Interesting that as a guide you want information on catches made public.
Well it would be great if the guides turned in their catch statistics for a start!
You should ask them why they do not do this?
As for the stats this information is available to the Halibut Group of the SFAB and if you were really interested you could get involved with them.
The people involved on behalf of the Halibut Group of the SFAB spend days working for free for your benefit.
You and others could step up and get involved in the SFAB process.
You would find out that a lot of these thoughts have been discussed and answers given.
Do you see the commercial sector talking about plans on a public site?
They love it when you do as they use it in their meetings and use it to stir up the pot.
They never will just like they do not invite you to their meetings. It is all about money.
They play hard ball as this is their living. It appears guides have a lot to learn on that front going by the stuff written on this and other sites.
Well Gerry I'm sad to read your response. It would appear to me you are doing a good job working to divide the recreational community along lines of guides and non guides. Boy if I didn't think differently I would suspect you might be working for the other team...For the record:
1. I do have a log book, and I was involved in our Guide Association to promote the use of log books through the SFI, and many guides are participating once they know or have been asked to participate in the program. Sad to see such uninformed comments about the many guides who actively participate. I worry those comments were intentionally aimed at dividing the recreational fishing community.
2. I and other guides are involved in the SFAC and when asked the SFAB process, not to mention other organizations including in my case helping to organize the Oceanside PSF Dinner and Auction for the past 7 years running. I guess as a guide it is automatic that we simply take from the resource without giving a damn about putting something back....I wonder what would happen to many charitable organizations fund raising and the SFAB process if we acted as a group in the same manner in which some would brand us. Side note - Funny, I don't recall seeing you at the SFAB meetings.
3. Not all the information and catch statistics are or were shared at the SFAC and SFAB process, you were involved so you would know that. Only certain insiders got the full deck of information. So when guys on this site who are not able to be involved in the SFAC processes say its an old boys club, and information is locked up in a vault, to them that is true. All I am saying is the process needs to be much more transparent = public. Moreover, you may also recall that there was a motion passed at the SFAB Main Board asking for increased transparency - I support that, are you suggesting we continue the old boys club?
4. If you read my past posts, I have actively promoted folks get involved in the process "if" they can - but I also recognize not everyone is able. I know guys who cannot, but that does not mean they are any less interested, nor are their views and ability to participate any less important.
5. I'm also questioning why we allow folks to set up SFAC meetings on week days during normal work hours which makes the process virtually impossible for normal working Joe's who might be interested in Area 17 to participate...for the record that only serves to promote an old boys club within the SFAC. We need greater transparency in all levels of the process.
6. Last point, and on this we agree...not always a good idea to post our ideas on a site like this...the opposition is watching. But in some cases, where our strategy is well known and is already public for the past 3 years, it really doesn't matter at this point in time...so hopefully the rest of the angling public can better understand the issues and where their support might actually make a difference in our long term future access to this fishery....or would you rather we continue the old boys club.
