August 10, 2023 • 40 mins
Are you ready to navigate the complex waters of fishing regulations? Your trusted guide, George Gaca, is here to help you untangle the intricacies of the upcoming saltwater fishing license survey, the latest news on striped bass, and the state's take on land-based shark fishing. As an angler, this is essential knowledge. It's not just about casting your line; knowing these rules is key to preserving the sport we love.
In a truly special segment, we're going beach shark fishing with none other than Anthony Fiorello. This isn't just about the thrill of the catch; it's about the profound bond between fisherman and fish, the electrifying power of nature, and an enduring legacy being passed down to the next generation. Anthony's inspiring dedication to the sport and his commitment to sharing this love with his children will leave you not just informed, but also moved.
Lastly, we're setting our sights on Florida. We're critically examining the proposed regulations for the state's educational program and year-round shark fishery. The question is, are these rules effective and truly necessary? We're looking at the impact on the average beach angler and questioning the reasons behind these proposed changes. This isn’t about opposition for opposition’s sake; it's about advocating for fairness and ensuring that our voices are heard. So let's gear up and set sail on this journey through the currents of fishing regulations. Tight lines all!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
George Scocca (00:01):
Hello and welcome all to another episode of the
New York Fishing Podcast.
My name is George Gaca and Iwill be your host.
I'd like to start out bythanking all my friends at
NewYorkAnglercom for the finewishes for my 68th birthday the
(00:23):
other day.
So thank you all and Iappreciate everyone's support.
So, as always, there'ssomething always on the horizon,
so I do want to mention threeseparate issues that are on the
plate.
There's always something goingon regarding fisheries
(00:44):
regulations.
It's always been that way.
I'm around this thing 35 yearsand it truly I don't know it
changes.
So, and right now I'm concernedwith what I see coming out of
the DEC on this land-based sharkfishing regulation.
(01:07):
There's also news on thestriped bass front, and we have
more saltwater fishing licensenews for you.
So, for those of you thataren't aware, the state is about
ready to get out a survey onwhat you would like to see them
(01:34):
spend the money on that they'regoing to raise by charging us
for a fishing license.
I personally am opposed to it,but I always have been.
I kind of just never trustwhere the money's going to go.
But I'm not here to influenceyou in any way, manner or form.
(01:56):
This is a decision you're goingto have to make.
The one thing I do ask is thatyou dig deep into the money and
think about the one.
I mean, there's quite a fewthings in there that bother me,
but one of the biggest things isrequiring the money from that
(02:27):
fund to pay for DEC lawenforcement.
I don't see why recreationalanglers, or anyone for that
matter, should pay for any typeof enforcement.
I want to see triple theenforcement out there.
I really do, but I don't wantto.
(02:48):
Why should we pay for it?
They're not just out therechecking recreational fishermen.
So just please think about that.
I'm going to get more into that.
You know there's other issuesboat ramps.
Are we the only ones that areusing boat ramps?
There are some good things inthere.
(03:09):
I love the idea of a fishingpier.
I know I keep saying it, butwhy are there these gorgeous
ocean fishing piers up and downthe coast?
And here we are in one of thegreatest fishing spots of the
world with an opportunity toopen the eyes of many anglers
(03:30):
and give them the opportunity tofish off an ocean pier.
I don't know why we don't haveone.
I'm not saying, hey, let's geta license so we can have a pier.
But what I am saying is, when Ilook at the numbers, it's like
half of the money is going to gotowards enforcement.
(03:51):
So I mean, look, I could bewrong about that, it could be
more, it could be less.
I guess we'll see as it comesout.
But watch for the survey.
It's probably going to be outin another week or two.
I do know that it's almost inthe budget.
(04:11):
It's been talked about thatmuch and they do want it and I'm
afraid that it is going tohappen.
A lot of people say, hey, whydon't you?
Guys should pay.
Everybody else pays, we do pay.
We pay 10% in excess tax forWallop Bro on everything you buy
(04:40):
.
You probably don't know that,but when you buy a $200 real,
it's really only $180 bucks.
You're paying the rest as a tax.
So we do, we do pay.
Not to mention we drum upbillions and billions of dollars
.
Oh, look, sounds like I'mtalking out of it.
(05:01):
I guess I kind of am, but I'mnot trying to do that.
I want you to make sure youlook at the survey and then
think about it, think abouteverything.
Is it fair?
What is it fair to spend themoney on?
What's fair what's important toyou and I'd like to point out.
(05:28):
Well, I'm going to do that atanother time.
The other news is Stripe Bass,the Stripe Bass board.
It looks like they're going tohold strong with what they have
in place now for next year.
I mean, this is premature.
They haven't said it, but it'sbeen floated.
(05:50):
I don't know, is it just me?
But how could we be fishing oneyear class over two years?
How does that work?
You've got to be fishing twoyear classes, that other year
class coming up.
(06:10):
What was it?
2010,?
Something that's the one we'regoing to be whacking on now.
I don't get it.
So that's the other thing.
But the big issue in my mindright now and it is a huge issue
(06:33):
is the state recommendations onland-based shark fishing.
Now, I've got to tell you I'venever done this.
I don't know a heck of a lotabout it.
The one thing I do know ispeople that do it love it, and
(06:59):
when I see photos, videos, whenI hear about it, when I meet the
people, I know these people arecaring for those fish as well
as anyone.
So I started looking into thiswhole thing and the biggest
(07:19):
issue I have is there's no onesaying, okay, we're doing this
to save this and we're doingthat to save that, and we have
evidence that there's a bycatchthat's happening or the fish
have float north dead.
I mean, obviously we're notseeing the fish, we don't see
(07:41):
the sharks come floating up onshore.
Does that mean anything?
I don't know.
But if it was that bad, I'mguessing you'd hear something or
see something, rather.
But when you look at this thing,you take it from a bird's eye
view and you look down and youjust listen to what they're
(08:02):
saying.
You can't use a drone to drop abait.
Why is that?
Why can't they use a drone?
You can't use.
You have to use spinning tacklebecause you have to cast.
You're not going to be castinganything too far on a pen, 80 or
(08:26):
50.
I don't even know what you guysuse.
You can't drop a bait on akayak.
Why?
Why is this?
Did the government come downand say, hey, you guys got this
huge problem?
Got a couple of hundred peoplethat are catching and releasing
sharks from the beach, that aredestroying the fishery, while in
(08:48):
the meantime there's miles andmiles of long lines killing
these sharks every day of theweek.
