Put Up Or Shut Up Time Dec 15th.

[CapBob]

Originally Posted By Capt Tony Bogan:

While certainly everyone cannot be at these fisheries meetings on weekdays in other states (lord knows I need to work and not spend the money going to Virginia and losing a days pay right now!) if ANYONE has the means and the ability to get to the MAFMC meeting next month, YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!

Wednesday, December 15th is the day of the "Big Three" that needs to be well attended (Fluke, Sea Bass and Scup) All the groups and people you folks support will be there, all you need to do is stand up and be heard, even if it is a simple "I agree with everything so and so said." Many of you will not get a chance to speak, it does not matter. A poor showing shows we don't care (or not many of us care) I rarely tell people they need to be at these big meetings other than industry people, but I believe this one is different. It is the final push before we all end up playing golf or looking for new jobs.

Period.

As I said, obviously many people need to make ends meet, especially right now with things the way they are, but if you can, I need your help and support. We need your help and support.

Here are the details:

Council Meeting in Virginia Beach, VA: December 13-16
The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's December 2010 meeting to be held at the Hilton, 3001 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (telephone: 757-213-3000). Below is the meeting agenda.

NOTE: Log onto www.ustream.tv and type mafmc in the search block to listen to the meeting.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15
8:30 Council convenes jointly with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board
8:30 - 10:30 Summer Flounder: 2011 Recreational Management Measures
 Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on summer flounder management measures
 Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on summer flounder management measures
 Develop and approve management measures for 2011 summer flounder recreational fishery

10:30 - 12:30 Scup: 2011 Recreational Management Measures
 Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on scup management measures
 Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on scup management measures
 Develop and approve management measures for 2011 scup recreational fishery
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch

1:30 - 3:00 Black Sea Bass: 2011 Recreational Management Measures
 Review and discuss Monitoring Committee's recommendations on black sea bass
management measures
 Review and discuss Advisory Panel's recommendations on black sea bass
management measures
 Develop and approve management measures for 2011 black sea bass recreational fishery
__________________

Right now looks like I will be headed down with Reel Ron....anyboby wantsto jump in give me a shout.

[IrishAyes]

Give me the details of the trip. I'd like to try to make it. There regs are so damn out of control...

[Capt. Birch]

Ok who is going for the road trip LOL. I found and booked my groups rooms for 39 bucks close by the Hilton at the Days Inn(priceline). We will be heading down the night before, looks like high winds both days so really dont have to worry about missing a day of fishing.   

[IrishAyes]

If you want to listen in to the meeting... Log onto www.ustream.tv and type mafmc in the search block to listen to the meeting

[Capt. Birch]

Who would of thought ....... It's freakin cold and windy in Virginia.

[Hotrod]

Getting some text from Birch.  He's not very happy with what's going on

[Capt. Birch]

Ok fluke is done and not real good news . It will be better than last year but not what we had hoped. I will post details later. Right now is the big surprise scup. Nj was facing an 81 percent reduction . Unreal and it got heated. The rep from RI has balls and refused to accept the cuts on a rebuilt fishery.  A time out was called . It looks like fisherman my get a small win . Will post after the vote

[Capt. Birch]

Fisherman win. Quota increase no reduction. So scup will have the same season as last year. Break for lunch . Fishermans dream. I am sitting and eating lunch with the legands. Capt Paul Forsberg from the Viking fleet. Capt Joe huckmyer from the Helen H, Capt Blount from the Frances fleet and more. Wow

[IrishAyes]

Thanks for keeping us informed Capt Birch.

I have fished with a Captain Joe who ran the Helen H fleets charter boat. It was their 38' Sea Hawk. Great boat, great captain and mate. 

[Capt. Birch]

Okay time to roll up the sleeves . Seabass meeting starting

[wb]

OUTSTANDING real-time updates. Thanks for representin' Capt. Birch! and keeping us worker bees in the loop.

[Capt. Birch]

Ok they just rolled out the data supported by mfss and it blows. Recommend a one fish limit. Everybody is sick. One person on the recommendation committee nailed it and said fishery is healthy and we should have status quo. Great call and let's hope the members can run with it

[Art Berkman]

Capt Birch thx for the updates 

[Capt. Birch]

New staff recommendations just rolled out and they are not good. 13" 10 fish short season. They also thought labor day was on the 3 rd so option one needs to be shortened. Also wave 5 info intercept data could hammer the Rec quota even more. All tech stuff now . Public comment and fire works to come. On chance it that  the recommendation committee aknowldged that the stock is healthy and status quo would not be harmful

[Capt. Birch]

Ok committee is still talking about a10 fish limit. Capt Monty of the Morningstar just spoke a out how the mfss appear to be off by 100000 fish now others are jumping on including Capt Adam. Kinda just left them speechless . Capt Adam just hammered them again. Sorta like we can't make good decisions with this crap

[Scott G.]

   Thanks for keeping us in the loop Capt. Birch  

[SurfJockey]

  

[Capt. Birch]

Ok new secret memo just type up say all recommended reductions are insane and not needed. Commitee member just makes a huge motion ...... Heads are spinning and woowwww the room is floored over a status quo motion. Wow this is big more to come

[IrishAyes]

Tried several times to listen in on USTREAM. Says the channel is offline. 

[Capt. Birch]

Ok I was to good to be true pat kunkle explained that status quo won't meet reduction. Now it appears that a game of give me a hamburger today and I will pay you Thursday. Ie vote for slop today and we will fix it next weekor next month or next year. This is not lookin good.