I'm Starting A Petition!!!

[Loves To Fish]

I've been kicking this idea around for over 6 months now. And I finally decided to do it.
The current law is that no more than 5 dozen smelts may be kept alive in each person's / fisherman's daily bag limit.
I would like it to go back to all smelts may be kept alive in ones daily bag limit.
I have several reasons why we should go back to keeping them all alive:
(1) There's no real good way to accurately measure ones smelt limit. Right now, all you do is have less than 2 quarts of dead smelts and you can keep the other 5 dozen alive. Some people aren't getting their whole 2 quarts when measuring this way.
(2) Fishermen should have the right to decide if they want part or all of their smelts kept alive. Most people, during the springtime, like to keep all their smelt limit alive until they get home. Then they can freeze them before losing any of their color. Killing smelts before coming home causes them to lose much of their color before getting a chance to freeze them.
(3) My understanding of why we currently have the 5 dozen only alive law is because some people were illegally selling their live smelts without a license. That is clearly a law enforcement issue and all fishermen should not have been penalized for such small group of people breaking the law.

Here is how I worded the petiton I am currently passing around. If anyone would like to get one for their area, they are welcome to PM me. In fact, I welcome all PMs about any questions, problems or suggestions. Thanks.
.                                                                         Dennis


 
                                                            Citizen Petition for IF@W Regulation Change                                       



CURRENT REGULATION:  On page 11 of the 2012-2013 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries @ Wildlife Open Water @ Ice Fishing laws and rules booklet; “A person may not keep more than 5 dozen smelts alive as part of that person's daily bag limit”.

CHANGE REQUESTED: Every person's daily bag limit of smelts may be kept alive.

NEW REGULATION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:  Any person holding a valid Maine fishing license may keep all of his or her's smelt daily bag limit alive.


          PRINTED NAME                          ADDRESS @ TOWN                               SIGNATURE











































































         

[pikeking]

 Do you fish for Smelt every day, and if so do you take your limit every day? If you think about it, the laws are made for the honest angler. If you went every day and kept your limit every day and so did 50 other people, you are going to put a big dent in the population. The 5 dozen live law is so you can't sell them... If you are using them for bait like we do here in Ma, catch them and put them on ice right away, that will help save the colors.
 Here in Ma we have a small season on Rainbow Smelts and most guys I know only catch them for bait. We go out in a group, set up shanties and lights and get all we need in one night then leave them alone. 

[Loves To Fish]

Do you fish for Smelt every day, and if so do you take your limit every day? If you think about it, the laws are made for the honest angler. 

I beg to differ with you PK. This law has nothing to do with conserving smelts. People here in Maine are allowed a daily bag limit of 2 quarts of smelts. It should make no difference, conservation-wise,  if they are taken all alive or the 5 dozen alive with the remaining ones dead. 2 quarts is 2 quarts, no matter how they're removed.

[rude the dude]

colors.
 Here in Ma we have a small season on Rainbow Smelts 

Because your water is so warm and polluted they can't survive, you have hardly any to catch. Chubs work better for pike anyways, right?

[Loves To Fish]

I have mailed out several copies of the petition to different parts of the state. I will let people know where they can view and maybe sign it if they so choose. Thanks for everyones help.
                                                         Dennis

[icewoman]

I have mailed out several copies of the petition to different parts of the state. I will let people know where they can view and maybe sign it if they so choose. Thanks for everyones help.
                                                         Dennis

For those interested..... I have a copy of the Petition in the Bridgton area if you'd like to sign it ......BUT you MUST BE a registered voter!

[jacksmelt71]

you can't get permission from scott to start one on here dennis? you're not selling anything .

[Loves To Fish]

Just an update on who to contact to see one of the petitions that are being circulated. You can PM any of the following people for more info:

Loves To Fish ( Dennis Bolduc)
Rude The Dude
Jim P
TightLines
IceWoman / LadyLaker
Teampar
Duck
Fishalot
BigHookem
buddah
nofishin

[The Rusty Crab]

I think Teampar is bringing some down to put up in my takeout too.

[jigfrig]

read the petition. do not see anything wrong with the present law. anyone who can't figure out their limit with both dead or alive should stay home. what next the tree inch horn law or two quart limit. the 2qt pirates that whiped out wassakeag here in dexter was the cuase of the change and we don't want them pirates back. you want to get a live limit each night go get the big smelt tag and quit whinning. just my 2 cents

[capmorgan928]

read the petition. do not see anything wrong with the present law. anyone who can't figure out their limit with both dead or alive should stay home. what next the tree inch horn law or two quart limit. the 2qt pirates that whiped out wassakeag here in dexter was the cuase of the change and we don't want them pirates back. you want to get a live limit each night go get the big smelt tag and quit whinning. just my 2 cents

What is the difference, 2 qts. Dead or 2 qts. Alive?

[Loves To Fish]

I think Teampar is bringing some down to put up in my takeout too.