So I feel like there's no oneto look again.
Show me what you're doing.
Show me what you're trying tosay.
Don't tell me that the guy in aboat can use a drone.
(09:10):
A guy in a boat could dowhatever he wants.
The guy in a boat is not goingto have a hook restriction,
which makes no sense.
You know they.
I listened in on this hearingthere was the other night and I
was really excited to see andhear a group of anglers that
(09:34):
they obviously were on the samepage.
They knew each other, but theyknow the fishery and you know
these are the people that aredoing it.
And you know they brought up somany facts and I mean, look,
does it make sense to force themto use light tackle?
I, you know it's.
(09:54):
It's.
You're literally trying toreduce the number of sharks they
can catch, period.
And I hope that's not becauseof the recent shark attacks,
because everyone knows that hasnothing to do with it.
But you can't help but thinkthat.
(10:16):
So, as an angler, I'm going toget back to this.
We have rights and, first ofall, the shark fishery is
managed on a federal level.
So I don't know why.
I know, yes, we could put inregs and this and that, but I
don't know why we're doing this.
(10:37):
I did a lot of digging and Idid find a study.
It wasn't a lot of sharks, andthe every bull and tiger and
some type of brown or whateverwas Sambo shark.
They all lived, every singleone of them.
(10:58):
The few that died were spinnersharks.
Now, that's the only study Icould find.
Now this is in Texas, wherethey're doing it year round in
much warmer waters.
So why are we doing this?
That's what I want to know.
We are recreational fishermen.
(11:19):
These guys are out there.
You know, it's their passion.
They care about the life of thefish more than most people.
So why are we going to stop this?
You know, and let's think aboutthe guy that can't afford to
charter a boat for a couple ofthousand dollars because that's
(11:39):
what it is Between 1500 and 2500to go shark fishing.
Not many people can afford that.
So we're going to take thisshark opportunity away from
these people altogether.
(11:59):
Not to mention, a lot of peopledon't want to go offshore.
They'll get seasick.
Why are we stopping them fromdoing this?
Why are we forcing a minimumsize, a maximum size, rather, on
(12:20):
the leader In Florida.
They have a minimum size.
On the leader In Florida theyhave a minimum size on the hook.
Who ever heard of a maximumsize on a hook?
Who's?
I've never heard of that and itjust doesn't make sense.
It makes you believe that hookis going down and going to gut
(12:45):
that fish, but it's almost likeyou're hoping that small hook
won't hook the fish so you don'tcatch them.
That's what I see.
I could be wrong, but I seethis as a infringement on our
(13:10):
rights, recreational fishermen'srights.
Who are they to tell us how farwe could send a bait?
Think about that for a minute.
What's going to happen?
The next thing they're going todo, they're going to tell you
hey, sorry, no, live scanners.
I mean, that's so-and-a-lot ofstuff works too well.
(13:31):
You're going to be able tocatch too many fish with that.
You're not going to be able touse that.
I mean, think about it.
That's what they're doing Now.
I don't know why they can't sitdown and talk to these guys.
They claim there arerepresentatives out there in
organizations that truly I'm nottrying to knock anybody, but
(13:56):
come on, they don't holdmeetings.
I mean, when we hadorganizations, we'd have 100
people at a meeting.
That's not happening anymore.
And yet they're out there andquoted in the documentation as
supporting it.
Nobody's going to tell you whythey support it, because most of
(14:18):
those people that support it,there's a certain amount of surf
fishermen that can't stand thisshark fishery.
We get that, but years ago youstuck together, that's what you
did, but they're not doing thatright now.
So just think about what they'redoing, what they're saying.
(14:43):
It's so obvious.
They don't want you to bring ashark on the beach.
Why is that, and isn't thereanother way?
I mean, look, if it is becausethey don't want to frighten
beachgoers, maybe they can worksomething out.
(15:06):
And when there's no life Godthere, they could fish.
People aren't supposed to be inthe water anyway.
So, look, I have never, everseen a regulation come out like
out of the blue for no reasonwhatsoever.
(15:31):
Federal government's not doingit.
Florida does it totallydifferent.
They do it year round.
I kind of want to go with whatthey're doing.
Why do we think our idea offighting the fish longer, using
the smaller hook, not being ableto use a drone, I mean come on.
(15:57):
Why do you think that's goingto be better for the shark?
It's not Because the few fishthat they are going to get in
are going to be so tired and soshot from that fight that
they're going to die.
And please stop worrying abouttaking the shark out for a photo
(16:22):
please, because we all knownext we're going to hear you can
take a striped bass out of thewater for a picture.
That's coming.
So I have a guest that I wouldlike you, like you all, listen
in on.
He knows a lot more about thisshark fishery.
(16:45):
You know land-based sharkfishery than I do, and I heard
him the other day.
He was very well spoken at thehearing which, by the way, I
wasn't used to as I go to a lotof these hearings and, oh man, I
think these video things aremuch better idea.
But yeah, he did kind ofexplain a lot of things that I
(17:11):
wanted to hear.
I'd like to welcome our guest,anthony Fiorello.
He is a surf fisherman who hasspent some time targeting sharks
along the beach and I heard himthe other night.
He was accompanied by a numberof folks that brought across
(17:32):
some really good pointsregarding these current
regulations that are beingproposed.
So, anthony, I'd like to grasp,or capture the excitement of
this fishery and how you gotinvolved and where you're at now
.
Anthony Fiolrello (17:50):
Well, I'm three, 54 and about three or
four months and I have beenfishing for now probably close
to 50 years.
I got my first fish very youngin a local lake in Queens, New
York, and that really set me offon a lifetime of fishing and
fishing and since then I've hadfish much of New York and I have
(18:13):
enjoyed this state and what thestate has to offer in fishing
and I have really introduced myyoung sons we refer to ourselves
as the Three Amigo Fish Cluband my two sons, 10 and seven,
are average fishermen and weenjoy it.
I really want to pass thingsalong to them, as I think most
(18:35):
parents, dads who might besportsmen like, particularly
with the outdoors.
This is what we want to do andwe're well on our way to be in
handcuffed by the state.
George Scocca (18:47):
So let me ask you this so the first time you take
your son fishing and you hookup on a shark and you bring it
up the beach, bring it up on thebeach what was that like and
what was that feeling like?
And I don't know too many kidsthat have witnessed that and I'm
(19:10):
curious of the.
