Well, the 29th anual "white Marlin Open" ended friday and shattered many tournament records. IMO, it couldn't have come at a better time as some people who have no clue how to catch them seem to be teaming up with some eco nazi's, claiming that the white marlin is rare and endangered. If it is so endangered why did OC 's tournament LAST year catch and release a record 360. However this year on the first day 260 were caught. On thursday alone 480 were released followed by at least 250 on friday (many weren't reported on the last day because a lot of traveling boats who weren't in the placing just left from fishing and did not return to OC to turn in catch reports) My point is in one 5 day period in which boats could only fish 3 days almost as many fish were caught as in an average season out of OC. on the saturday following all OC daily records were shattered with boats releasing 22,16,12, 10,8,and a bunch of 2's-5's. Not bad for an endangered species which you pretty much have to double the number hooked to find out a true number of the number of fish raised.
My point is if you hear of any legislation pointing for this fish to be put on the endangered species list please vote against it as it would have serious consequences for the economy and tourism of not only the mid atlantic region but also far reaching destinations such as Venezuela (as American tourists must abide by our laws). And it wouldn't have any help in protecting the stocks as this fish travels throughout the semi-tropical atlantic and will still be targeted by foreign longliners. This is one example of where we must stick together as some do gooder fishermen who have no interest in ever trying for one of these fish will listen to someone who has no clue how to catch them or where to go for them so they must be scarce. All the politics of "sporties"/vs "commercial"/vs ARA's Etc..., etc..., etc...