Western Pride

[PAL]

I have a friend with connections to SAC the Sportboat lobby. He once overheard one of the lead guys talking about MLPAs and Kayaks and the fact the kayakers were going to get hit worse than anyone. The Sportboat lobbyist said F-em, if they can't fish thier kayaks they will have to climb back on our boats.

That tune quickly changed once the MLPA process got going. Kayak anglers can take much or even most of the credit for keeping La Jolla open - that's something the sportboats benefit from too. Also keep in mind many of us climb onto sportfishers to get a tuna fix or go long range.

[Gino]

Originally Posted by PAL

That tune quickly changed once the MLPA process got going. Kayak anglers can take much or even most of the credit for keeping La Jolla open - that's something the sportboats benefit from too. Also keep in mind many of us climb onto sportfishers to get a tuna fix or go long range.

Pal is right. There was times at meetings the guys wearing the BD shirts, and sport boat shirts leaving early... Santa Ana being a perfect example of it. Kayakfisherman carried the fight against the mlpa when it came to representation, and being modest about fish they take.

Personally I'm one of those guys who used to fish out of Dana Wharf every weekend. I almost became a deckhand for the Dana Pride. Then i saw kayakfishing. got into it and havent been on a party boat since. I see the level of Service the long range boats produce. And you get what you pay for. But local sporties... they are a waste of time and money for me. They are cool to take a kid, or a non kayakfisherman out on. Hell the crew could do everything right, and the fellow passengers could screw up a whole trip for others.

Im pretty sure if you are hit or flipped over by a boat, and you werent in a direct shipping lane, The boat's owners are responsible for your loss in equipment and damages. But im not sure the grey area on that.