To me this is just a wonderfulintroductory fishery and I'm
wondering what it was like andwhat it's like to be as lucky as
you to be able to fish withthese sons like that.
Anthony Fiolrello (19:24):
Well, it's pretty exciting For one when
you're fishing and, like mostshore based anglers, know
there's a little bit of pot luckinvolved and you know you're
out there on the best days andthe best times.
You really don't know what'shappening with that bait that's
down there.
And it is exciting when thefish is within range and it's in
(19:45):
a roll or wave and you can seethat thin, you know, and that's
when the kids go wild and you'llhear them yell shark instead of
stingray.
And then the fish comes to theshore and it's an incredible,
incredible feeling to see thiscreature come out of the water
and you know you have the utmostrespect for it and an instant
(20:08):
bond is created between you andthe fish and we are really just
get the hook out, get thepicture and get them right back
in there where he belongs.
It's really an incredible,incredible feeling.
My kids they've done pretty wellfrom the beach.
They like their bass, theirfluke, but he's got a dusky.
(20:28):
We got a big surprise, a blacktip last week and they've got
loads of sand sharks, you know,to their roll, but each and
every one of them.
It's incredibly, incrediblyexciting.
George Scocca (20:42):
Yeah, so that's the way I see the fishery.
Now, you know, there's newregulations which are being
proposed.
I noticed that a lot of folksthat spoke at the hearing the
other night were talking aboutthe Florida educational program,
and I am a huge proponent ofeducating anglers.
(21:04):
I truly believe that they wantto learn, and you know, since
then I looked into it and it'sdefinitely something New York
should have.
The other things I looked into,you know, florida is a year
round shark fishery.
Right, they've been doing thisfor a very long time and when I
(21:25):
look at their eggs they'realmost like opposite.
They have what's being proposed.
They have a four foot minimumlength on the leader, whereas
New York is talking about onefoot.
And also the fact that youcan't, you know, drop the bait
(21:45):
will force you to use lightertackle.
You know meaning spinningtackle, you know so it's hard to
gauge what the DEC is trying togain here, but what would be
your take on those proposals?
Anthony Fiolrello (22:04):
Well, for one .
You know from the verybeginning, in every aspect of
our lives, personal orprofessional education goes a
long way.
You know, it's easy you get aguy fish, he eats for a day.
You teach a guy to fish, he'sfor a lifetime.
If you teach people and youshow them and you instruct them,
you know they feel like they'repart of something in a bigger
(22:26):
scale.
You know, uh, now, with respectto florida, I think that they're
, they're on the right track.
Uh, they use heavier gearbecause they are concerned about
the survivability of the fishpost catch.
Uh, what new york is trying todo is to try to lighten the
tackle.
So I think that the fishdoesn't really.
I have a chance to come toshore and it's not.
(22:48):
If it does, it's going to be amuch longer fight.
It's really going to exhaustthe fish.
I I'm not so certain that thatis going to work out.
I, if you can use to me and I'mnot the only one that the
greater concern here is theamount of shark sightings, and I
think they're trying tocorrelate that to the few guys
(23:09):
that are on the beach.
You know, fishing with bunkerchunks, that we're the ones
attracting them, and I thinkthese regs are being put in
place to make it nearlyimpossible to try to catch a
shark will be such a deterrentthat the average fisherman just
says you know, I'm not even abother yeah, I think you know I
think I think the average, Ithink you know more.
(23:31):
I would say that just abouteverybody that attended uh that
they dc uh event is aware ofthat.
I, I think we it, that's it.
That's the elephant in the roomthat no one really wants to
talk about any distance sharksightings and the dc is under
pressure from people up abovesaying listen, uh, we gotta do
something.
What can we do?
George Scocca (23:52):
I think I would like to be.
You know, I got to go and I gotsad, but I kind of agree with
you, and the main reason is noone's telling us what, why
they're doing it.
No one, not a single wellperson, has said why explain
that?
They haven't said they'retrying to save this thing.
I don't know the one linethat's gas me.
(24:13):
As they say they want to beable to make it easier to
enforce the regulations.
I don't get that.
Anthony Fiolrello (24:21):
I don't get the whole thing I, I don't get
that either on.
You know, make it easier toenforce the regulation.
It would suggest that they're,you know they're going to be
walking the beach measuring hooksizes for one.
You know you don't want me, Idon't target a particular fish.
You know I, like many peoplesaid, I got to fish for what the
(24:42):
, the ocean will provide.
You know, I think it's wrong,uh, that that they're trying to
do this to us.
It didn't end the, if I, if Ihave read you know what the dc
wants to do.
They could clearly stipulatedoes not affect the folks
fishing from a vessel.
So you know, you have a guy ina boat.
(25:03):
He has the latest technologies.
He could see fish in the water,he has the most equipment
because he can store it.
Uh, he has the greater uhability to traverse a bigger
area.
Uh, he's not doing anything tothis, uh, this shark issue that
we have.
But it is the poor guy on thebeach with one pole and one bag
of bait.
He's the one doing this.
(25:24):
I don't think so I.
I I think it's trying to showthat they're doing something,
but doing what?
George Scocca (25:30):
tell us what.
They would tell us what we'redoing right.
So, like doing what the heckare we doing?
They have no studies.
I read one study, uh, where theonly sharks that would die and
were spinner sharks, uh all but,and it was conducted down in uh
texas somewhere, and it's theonly land-based uh study I could
(25:52):
find you know.
So tell us why you're doing itand what you're trying to
achieve and, uh, what you'resaving, because you know
recreational anglers they're.
They're open to save anything.
You know I mean, you know thatas well as I do.
Um, we will, we'll do whateverwe have to do, but give us a
(26:16):
reason this to me to say youcan't use a drone to drop a bait
.
Well, is it better to drop thebait shorter to bring the shark
in closer, or is it uh betterand it's gonna make it harder
for you to catch?
Anthony Fiolrello (26:35):
it's almost like they don't want you to land
the fish and it's not becausethey don't want to see them now
if they don't want that fishmaking it to the shore, so the
the smaller hook size, thelighter tackle, the leader that
can most likely break off.
Uh, you know, the inability tokayak or use a drone.
All of those things amount toone thing that fish is not going
(26:58):
to make it to the shore.
And the people that are sittingthree hundred yards down in
their time you, but how much aswell for a lot better.
Uh, they don't have to tell usanything.
