Hook and line guys will never put a dent in any fishery ith the commercial guys that do all the damage. In the early 70's the boats I mated on that did overnight trips would run in to the 40 fathom line to tile fish. By the mid to late 70's we found out there were swordfish to be had out in 1000 fathoms particularly in the "alligator bites"of the canyons. August 23 1980 I put 9 swordfish on the boat plus released 12 white Marlin that day. By 1985 the Jap long liners moved in with 30-40 miles of gear and factory ships processing the catch. Marlin tuna sharks those damn japs killed them all. By summer of 1986 I made 7 offshore trips and never saw a fish the canyons were cleaned out and the Japs moved on. I pointed the bow south and never looked back. Things up there have come back but it only takes a couple years of these ocean rapists to destroy it again. Watch a couple episodes of whale wars to see what kind of pricks these Japs really are. Think about that before you hand your money over to Toyota or Lexus!
I'm with you on this, they did the same business in the GOM. Read a comment in a magazine years ago comparing commercial fishing to the chicken industry, it would be like they would slaughter all the chickens, eat all the eggs, and set the chicken barn on fire.
And then cry the blues that they can't make a living and sue the gov't for letting them do it.
Hook and line guys will never put a dent in any fishery ith the commercial guys that do all the damage. In the early 70's the boats I mated on that did overnight trips would run in to the 40 fathom line to tile fish. By the mid to late 70's we found out there were swordfish to be had out in 1000 fathoms particularly in the "alligator bites"of the canyons. August 23 1980 I put 9 swordfish on the boat plus released 12 white Marlin that day. By 1985 the Jap long liners moved in with 30-40 miles of gear and factory ships processing the catch. Marlin tuna sharks those damn japs killed them all. By summer of 1986 I made 7 offshore trips and never saw a fish the canyons were cleaned out and the Japs moved on. I pointed the bow south and never looked back. Things up there have come back but it only takes a couple years of these ocean rapists to destroy it again. Watch a couple episodes of whale wars to see what kind of pricks these Japs really are. Think about that before you hand your money over to Toyota or Lexus!
Must have been a slow weekend. Several old threads suddenly float to the top.