Do you like eating trout, drum and stripers? The vast majority of North Carolinians are about to lose their freedom to eat three of the most popular and delicious fish that grace this beautiful state’s waters. A small handful of rich elitists want our politicians to list the speckled trout, red drum and striped bass as “game fish.” That very name implies that they view these fish as toys. They would take our freedom to sell or eat these fish just to make their toys bigger and easier to play with. This misguided law will force commercial fishermen to discard every illegal gamefish, dead or alive. These fish are public resources that should be available to everyone. Not just a privileged few!
If you ever want to eat a striped bass, speckled trout or red drum again without catching it yourself, let our public servants know. Rep. [Darrell] McCormick sponsored the bill to list these three species as game fish in HB 353. He is the chairman of a committee holding hearings on the bill. The people behind getting him to sponsor this bill have been contacting all of the relevant politicians to assure its passage.
I agree that these fish need better management, but this is not it. We can keep our freedom to eat these delicious and nutritious fish if enough concerned citizens will contact Rep. McCormick and politely ask him to immediately withdraw HB 353.
— Chris McCaffity
Moorehead City
Judging from the lack of comments, I don’t think the majority of readers even know what a Red Drum is. (outside of one being beaten on a Friday night)
My family owns and operates a Fish Market on Topsail Island, and we are having our local hearing tonight on this issue. It is a shame that the local commercial fisherman in our area are under the gun just so the big charter companies can limit fishing to “their” boats. And the sad thing is that the average person doesn’t even realize whats happening. Thank you so much for spreading the word. DAMN THE MAN!! SUPPORT COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN!!!