not my job to check other fishermen to make sure they're doing their job. It's hard enough to do mine. That's what LDWF is for. There is an enforcement division for a reason. They don't know the "right people" to check? Neither do police officers but they're out there everyday putting the fear in people. And I don't think outlaws should get just a slap on the hand for breaking the law(AGREE). lol punch them in the face with some brass knuckles! That'll make them think twice next time. The ones who do outlaw give us all a bad name. It's not fair.

Will agree with some of your post but the po po cannot be everywhere all the time. Operation Game Thief has an 800 # you can call without having to give your name for violations. I have this number on speed dial and will use it for all violations including fishing violations. If you don't believe you should help protect the resource that makes your living there is nothing left for me to say. To look the other way while someone in your business steals a resource actually makes one complicit in the illegal act IMO.

[greenhorn0598]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Will agree with some of your post but the po po cannot be everywhere all the time. Operation Game Thief has an 800 # you can call without having to give your name for violations. I have this number on speed dial and will use it for all violations including fishing violations. If you don't believe you should help protect the resource that makes your living there is nothing left for me to say. To look the other way while someone in your business steals a resource actually makes one complicit in the illegal act IMO.

i have personally called and i do not have operation game thiefs # i have a game wardens personel number and when i called and told him the ones he sent did not go anywhere near the place or fishermen reported so more enforcement is needed i am a oyster fisherman i have tonged and dredged and dredging helps the lake if the people follow the laws the ones who are cought should loose their license for a while in my oponion

[Ray]

Dredging will not hurt, if the number of fishermen didn't sky rocket after they let them start dredging.
If limits are the same, it doesn't matter how you catch them.

Too many jumped on the Oyster bandwagon cause of the easy money when tonging changed to dredging.

[greenhorn0598]

Originally Posted by southern151

100% agree! There are two sides to everything and those of you here representing your way of living are appreciated!

i would like to thank u to be willing to hear our views and oponions

[greenhorn0598]

Originally Posted by Ray

Dredging will not hurt, if the number of fishermen didn't sky rocket after they let them start dredging.
If limits are the same, it doesn't matter how you catch them.

Too many jumped on the Oyster bandwagon cause of the easy money when tonging changed to dredging.

just beacuse they allowed the dredge is not why people jumped on the band wagon alot of the new fishermen had jobs and were laid off and when there are not alot of jobs out there to get they did the only thing they could to feed their families now they will not be able to do that

["W"]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

just beacuse they allowed the dredge is not why people jumped on the band wagon alot of the new fishermen had jobs and were laid off and when there are not alot of jobs out there to get they did the only thing they could to feed their families now they will not be able to do that

I would put $1000 that if the lake was tong only....they would have 75boats or less working the lake

[southern151]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

just beacuse they allowed the dredge is not why people jumped on the band wagon alot of the new fishermen had jobs and were laid off and when there are not alot of jobs out there to get they did the only thing they could to feed their families now they will not be able to do that

This is the exact reason I went to commercial crawfishing. There was no work in the second quarter of 09 and, I had a family to feed. I did what I had to do. The reception wasn't warm for me either but, until any of them were willing to pay my mortgage, I didn't mind the occasional taunting. Some people will hopefully never understand what its like to have the way they are accustomed to living jerked out from beneath them.

[ckinchen]

Originally Posted by southern151

This is the exact reason I went to commercial crawfishing. There was no work in the second quarter of 09 and, I had a family to feed. I did what I had to do. The reception wasn't warm for me either but, until any of them were willing to pay my mortgage, I didn't mind the occasional taunting. Some people will hopefully never understand what its like to have the way they are accustomed to living jerked out from beneath them.

Well done, you did what you had to do for your family, nobody can fault you for that.

[greenhorn0598]

Originally Posted by "W"

I would put $1000 that if the lake was tong only....they would have 75boats or less working the lake

thats y as far back as i rember there has always been at least 150 boats fishing oysters in the lake

[southern151]

Originally Posted by ckinchen

Well done, you did what you had to do for your family, nobody can fault you for that.

As in this situation, you'd be surprised how many would like to fault you for it, though! Lol. To be real honest, I've never worked a harder day in my life than I did on any given day on the water. I also never enjoyed doing what I did more than when I was out there, either! Yellowjackets suck but, riding in the boat all day, harvesting what the Good Lord put here for us was great!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by greenhorn0598

just beacuse they allowed the dredge is not why people jumped on the band wagon alot of the new fishermen had jobs and were laid off and when there are not alot of jobs out there to get they did the only thing they could to feed their families now they will not be able to do that

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.

[jonboy726]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Will agree with some of your post but the po po cannot be everywhere all the time. Operation Game Thief has an 800 # you can call without having to give your name for violations. I have this number on speed dial and will use it for all violations including fishing violations. If you don't believe you should help protect the resource that makes your living there is nothing left for me to say. To look the other way while someone in your business steals a resource actually makes one complicit in the illegal act IMO.

Just to clarify, I am law-abiding. I take what the law allows while practicing good habits to help preserve the reef such as not pulling the dredge too long and culling out on the reef so that I don't displace from the natural habitat. I do what I can to aid in preservation. And I didn't say I turn my head when I see wrong. What I meant to convey was that I don't personally go sit out in the lake at night like a cop setting a speed trap. THAT's not my job.
By the way, can you post that operation game thief # for myself and anyone else who may not have it?

[jonboy726]

Originally Posted by southern151

As in this situation, you'd be surprised how many would like to fault you for it, though! Lol. To be real honest, I've never worked a harder day in my life than I did on any given day on the water. I also never enjoyed doing what I did more than when I was out there, either! Yellowjackets suck but, riding in the boat all day, harvesting what the Good Lord put here for us was great!

Agreed. You make some good points.