Commercial Fishermen Ask TWRC to Repeal Trophy Catfish Rule

[rsimms]

At this week's meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (governing body over fishing & hunting regulations), TWRA Fisheries Biologists presented recommendations offered by the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee. The volunteer committee is entirely comprised of nine members of the commercial fishing community and was recently established by the Tennessee General Assembly. Its recommendations were:
• Eliminate Region 2 contract requirements (calling in and reporting).
• Reduce the number of commercial roe fish licenses (Type 108) sold to 70.
• Make it legal for commercial fishing helpers to run gear without presence of commercial license holders.
• Change mesh size of hoop nets to be 1 inch on the square and larger.
• Open Tellico Reservoir to commercial fishing.
• Rework commercial fishing laws to resemble a business regulation model following the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
• Open commercial harvest of catfish in Fort Loudoun Reservoir.
• Drop the statewide limit on catfish over 34 inches.
• Paddlefish recommendations: no changes be made to the handling procedures; no changes be made to the Mississippi River regulations; and implement a 5-year plan to open new waters to paddlefish harvest beginning in the 2011-2012 harvest season. The new plan a) requests that existing regulations be kept the same for water bodies currently open to commercial harvest; and b) creates a rotational plan for opening Norris, Watts Bar, Cordell Hull, Old Hickory and Melton Hill reservoirs to paddlefish harvest with a limited season of January 15–April 15. Upon accepting items (a) and (b), then increase length limit to 38 inches for the new 5-year plan.

These recommendations will be reviewed by TWRA staff. After input from the general public, this issue will be reviewed by the commission.
The TWRC will hold its next meeting Oct. 13-14 in Nashville.

 

[EricM]

Aw crap. Where exactly does the general public send their input? Who do we write to and call? Let's get the contact info out and make a giant effort to continue to protect Tennessee's trohpy catfish laws. Other states have followed our lead on protecting trophy catfish.

 

[3391]

Your only hope is to respond loudly because you can bet 20+ commercial fishermen will be at that commission meeting.

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font size="3" face="georgia,palatino"><font color="#cc0033" size="4">And their children, friends, cousins, or anyone else they can persuade to see a commission meeting.</font> It is a sad fact but the more bodies you can put in the commission meeting room the more likely it is that you will get your way. A strong showing of opposition would make a difference, don't just complain, show up and show your displeasure.</font>

 

[dragfish]

Carl Guffey - 9/16/2011 8:42 PM

<font size="3" face="georgia,palatino"><font color="#cc0033" size="4">And their children, friends, cousins, or anyone else they can persuade to see a commission meeting.</font> It is a sad fact but the more bodies you can put in the commission meeting room the more likely it is that you will get your way. A strong showing of opposition would make a difference, don't just complain, show up and show your displeasure.</font>

Well said! You have what it takes to be a CFF tournament committee member!

 

[minner]

I don't know how I let this thread slip through. I fear one day we will be defending our (Alabama) 34" law as well. You guys have to put your money where your mouth is a show up to these meetings, like Carl said the commercial guys will. There is strength in numbers, but also go to the meetings prepared with a few facts as well if you can, don't go half cocked.

**Side note**

One thing I have said before, and I will say it again, your area's Chambers of Commerce are doing you a huge disservice. There are catfishing tournaments all around the country and SE TN is home to some awesome untapped catfishing waters. Not only will it bring a huge awareness to the sport, but it will bring money to the community. Just think of the $$ you invest to go fishing for a weekend, now add two hotel rooms, misc expenses, and multiply it by 150 boats. Whole towns see benefits from these tournaments. Don't think politics are not involved in TWRC or any other state entity, because there is. If you had such tourneys going on and the notion of repealing the law was mentioned you would have board members, mayors, etc making phone calls to “people that matter”. I would highly recommend calling your local Chamber of Commerce and suggest they solicit some of the big tournament trails

All I am saying is whether you would or wouldn't fish tournaments you would benefit from them on almost any level. I believe it grows the sport and has the affect of protecting it as well.

 

[SpurHunter]

I cant wiat to hear the arguments from the commercial guys...."There is too many big cats now, and they get in our way, so we have to poach a lot of them, which in turn means theTWRC is MAKING us criminals!"

emoBang emoBang emoBang emoBang emoBang emoBang

 

[foodsaver]

guess we need to caravan over to nashville.