They're going to do what theywant to do if we don't put up a
fight, and they're going to beable to tell people in a press
release we have changed thefishing regulations in a chance
to try to make things better foreverybody.
(27:20):
They're not going to tell us,they're going to do to us.
They're going to tell everybodyelse that may not be as
educated as we are about fish.
They're going to tell them thisis what we have done for you.
George Scocca (27:31):
Yeah yeah, no, that's exactly what's going to
happen.
Well, look, I hope it doesn't.
I wish we had a couple oflegislators on those calls,
although they were recorded andI have reached out to a few
people to listen to them,because you need a legislator at
this point to step in and say,whoa, what's going on?
(27:53):
Let's just put the brakes onfor a second and take a look at
this thing.
But I've seen this happen timeand again and it just seems like
it's so far advanced and look,I'm not trying to knock the ec
here, but you know they sent usa signal not too long ago.
When you know they put in thoseemergency regs on striped bass.
(28:15):
They could have waited andgiven us and when I say what us,
I talk the entire industry acouple of days a week, something
.
Not bang, it's over, but itseems, you know, like nobody,
like Cuomo back in the day.
But I tell you what that guy.
He loved fishermen, he was afisherman, he always took care
(28:37):
of us, and now we have the totalopposite and you're gonna find
out I think it's next week orthe week after they're gonna ask
you for a fishing license, sothey're gonna ask you to pay to
not be able to catch thosesharks.
That's what's coming, what'scoming next week.
So they will actually survey.
Anthony Fiolrello (29:01):
Well, if I'm not mistaken, the slot just to
go into the striped bass alittle bit that the slot size or
this new slot size we have thatcame from up above, that came
from the Atlantic States fisheryacross the board, correct?
George Scocca (29:14):
Yes, that had to be done.
Anthony Fiolrello (29:17):
When you think about that, you say to
yourself you know, at leastwe're not the only ones, at
least it's not New Yorkoverstepping its boundaries, at
least it's not the New Yorkfishermen alone that are gonna
save striped bass for the wholecountry.
Right In the case, what theyhave now that the EEC wants to
do, it's just us, it's just thefew guys in New York that are on
(29:39):
the beach.
It's just for us.
George Scocca (29:42):
So how long do you guys, how long is your
season?
Anthony Fiolrello (29:48):
Well, we go.
I pretty much go from, I wouldsay, you know, the opening of
the season in spring and Iprobably fish all the way into
October, november.
The kids started getting alittle chilly in November.
I mean, they're pretty good,but you know I don't want to
catch colds.
We go well into the fall andthen we wrap it up and then we
(30:08):
take all the tackle out in themiddle of the winter and just
hold it and just dream about usgetting back on the beach there.
George Scocca (30:14):
Yeah, yeah, and I'm sure you're spending on
tackle and just like everybodyelse.
Anthony Fiolrello (30:19):
Well, just like everybody else and the guy
in the bait shop is gonna feelit when you know his three to
500 guys a month come in and allspend $15 or $20 less.
George Scocca (30:32):
Well, you know, I've spoken to six different
tackle shop owners on this issueand they don't get.
Nobody gets it.
No one gets it.
No, no, you know, and it kindof feels like you know, it's one
of these things that are gonnaramp down on the roads.
I'm hoping that they don't andyou know who knows for sure.
(30:55):
But you know, when you gotgroups and I'm not trying to
knock anybody, because you knowI know everybody involved in
these organizations but you knowwe've become so micro, these
groups, that you actually havesurf fishermen that are agreeing
with this, but in most casesthey're surf fishermen that have
never done it before and theyfind you getting in the way.
(31:18):
So you know, I understandwhat's happening.
It's like you get all of asudden Liby is in support of I
don't believe that they are, bythe way, but as far as the
coalition, they do, so they aresupportive of the rules.
Who are they talking to and whodo they represent?
I'm not buying.
Anyone represents 5,000 people.
(31:41):
I don't buy it.
Anthony Fiolrello (31:44):
No, I don't believe they have our best
interests at heart.
George Scocca (31:47):
Yeah, yeah, and you know what.
Liby, bill and Nicky was agreat friend of mine.
He's gone.
And Willie Young, who startedcoalition he was a good friend
of mine, always meant well,these guys.
And now we have people sittingon the Emmerich committee and
guys I'm not knocking you, butyou're like lifelong freaking
politicians.
(32:08):
You know you remind me of theNancy Pelosi's of the world
you've been around forever.
It's time to start listening tothe anglers that are on the
beach and you know that might beworth a shot.
I think I'm gonna put some upon our website.
Mention something later in thispodcast with direct emails to
(32:31):
the people on Emmerich who willhave a huge say in what happens
here.
And you know there's one ofthem there, charlie Widdick, who
is a good friend of mine.
A lot of people you know theydon't like his.
I don't know his managementstyle, but I got to wonder if he
(32:51):
is in support of this.
You know he's a smart guy andanyone knows lighter tackle
right, smaller hook is going toresult in more dead sharks.
It's just a fact.
That's correct.
You know so well, look, I again.
You know I'm sorry for what youguys are going through.
(33:13):
Next time, you know, maybe youneed to somehow be better
organized, but I wouldn't giveup yet, and-.
Anthony Fiolrello (33:20):
No, I'm not giving up.
If you put anything on that, ifyou list anything, I'll be
making phone calls of my own.
You know, to try to do whateverI can do.
I don't want to see itrubber-stamped without a fight.
George Scocca (33:32):
Well, I appreciate that, because a lot
of people they don't want tofight and sometimes they have to
, and you know what?
It's not a fight, maybe it'sjust an education thing.
I think I know I'm taken bysurprise by the amount of
support that you guys aregetting, considering the people
that are opposed to it.
(33:52):
You know that.
Rather that, support it.
So, yeah, yeah, I think you gota shot, an outside shot, but I
need someone to say well, we'rekilling it, they can't say it.
They can't say it because it'snot happening.
It's all about perception.
Anthony Fiolrello (34:11):
I asked repeatedly yeah, I've asked
repeatedly for the data.
I need the data to support yourproposals and it just falls on
deaf ears over and over.
I've called it the.
You see it does at times.
Where's the data?
Where is the data?
Where's the data?
We don't have the data, Justthat's it, no data.
George Scocca (34:29):
Yeah.
Anthony Fiolrello (34:30):
They're doing this for the people on the
beach.
They're not doing it foranybody else.
It's the elephant in the room.
