Oyster Protest!

[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 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

[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 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.

[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!

[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.

[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 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.

[greenhorn0598]

Originally Posted by jonboy726

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.

i have to admit i am one of the people with multiple boats and i am part of the cause but i do agree with the one person one boat one limit i did catch 2 loads legally and i culled them right i also agree with the commission setting the limit on how the oysters are holding up i DID NOT get a permit luckily i am young enough to get other work

[greenhorn0598]

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.

dredging does not exactly make a quick limit what really decides the time on how it takes to get youre load is if u cull them right that might be y he has that many boats he might not cull his