 

[shsimons]

I guess I probably couldn't take off work to go protest the 34 inch law. I would like to write a letter to someone somewhere. I bet commercial guys don't get an adrenaline rush like I do when I see a big fish. I'd also be happy to send catfish over 34 inches caught by my former students. There are plenty of small fish to keep. They destroyed the discharge, at least leave the big fish alone!

 

[Bprice]

Everything that Minner and Carl said.

Y'all must get there in full support, come prepared, and be well and efficiently spoken. I promise the commercial guys will send there brothers mothers great great grandson up there to talk about how bad the limit is effecting his lively hood.

I'd suggest making the sacrifice and getting to Nashville with info in hand, petitions, etc.

 

[Bprice]

Realistically, if the TWRC doesn't see any opposition from recreational anglers, then they will meet many of the commercial guys requests. Letters are great, but face to face works.

 

[shsimons]

Let's organize a group to go. If I'm going to take a day out of the classroom this early in the year, I need to know that others would be attending.

 

[SpurHunter]

CRAP!!!!, those dates are HORRID for me, and probably Craig. we are both already taking the 14th off to setup a BBQ booth in Cleveland for the weekend.

 

[rsimms]

I'm not sure this issue will be considered for any real action by the October meeting?

I sent this to TWRA Fisheries folks:

xxxxxx
A previous news release regarding the proposals put forth by the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee implied that there could be action taken on their proposals at the October meeting. It read: "These recommendations will be reviewed by TWRA staff. After input from the general public, this issue will be reviewed by the commission. The TWRC will hold its next meeting Oct. 13-14 in Nashville."

As you would expect, there is MUCH concern among sport catfishermen about the proposal to eliminate the trophy catfish regulation for commercial fishermen.

My question... will this issue be a topic of discussion, or perhaps a vote, at the October Commission meeting?

Personally I don't think there is time for staff review and adequate public input by that time.... however the news release was very unclear in that regard. There is a contingency of sport catfishermen in Chattanooga who desperately want to know if they should make an appearance at the October meeting, of if that would be premature?

Please advise?
xxxxxx

I'll let you know what I hear back.

 

[SpurHunter]

Thanks Richard, please keep us updated to any further information.

 

[EricM]

Thanks from me too, Richard. emoThumbsup

 

[rsimms]

Here is e-mail I got back from a friend with the wildlife agency:

xxxxxxxxxxxx
"On Monday September 26 there is a meeting with the Regional Fisheries Program Managers and some of the regional fisheries biologists to discuss the recommendations from the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee. For the catfish regulation, it will probably be recommended that it be tabled until next year so that we can discuss it before all the TWRA biologists at our annual meeting in May 2012.

If a recommendation develops from the Biologists' meeting in May 2012, it will then go through the regular procedures (Regional Review, Nashville Staff Review, Pre-view before the TWRC in August 2012) and then announced for public comments.

I can't say for sure if the Commission will go along with our recommendation next month so it may be a good idea for at least a few folks to show up to express their concern. I'm fairly certain that it will be a topic of discussion at the October Commission meeting, along with the other recommendations provided by the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee."
xxxxxxxxx

This me again: TWRA staffers can really only "recommend" certain actions. When it comes right down to it, the Wildlife Commissioners can set their own agenda. If they decide they want to vote on a new regulation on the spur of the moment, without going through a lengthy review process, they can.

However that is definitely the exception rather than the rule.

 

[shsimons]

Just tell me where to be, and when Richard. This is VERY important to me. If I need to go in October, next May, the following August, let me know!

 

[rsimms]

shsimons - 9/23/2011 4:59 PM

Just tell me where to be, and when Richard. This is VERY important to me. If I need to go in October, next May, the following August, let me know!

Sorry, not my call to "tell" you what to do. I'll give you the info I know. What you do with it is up to you. emoBigsmile

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font size="2" face="georgia,palatino">Although there is a certain agenda for opening up new water or changing a current regulation, the Commission can make changes at any time during a called meeting. There is to be a discussion at the October commission meeting about commercial fishing in Tennessee. If you would like to express an opinion be at that meeting and make sure someone knows you are there and why. If you can be there only one day the 13th of Octoberwould be the best.</font></p>

<font size="2" face="Georgia">The next commission meeting is scheduled for the Region 2 office in Nashville on October 13th and 14th.</font></p>