The shark sightings, the sharksightings, the shark sightings.
Oh, what do we got?
We got a few hundred anglers.
They're fishing for sharks.
They're bringing them in.
You know, the sharks are there.
The bait is there.
You know we're seeing moreblack tips.
We're seeing the cobia I gotsome cobia in the back bay last
(34:50):
year.
The fish are there.
Yeah, the fish are there.
And you know what?
The bait is certainly there andthe water is cleaner.
You're talking to a person whohas spent 26 years working
cleaning water in one of thebiggest wastewater treatment
plants in New York.
The water is clean.
We're doing everything andeverybody is the recipient of
(35:11):
this.
You've got people enjoying thewater from a number of different
ways From the beach, from theboat, scuba, a lot of
water-based recreational sportsand the one guy that pays the
price is the guy that schlepsout his beach caught onto the
beach.
He's the guy that has to payfor it.
That's not fair.
George Scocca (35:30):
No, it is not, and hopefully we've got the EC
listening and you know they'llget that.
You're not just speaking foryourself.
I know you had a bunch offriends and you guys probably
all know each other.
You know kind of like tunafishing men that are sharing
things.
You know you have your littlegroup there but it doesn't take
(35:54):
that many people.
But you've got to be vocal andyou've got to plug in to the
right people.
So we'll be in touch.
I have your number now.
You have my number now and Ireally appreciate you coming on
Because I wanted that side of itand, believe me, it's my
pleasure.
I've been doing this for 35years, so it's been.
(36:17):
But let me tell you we've had alot of close wins but so many
losses.
But we have three big winsright.
One was maximum 20 fishblackfish limit commercial
that's still holding tight andthe strike bass limit they are
not allowed to take commerciallyover a million pounds and the
(36:41):
bunker bill which we passed.
So things can get done becauseall legislators listen.
Anthony Fiolrello (36:49):
So we're going to get them involved.
You put that information outthere and I'm sure myself and
quite a lot of other peoplewe'll make the necessary calls.
They're going to hear us.
We're going to go down with thebest fight possible.
But this is everybody needs toknow that this is really the
beginning of the end for shorebass fishermen, because what
(37:11):
they want to do is not going towork and then they're going to
just keep clamping down furtherand further until it's over.
George Scocca (37:20):
Yeah, sadly, I agree, and there's no need for
it.
There's got to be a way, likeyou said.
Maybe I mean, look, I don'tknow anything about it, but
maybe you limit it to a nightfishery or something, or hours
of people are not on the beach.
Anthony Fiolrello (37:37):
You can go out there and fish and use the
equipment that you're accustomedto using, but you got to use it
when the lifeguards are offduty, right, because when the
lifeguards are off duty, youshouldn't be in that water
anyway.
George Scocca (37:49):
Right, that's true.
Anthony Fiolrello (37:51):
So when the lifeguards are there, you're
mandated to use a certain hooksize and do as the mandate says.
But once those lifeguards arenot there, you can fish a little
bit more freely.
They should try somethingbefore just ramming it down off
the boat, because it is notgoing to work and you're going
to give people a false sense ofsecurity by doing this and then
(38:13):
they're going to go in thatwater and if there is an
interaction with the shark, it'snot going to have anything to
do with anybody, just the way itdoesn't have to do with us.
Now, right, you're mandating us, you're hurting us, you're
depriving us, you're regulatingus and at the same time, you're
selling a false sense ofsecurity to the beachgoer about
sharks.
George Scocca (38:34):
Well, I'll give you an example of that the woman
who got bit.
What was it two days ago InRockaway?
There's no surf fishing there.
There's nobody.
Shark in there None, not asingle person.
I already checked that thereare no shark fishermen there.
Anthony Fiolrello (38:51):
I looked at that too.
I was wondering, and somefeedback we got the people
exchanging information.
Afterwards there weren't anyfishermen anywhere.
No, if you're doing this to usjust to tell everybody it's safe
to go into the water, that'snot right.
You can go into the water, bemindful of your lifeguards,
(39:12):
follow what the flags say.
But if you see me 100 yardsdown, I'm not doing anything.
See, I'm just minding mybusiness, trying to have a good
time with my kids.
George Scocca (39:21):
Exactly, and enjoy what I mean.
We live on an island.
Enjoy our coast, people.
That's how I feel.
You pay all this money to livehere.
That's what it's all about.
Oh yeah, so all right, anthony,great speaking with you.
We will be in touch and I wishyou nothing but the best.
Anthony Fiolrello (39:45):
You too, my friend, Be well.
Thank you for this opportunity.
George Scocca (39:48):
Yes, thank you.
Well, that wraps up anotherepisode of the New York Fishing
Podcast.
Please be sure to check offthat subscribe button, so this
(40:10):
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Also, be sure to stop bynyanglercom.
We have many real good Sharpieanglers that are willing to help
and assist in any questions youmay have about fishing here in
(40:36):
New York.
Again, thank you all forjoining and until next time.
Tight lines all.
Hello and welcome all to another episode of the
New York Fishing Podcast.
My name is George Gaca and Iwill be your host.
I'd like to start out bythanking all my friends at
NewYorkAnglercom for the finewishes for my 68th birthday the
(00:23):
other day.
So thank you all and Iappreciate everyone's support.
So, as always, there'ssomething always on the horizon,
so I do want to mention threeseparate issues that are on the
plate.
There's always something goingon regarding fisheries
(00:44):
regulations.
It's always been that way.
I'm around this thing 35 yearsand it truly I don't know it
changes.
So, and right now I'm concernedwith what I see coming out of
the DEC on this land-based sharkfishing regulation.
(01:07):
There's also news on thestriped bass front, and we have
more saltwater fishing licensenews for you.
So, for those of you thataren't aware, the state is about
ready to get out a survey onwhat you would like to see them
(01:34):
spend the money on that they'regoing to raise by charging us
for a fishing license.
I personally am opposed to it,but I always have been.
I kind of just never trustwhere the money's going to go.
But I'm not here to influenceyou in any way, manner or form.
(01:56):
This is a decision you're goingto have to make.
The one thing I do ask is thatyou dig deep into the money and
think about the one.
I mean, there's quite a fewthings in there that bother me,
but one of the biggest things isrequiring the money from that
(02:27):
fund to pay for DEC lawenforcement.
I don't see why recreationalanglers, or anyone for that
matter, should pay for any typeof enforcement.
