Comment from Richard Davis

I understand that you guys are highly educated scientist with the one goal of saving the gulf fisheries. You need to be more sensitive to the average fisherperson who is just out for a day. I have to read through the laws you all create several times over just to understand what it is. For example you can catch the fish in one area but not another, on one day not the other, with a certain type of hook not another, and at any point things can change. It is like playing musical chairs with tons of rules. The problem is the enforcers take their jobs without any compassion. The penalties are large. I got in trouble for measuring a lobster wrong and being off by a fraction of a millimeter. I am an honest hardworking part of society and I was made to feel a criminal. I had to pay a larger fine than a drug dealer. I buy a license (tax). I buy fuel (with tax). I buy bait (with tax). My boat is registered (tax). My trailer is registered (tax). I think there should be a fishermans bill of rights. The recreational fisherman deserves some respect. If you can't keep it simple then shut the whole thing down. I will sell my boat and move to the mountains. I like the mountains too.