Sportfishing Threatened!

[MOFishwater]

In what may be the worst example of outdoor sports reporting in the history of America, ESPN has claimed that President Barack Obama is on the verge of banning recreational fishing.

http://www.examiner.com/x-37128-Charlotte-Fishing-Examiner~y2010m3d9-ESPN-claims-Obama-is-about-to-ban-fishing

[bigredbirdfan]

Just close it. Delete it. Sick and tired of listening to this stuff. Anyone who questions and thinks this stuff is something to keep an eye on is a Kook. Right? I'll just go buy myself a GM and pull my 2 stoke outboard to the arctic while I still can and count the marvalous rebounding of the Polar Bears.

[fozzie.]

Personally, I'm not too worried about Obama outlawing sportfishing. In the run of things, it really doesn't matter, seeing as how the world will end Dec. 12th 2012 and all.

It has to be true, because I read it on the internet.

[jscheetz]

If you actually read any of the other stuff this guy writes, who did the ESPN article - his stuff is pretty much all - the sky is falling etc etc.... How he gets an article in places like ESPN I don't know, but just look at the titles of his articles and you see what you are about to get fed..... Bet he's got himself a bunker somewhere in the Ozarks waiting for the next millenium... )

JS

[trout fanatic]

I don't think anyone should panic over this-but I also think it bears watching. This has not only been documented on other web sites, but has also been the topic of a white house leak-could get interesting.

BRB I'd be really careful about buyin that GM if I was you. They may activate the on star system without your knowledge and track your butt right up there to the arctic and take your fishin pole.

In the mean time, I went fishin today, not much going on but I got rid of the shack nasties, caught me 2 keeper crappie (didn;t keep them tho) and a 10 inch largemouth. Good times

[jdmidwest]

What's wrong with a little good ole fashion "fear mongering"? That is what they are doing with the Health Care crap. Look how the gun and ammo industry flourished last year with a little stirring. It was the best year since 94 when they actually banned alot of guns. It is only fair that Sportfishing gets a turn this year. Besides, all of the increased sales by the fear mongering generates sales tax income for the MDC and DNR to help them meet their budgets. It generates jobs and helps people make a living.

I am just glad I still have my guns to protect my flyrods when the day comes........

[jdmidwest]

Stand down, it was a hoax. The following is a story from the editor of ESPN, the story was an opinion by a writer with no actual facts for the most part. WE ARE SAFE, for now!

ESPN states that it was a hoax.

[Gatorjet]

From everything I have been able to find about this, nobody really knows what they are up to. I think what most likely will come of this is federal regulation not elimination of sport fishing. The scary part of more federal regulation is more federal taxation. Possibly a national fishing license, additional excise taxes above the existing Wallop-Breaux tax on boats, tackle, guns, ammo etc.

Don't think for one minute that tax revenue wouldn't be a big part of this.

[Al Agnew]

The thing is, the federal regulation that will possibly be advocated is mostly of off-shore species that aren't limited in range to one state. That's the reason it is being discussed. Fish in the Pacific Ocean or in the Great Lakes don't necessarily stay in the waters off one particular state. So as it stands now, the same fish are under two or more state regs that often conflict with each other, and that's what the task force is seeking to address. It's the height of ridiculousness to think that this will be extended to inland waters that are entirely within one state.

It's often amazing how somebody can twist what is probably a good thing into a horror, by half-truths, suppositions, and innuendo. And it's usually somebody with a political ax to grind.

[AmericanAngler]

You should see whats happened in Mexico and California Already I have had a drop in sales due to some restriction on the west coast. They even made it Illegal in some areas that even Native Americans (Indians) can not fish on Reservation land or fish set aside ground for them any more. In Baja California some areas that the Sportfishing Boats go to are Off limits and they have passes that they give for bookoo dollars. I have been seeing it happen now for a year Texas is getting it bad too and some other gulf coast areas. My life economicaly right n ow revolves around fishing. Its how I pay my child support buy food and pay rent. But soon I may be with out like many other friends of mine on the west coast. Hell I just may move to Mexico cause to me it seems kinda un democratic the way things are going.