I want to see triple theenforcement out there.
I really do, but I don't wantto.
(02:48):
Why should we pay for it?
They're not just out therechecking recreational fishermen.
So just please think about that.
I'm going to get more into that.
You know there's other issuesboat ramps.
Are we the only ones that areusing boat ramps?
There are some good things inthere.
(03:09):
I love the idea of a fishingpier.
I know I keep saying it, butwhy are there these gorgeous
ocean fishing piers up and downthe coast?
And here we are in one of thegreatest fishing spots of the
world with an opportunity toopen the eyes of many anglers
(03:30):
and give them the opportunity tofish off an ocean pier.
I don't know why we don't haveone.
I'm not saying, hey, let's geta license so we can have a pier.
But what I am saying is, when Ilook at the numbers, it's like
half of the money is going to gotowards enforcement.
(03:51):
So I mean, look, I could bewrong about that, it could be
more, it could be less.
I guess we'll see as it comesout.
But watch for the survey.
It's probably going to be outin another week or two.
I do know that it's almost inthe budget.
(04:11):
It's been talked about thatmuch and they do want it and I'm
afraid that it is going tohappen.
A lot of people say, hey, whydon't you?
Guys should pay.
Everybody else pays, we do pay.
We pay 10% in excess tax forWallop Bro on everything you buy
(04:40):
.
You probably don't know that,but when you buy a $200 real,
it's really only $180 bucks.
You're paying the rest as a tax.
So we do, we do pay.
Not to mention we drum upbillions and billions of dollars
.
Oh, look, sounds like I'mtalking out of it.
(05:01):
I guess I kind of am, but I'mnot trying to do that.
I want you to make sure youlook at the survey and then
think about it, think abouteverything.
Is it fair?
What is it fair to spend themoney on?
What's fair what's important toyou and I'd like to point out.
(05:28):
Well, I'm going to do that atanother time.
The other news is Stripe Bass,the Stripe Bass board.
It looks like they're going tohold strong with what they have
in place now for next year.
I mean, this is premature.
They haven't said it, but it'sbeen floated.
(05:50):
I don't know, is it just me?
But how could we be fishing oneyear class over two years?
How does that work?
You've got to be fishing twoyear classes, that other year
class coming up.
(06:10):
What was it?
2010,?
Something that's the one we'regoing to be whacking on now.
I don't get it.
So that's the other thing.
But the big issue in my mindright now and it is a huge issue
(06:33):
is the state recommendations onland-based shark fishing.
Now, I've got to tell you I'venever done this.
I don't know a heck of a lotabout it.
The one thing I do know ispeople that do it love it, and
(06:59):
when I see photos, videos, whenI hear about it, when I meet the
people, I know these people arecaring for those fish as well
as anyone.
So I started looking into thiswhole thing and the biggest
(07:19):
issue I have is there's no onesaying, okay, we're doing this
to save this and we're doingthat to save that, and we have
evidence that there's a bycatchthat's happening or the fish
have float north dead.
I mean, obviously we're notseeing the fish, we don't see
(07:41):
the sharks come floating up onshore.
Does that mean anything?
I don't know.
But if it was that bad, I'mguessing you'd hear something or
see something, rather.
But when you look at this thing,you take it from a bird's eye
view and you look down and youjust listen to what they're
(08:02):
saying.
You can't use a drone to drop abait.
Why is that?
Why can't they use a drone?
You can't use.
You have to use spinning tacklebecause you have to cast.
You're not going to be castinganything too far on a pen, 80 or
(08:26):
50.
I don't even know what you guysuse.
You can't drop a bait on akayak.
Why?
Why is this?
Did the government come downand say, hey, you guys got this
huge problem?
Got a couple of hundred peoplethat are catching and releasing
sharks from the beach, that aredestroying the fishery, while in
(08:48):
the meantime there's miles andmiles of long lines killing
these sharks every day of theweek.
So I feel like there's no oneto look again.
Show me what you're doing.
Show me what you're trying tosay.
Don't tell me that the guy in aboat can use a drone.
(09:10):
A guy in a boat could dowhatever he wants.
The guy in a boat is not goingto have a hook restriction,
which makes no sense.
You know they.
I listened in on this hearingthere was the other night and I
was really excited to see andhear a group of anglers that
(09:34):
they obviously were on the samepage.
They knew each other, but theyknow the fishery and you know
these are the people that aredoing it.
And you know they brought up somany facts and I mean, look,
does it make sense to force themto use light tackle?
I, you know it's.
(09:54):
It's.
You're literally trying toreduce the number of sharks they
can catch, period.
And I hope that's not becauseof the recent shark attacks,
because everyone knows that hasnothing to do with it.
But you can't help but thinkthat.
(10:16):
So, as an angler, I'm going toget back to this.
We have rights and, first ofall, the shark fishery is
managed on a federal level.
So I don't know why.
I know, yes, we could put inregs and this and that, but I
don't know why we're doing this.
(10:37):
I did a lot of digging and Idid find a study.
It wasn't a lot of sharks, andthe every bull and tiger and
some type of brown or whateverwas Sambo shark.
They all lived, every singleone of them.
(10:58):
The few that died were spinnersharks.
Now, that's the only study Icould find.
Now this is in Texas, wherethey're doing it year round in
much warmer waters.
So why are we doing this?
That's what I want to know.
We are recreational fishermen.
(11:19):
These guys are out there.
You know, it's their passion.
They care about the life of thefish more than most people.
So why are we going to stop this?
You know, and let's think aboutthe guy that can't afford to
charter a boat for a couple ofthousand dollars because that's
(11:39):
what it is Between 1500 and 2500to go shark fishing.
Not many people can afford that.
So we're going to take thisshark opportunity away from
these people altogether.
(11:59):
Not to mention, a lot of peopledon't want to go offshore.
They'll get seasick.
Why are we stopping them fromdoing this?
Why are we forcing a minimumsize, a maximum size, rather, on
(12:20):
the leader In Florida.
They have a minimum size.
On the leader In Florida theyhave a minimum size on the hook.
Who ever heard of a maximumsize on a hook?
Who's?
I've never heard of that and itjust doesn't make sense.
It makes you believe that hookis going down and going to gut
(12:45):
that fish, but it's almost likeyou're hoping that small hook
won't hook the fish so you don'tcatch them.
That's what I see.
I could be wrong, but I seethis as a infringement on our
(13:10):
rights, recreational fishermen'srights.
