So a mate went out from Half Moon Bay ramp in Auckland on Saturday. 

Very sad. We'll be the way of Europe and Asia at some point. People will be proudly posting up pictures of stingrays and eels they've caught because there will be f*** all else left. Don't think it can't happen here. 

that’s hard to hear. On a plus the regular fisheries guy at my busy ramp said he had no undersized all day and plenty of fish to check. I may have been checked 4 times in my life around NZ after thousands of trips. But been checked more than that under a year in Whangarei. Really proactive and great with the public up this way. We would welcome you and share fishing spots when you bite the bullet and move North bud.

I salute the Fisheries officers trying to hold the line, and the fact they have to wear stab vests to do that job says it all, really, about the depressing aspects of modern New Zealand.

What TK saw is the tip of the iceberg. I know we don't want to catch up with the rest of the world but I rather enjoy a couple of shows on Sky about the Texas and Louisiana Game Wardens. They certainly know how to look after a resource. Every person who fishes needs a license and I assume that license money pays for the enforcement. Its said a million people fish at least once a year in NZ so at even at a nominal fee of $25 that is a fair amount of funding. The sale of boats and gear confiscated would add to that. If we want a heathy fishery I'm afraid the time has come to pay for it. We already pay to hunt birds and fish for trout. I'd be quite happy to pay for a saltwater fishing license provided it was across the board with no exceptions.

Just need to get tough. If there's any contravention, instant confiscation of boat/car/tackle. No ifs, buts or bull**** excuses. Use the proceeds from the sale of confiscated items to fund further enforcement.

The Tamure Kid wrote: From what I've seen, MB, the stingrays will be in their sights too, along with other species seldom targeted here!! The forecasts that Auckland will reach a population of 2 million soon means the pressure on the fishery is going to keep relentlessly increasing. Might have to head to Northland  I don't want to sound too doom and gloom, but that story from Saturday at the ramp disgusted me. Meanwhile, I got to my normal suburban beach launch spot with boat in tow before daylight on Sunday to find two cars parked on the beach ramp/access point, and the occupants spilled out around the cars, boozing, playing music and basically trashing the place with empties, cartons etc. "Here we go", I thought, suddenly feeling pretty solo and indicating with hand movements what I expected them to do so i could get down to the beach. Thankfully after a bit of staunching me out, they decided to move their cars, and my blood pressure started to dip towards normal.

smudge wrote: I watch that show sometimes, while I agree with the sentiment I don't think we would see any gain from licensing. I think of it like this: there is a component in my rates that covers footpaths. There isn't a footpath within 15 km of my place.  I think the revenue will be lost in a giant cluster of bureaucracy.

Thanks for starting conversation TK,

Pcj wrote: Fish Addict wrote: smudge wrote: I watch that show sometimes, while I agree with the sentiment I don't think we would see any gain from licensing. I think of it like this: there is a component in my rates that covers footpaths. There isn't a footpath within 15 km of my place.  I think the revenue will be lost in a giant cluster of bureaucracy.  The footpath example is a good one smudge. Having said that there are probably others who question why a portion of their rates contributed to the construction of a road to smudge's house, a road they will never use.   You and I have debated the pros and cons of licensing previously so I'll not commence another chapter other than to say what I've said before.  At a cost of $25 - $40 per annum per angler what have you really got to lose. Soon start paying when its gone.Oh thats right,"its our birth right".Still to see it written in the statuary books