There. This time I'm posting a true subject line. I posted this on some of the other forums under subjects like "striper blitz" and ranted and raved cause I don't really care if I get banned from them. I really like this forum, though, so I waited till I was calmed down some...
I finally got some free time this past Sat morning so I headed over to Brigantine to soak some clams and throw some plugs in the surf. It was foggy and conditions looked real good, but it was not to be because I found a Northern Gannet sitting at the water line. I got closer and saw a cloud of pink fishing line around her neck. With the help of a young couple driving by, I got her and cut the line off (some strands were so tight I could barely get my knife under it). Meanwhile I called home and had my girl start calling for animal rehab places. The only place in S Jersey that has licensing and capabilities for seabirds is the Cedar Run Rehab Center in Medford, and they said a Gannet on the beach (they live on the open water) is a bad sign, and to bring it in. About 5 min from the rehab center the bird put her head down and died. I was pissed. What a waste. And all because some fisherman was too lazy or uncaring to put his discarde line where it belongs - in the trash. I am getting sick and tired of fishing at spots that look like mini landfills, or paddling by plastic bags floating in the water. OK, I will keep it at that and won't rant like before, but we have got to try to stop this. This is the main reason local residents don't want us around.
So, I am going to start bringing a 50 gal trash bag with me every time I head out, and unfortunately I doubt that I will have any problems bringing it back full every time.