Who are they to tell us how farwe could send a bait?
Think about that for a minute.
What's going to happen?
The next thing they're going todo, they're going to tell you
hey, sorry, no, live scanners.
I mean, that's so-and-a-lot ofstuff works too well.
(13:31):
You're going to be able tocatch too many fish with that.
You're not going to be able touse that.
I mean, think about it.
That's what they're doing Now.
I don't know why they can't sitdown and talk to these guys.
They claim there arerepresentatives out there in
organizations that truly I'm nottrying to knock anybody, but
(13:56):
come on, they don't holdmeetings.
I mean, when we hadorganizations, we'd have 100
people at a meeting.
That's not happening anymore.
And yet they're out there andquoted in the documentation as
supporting it.
Nobody's going to tell you whythey support it, because most of
(14:18):
those people that support it,there's a certain amount of surf
fishermen that can't stand thisshark fishery.
We get that, but years ago youstuck together, that's what you
did, but they're not doing thatright now.
So just think about what they'redoing, what they're saying.
(14:43):
It's so obvious.
They don't want you to bring ashark on the beach.
Why is that, and isn't thereanother way?
I mean, look, if it is becausethey don't want to frighten
beachgoers, maybe they can worksomething out.
(15:06):
And when there's no life Godthere, they could fish.
People aren't supposed to be inthe water anyway.
So, look, I have never, everseen a regulation come out like
out of the blue for no reasonwhatsoever.
(15:31):
Federal government's not doingit.
Florida does it totallydifferent.
They do it year round.
I kind of want to go with whatthey're doing.
Why do we think our idea offighting the fish longer, using
the smaller hook, not being ableto use a drone, I mean come on.
(15:57):
Why do you think that's goingto be better for the shark?
It's not Because the few fishthat they are going to get in
are going to be so tired and soshot from that fight that
they're going to die.
And please stop worrying abouttaking the shark out for a photo
(16:22):
please, because we all knownext we're going to hear you can
take a striped bass out of thewater for a picture.
That's coming.
So I have a guest that I wouldlike you, like you all, listen
in on.
He knows a lot more about thisshark fishery.
(16:45):
You know land-based sharkfishery than I do, and I heard
him the other day.
He was very well spoken at thehearing which, by the way, I
wasn't used to as I go to a lotof these hearings and, oh man, I
think these video things aremuch better idea.
But yeah, he did kind ofexplain a lot of things that I
(17:11):
wanted to hear.
I'd like to welcome our guest,anthony Fiorello.
He is a surf fisherman who hasspent some time targeting sharks
along the beach and I heard himthe other night.
He was accompanied by a numberof folks that brought across
(17:32):
some really good pointsregarding these current
regulations that are beingproposed.
So, anthony, I'd like to grasp,or capture the excitement of
this fishery and how you gotinvolved and where you're at now
.
Anthony Fiolrello (17:50):
Well, I'm three, 54 and about three or
four months and I have beenfishing for now probably close
to 50 years.
I got my first fish very youngin a local lake in Queens, New
York, and that really set me offon a lifetime of fishing and
fishing and since then I've hadfish much of New York and I have
(18:13):
enjoyed this state and what thestate has to offer in fishing
and I have really introduced myyoung sons we refer to ourselves
as the Three Amigo Fish Cluband my two sons, 10 and seven,
are average fishermen and weenjoy it.
I really want to pass thingsalong to them, as I think most
(18:35):
parents, dads who might besportsmen like, particularly
with the outdoors.
This is what we want to do andwe're well on our way to be in
handcuffed by the state.
George Scocca (18:47):
So let me ask you this so the first time you take
your son fishing and you hookup on a shark and you bring it
up the beach, bring it up on thebeach what was that like and
what was that feeling like?
And I don't know too many kidsthat have witnessed that and I'm
(19:10):
curious of the.
To me this is just a wonderfulintroductory fishery and I'm
wondering what it was like andwhat it's like to be as lucky as
you to be able to fish withthese sons like that.
Anthony Fiolrello (19:24):
Well, it's pretty exciting For one when
you're fishing and, like mostshore based anglers, know
there's a little bit of pot luckinvolved and you know you're
out there on the best days andthe best times.
You really don't know what'shappening with that bait that's
down there.
And it is exciting when thefish is within range and it's in
(19:45):
a roll or wave and you can seethat thin, you know, and that's
when the kids go wild and you'llhear them yell shark instead of
stingray.
And then the fish comes to theshore and it's an incredible,
incredible feeling to see thiscreature come out of the water
and you know you have the utmostrespect for it and an instant
(20:08):
bond is created between you andthe fish and we are really just
get the hook out, get thepicture and get them right back
in there where he belongs.
It's really an incredible,incredible feeling.
My kids they've done pretty wellfrom the beach.
They like their bass, theirfluke, but he's got a dusky.
(20:28):
We got a big surprise, a blacktip last week and they've got
loads of sand sharks, you know,to their roll, but each and
every one of them.
It's incredibly, incrediblyexciting.
George Scocca (20:42):
Yeah, so that's the way I see the fishery.
Now, you know, there's newregulations which are being
proposed.
I noticed that a lot of folksthat spoke at the hearing the
other night were talking aboutthe Florida educational program,
and I am a huge proponent ofeducating anglers.
(21:04):
I truly believe that they wantto learn, and you know, since
then I looked into it and it'sdefinitely something New York
should have.
The other things I looked into,you know, florida is a year
round shark fishery.
Right, they've been doing thisfor a very long time and when I
(21:25):
look at their eggs they'realmost like opposite.
They have what's being proposed.
They have a four foot minimumlength on the leader, whereas
New York is talking about onefoot.
And also the fact that youcan't, you know, drop the bait
(21:45):
will force you to use lightertackle.
You know meaning spinningtackle, you know so it's hard to
gauge what the DEC is trying togain here, but what would be
your take on those proposals?
Anthony Fiolrello (22:04):
Well, for one .
You know from the verybeginning, in every aspect of
our lives, personal orprofessional education goes a
long way.
You know, it's easy you get aguy fish, he eats for a day.
You teach a guy to fish, he'sfor a lifetime.
If you teach people and youshow them and you instruct them,
you know they feel like they'repart of something in a bigger
(22:26):
scale.
You know, uh, now, with respectto florida, I think that they're
, they're on the right track.
Uh, they use heavier gearbecause they are concerned about
the survivability of the fishpost catch.