Thanks RC

[jigfrig]

What is the difference, 2 qts. Dead or 2 qts. Alive?

big difference, ended stealing of our smelts by the smeltpirates.for years threy cleaned out many lakes in the winter before the smelt eggrun in the spring.
outlaws always whant loophole so they can have more for themselves and pockets of cash and starve the trouts. smeltpirates are bad

[icewoman]

big difference, ended stealing of our smelts by the smeltpirates.for years threy cleaned out many lakes in the winter before the smelt eggrun in the spring.
outlaws always whant loophole so they can have more for themselves and pockets of cash and starve the trouts. smeltpirates are bad

How can you say there's a big difference???  Seems pretty simple to me,,Should be up to the individual... 2qts Dead or Alive still equals 2qts

[rude the dude]

read the petition. do not see anything wrong with the present law. anyone who can't figure out their limit with both dead or alive should stay home. what next the tree inch horn law or two quart limit. the 2qt pirates that whiped out wassakeag here in Dexter was the cuase of the change and we don't want them pirates back. you want to get a live limit each night go get the big smelt tag and quit whining. just my 2 cents

That's not why the law got changed. It was a few greedy winter time dealers that sucked up to everyone in Augusta to try and get people to stop smelting and just buy them. Most of us have the lic. but that's not the point. And as far as  "whiping out wassakeag", they seemed to come back awful quick, if you had a clue you would of known they were thick last year. Spring dippers , and handliners in the winter don't wipe out smelts with a two quart limit. It's the big nets in the winter with multiple 8qts limits a night taken, after there graded and all the small ones killed in the process.  When the fish come to spawn, how many  come depends on whats left from raping them with big nets all winter. It's a mute point with wassakeag because it's not on the list, quit whining because you cant' find em.  If someone wants to go jig 20 doz smelts for a week fishing trip so as not to buy bait for the week, why should they have to make 4 trips to a lake maybe a hour away, it's cheaper to buy them than spend the gas, just what Bruce Steves . Steve Staples, and retired bio. Bill Woodward, who works with Steve all winter, to mention a few, wants. I say, screw them. Plus, I want my bait fresh and lively, not some drop netted garbage that's a month old, ands dead 10 mins. after going down the hole.  Ive seen 5 gal. pails full of dead smelts from these guys. There the ones that are doing all the damage. Maybe we should go like N.H and allow no smelting for anyone. As it is right now , over half the smelts taken in this state go out of state. Whats up with that, what if there was a ban on exporting smelts? 

[capmorgan928]

big difference, ended stealing of our smelts by the smeltpirates.for years threy cleaned out many lakes in the winter before the smelt eggrun in the spring.
outlaws always whant loophole so they can have more for themselves and pockets of cash and starve the trouts. smeltpirates are bad

1+1=2 no matter how many times you do the math. 1 qt. Dead+ 1 qt. Alive =2 qts.
1qt. Alive + 1 qt. Alive still equals 2 qts.
Pretty simple math I think

[Loves To Fish]

big difference, ended stealing of our smelts by the smeltpirates.for years threy cleaned out many lakes in the winter before the smelt eggrun in the spring.
outlaws always whant loophole so they can have more for themselves and pockets of cash and starve the trouts. smeltpirates are bad

That says it all right there jigfrig. Those smelts on Wassokeag are not all " yours ", nor are they all mine. They should be for all recreational and wholesalers to try to catch and enjoy their 2 quarts anyway they please, DEAD OR ALIVE. People selling smelts illegally is a law enforcement issue and changing the law to punish the whole group of recreational fishermen is just plain wrong / unfair.
Anyways, we can debate this until we're blue in the face. This thread is for the purpose of letting people know about the petition. It will all be hashed out at a future public hearing. Everyone is invited by MIF@W to participate in one of the several options on this matter: Attend one of the 3 public hearings, send in written comments, or send in an e-mail stating your postion.
No need to keep battling on the net about it. Obviously, people are already choosing their positions on this matter. Let's just let the public hearing process run it's course. Thanks.
                                                          Dennis

[bigsky1]

Sounds like a good idea to me, count me in Dennis

[landlockedsalmon]

We are not allowed to sell deer,how come we can sell smelts?just a thought?LLS

[The Finn]

But we do sell deer and bear and lobster and so on and so on...

[Loves To Fish]

We are not allowed to sell deer,how come we can sell smelts?just a thought?LLS

Smelts are baitfish used for fishing to catch fish.
Just like all the other baitfish, there is a market for using / selling smelts to fishermen and baitshops.
If there were a gazzillon deer out there like there are baitfish, then probably you would see a market for selling deer. Deer numbers are way too low to get into the commercial market for them. We are fortunate enough to at least have a season each year to hunt them. That's why there are specific deer farms in Maine just for the raising / slaughtering / and selling of their meat to consumers.

[benson]

sounds good put it back the way it was and about the smelt pirates more money for the state wassookeag was not fish out they were taken out buy the state in the spring and put in other lakes and ponds.

[bigsky1]

I have had 35 people sign it so far, hope to get more tonight at work.

[The Rusty Crab]

Just got mine today and its posted for the public to see and sign

[Loves To Fish]

Just got mine today and its posted for the public to see and sign

Thank you very much. And thank you to everyone who are also helping spread the word. I've been getting such a tremendous amount of interest and support for this issue. Things are progressing nicely.

[bigsky1]

Ever one that fish's at the mill has said yes

[Loves To Fish]

Ever one that fish's at the mill has said yes

Excellent. We are going to surpass my goal of getting 500 signatures. We are at 400 right now.
We're only going to do this for one more week. Great job to everyone helping on this matter.

I'm asking anyone who is circulating one of these petitions to PM me with their counts so far. We are closing in on our goal / objective very fast.

[The Rusty Crab]

 

[bigsky1]

Iam passing it on to Gorman tomorow

[Loves To Fish]

Iam passing it on to Gorman tomorow

Excellent. Hopefully we can finish up the end of this week.