Uh, what new york is trying todo is to try to lighten the
tackle.
So I think that the fishdoesn't really.
I have a chance to come toshore and it's not.
(22:48):
If it does, it's going to be amuch longer fight.
It's really going to exhaustthe fish.
I I'm not so certain that thatis going to work out.
I, if you can use to me and I'mnot the only one that the
greater concern here is theamount of shark sightings, and I
think they're trying tocorrelate that to the few guys
(23:09):
that are on the beach.
You know, fishing with bunkerchunks, that we're the ones
attracting them, and I thinkthese regs are being put in
place to make it nearlyimpossible to try to catch a
shark will be such a deterrentthat the average fisherman just
says you know, I'm not even abother yeah, I think you know I
think I think the average, Ithink you know more.
(23:31):
I would say that just abouteverybody that attended uh that
they dc uh event is aware ofthat.
I, I think we it, that's it.
That's the elephant in the roomthat no one really wants to
talk about any distance sharksightings and the dc is under
pressure from people up abovesaying listen, uh, we gotta do
something.
What can we do?
George Scocca (23:52):
I think I would like to be.
You know, I got to go and I gotsad, but I kind of agree with
you, and the main reason is noone's telling us what, why
they're doing it.
No one, not a single wellperson, has said why explain
that?
They haven't said they'retrying to save this thing.
I don't know the one linethat's gas me.
(24:13):
As they say they want to beable to make it easier to
enforce the regulations.
I don't get that.
Anthony Fiolrello (24:21):
I don't get the whole thing I, I don't get
that either on.
You know, make it easier toenforce the regulation.
It would suggest that they're,you know they're going to be
walking the beach measuring hooksizes for one.
You know you don't want me, Idon't target a particular fish.
You know I, like many peoplesaid, I got to fish for what the
(24:42):
, the ocean will provide.
You know, I think it's wrong,uh, that that they're trying to
do this to us.
It didn't end the, if I, if Ihave read you know what the dc
wants to do.
They could clearly stipulatedoes not affect the folks
fishing from a vessel.
So you know, you have a guy ina boat.
(25:03):
He has the latest technologies.
He could see fish in the water,he has the most equipment
because he can store it.
Uh, he has the greater uhability to traverse a bigger
area.
Uh, he's not doing anything tothis, uh, this shark issue that
we have.
But it is the poor guy on thebeach with one pole and one bag
of bait.
He's the one doing this.
(25:24):
I don't think so I.
I I think it's trying to showthat they're doing something,
but doing what?
George Scocca (25:30):
tell us what.
They would tell us what we'redoing right.
So, like doing what the heckare we doing?
They have no studies.
I read one study, uh, where theonly sharks that would die and
were spinner sharks, uh all but,and it was conducted down in uh
texas somewhere, and it's theonly land-based uh study I could
(25:52):
find you know.
So tell us why you're doing itand what you're trying to
achieve and, uh, what you'resaving, because you know
recreational anglers they're.
They're open to save anything.
You know I mean, you know thatas well as I do.
Um, we will, we'll do whateverwe have to do, but give us a
(26:16):
reason this to me to say youcan't use a drone to drop a bait
.
Well, is it better to drop thebait shorter to bring the shark
in closer, or is it uh betterand it's gonna make it harder
for you to catch?
Anthony Fiolrello (26:35):
it's almost like they don't want you to land
the fish and it's not becausethey don't want to see them now
if they don't want that fishmaking it to the shore, so the
the smaller hook size, thelighter tackle, the leader that
can most likely break off.
Uh, you know, the inability tokayak or use a drone.
All of those things amount toone thing that fish is not going
(26:58):
to make it to the shore.
And the people that are sittingthree hundred yards down in
their time you, but how much aswell for a lot better.
Uh, they don't have to tell usanything.
They're going to do what theywant to do if we don't put up a
fight, and they're going to beable to tell people in a press
release we have changed thefishing regulations in a chance
to try to make things better foreverybody.
(27:20):
They're not going to tell us,they're going to do to us.
They're going to tell everybodyelse that may not be as
educated as we are about fish.
They're going to tell them thisis what we have done for you.
George Scocca (27:31):
Yeah yeah, no, that's exactly what's going to
happen.
Well, look, I hope it doesn't.
I wish we had a couple oflegislators on those calls,
although they were recorded andI have reached out to a few
people to listen to them,because you need a legislator at
this point to step in and say,whoa, what's going on?
(27:53):
Let's just put the brakes onfor a second and take a look at
this thing.
But I've seen this happen timeand again and it just seems like
it's so far advanced and look,I'm not trying to knock the ec
here, but you know they sent usa signal not too long ago.
When you know they put in thoseemergency regs on striped bass.
(28:15):
They could have waited andgiven us and when I say what us,
I talk the entire industry acouple of days a week, something
.
Not bang, it's over, but itseems, you know, like nobody,
like Cuomo back in the day.
But I tell you what that guy.
He loved fishermen, he was afisherman, he always took care
(28:37):
of us, and now we have the totalopposite and you're gonna find
out I think it's next week orthe week after they're gonna ask
you for a fishing license, sothey're gonna ask you to pay to
not be able to catch thosesharks.
That's what's coming, what'scoming next week.
So they will actually survey.
Anthony Fiolrello (29:01):
Well, if I'm not mistaken, the slot just to
go into the striped bass alittle bit that the slot size or
this new slot size we have thatcame from up above, that came
from the Atlantic States fisheryacross the board, correct?
George Scocca (29:14):
Yes, that had to be done.
Anthony Fiolrello (29:17):
When you think about that, you say to
yourself you know, at leastwe're not the only ones, at
least it's not New Yorkoverstepping its boundaries, at
least it's not the New Yorkfishermen alone that are gonna
save striped bass for the wholecountry.
Right In the case, what theyhave now that the EEC wants to
do, it's just us, it's just thefew guys in New York that are on
(29:39):
the beach.
It's just for us.
George Scocca (29:42):
So how long do you guys, how long is your
season?
Anthony Fiolrello (29:48):
Well, we go.
I pretty much go from, I wouldsay, you know, the opening of
the season in spring and Iprobably fish all the way into
October, november.
The kids started getting alittle chilly in November.
I mean, they're pretty good,but you know I don't want to
catch colds.
We go well into the fall andthen we wrap it up and then we
(30:08):
take all the tackle out in themiddle of the winter and just
hold it and just dream about usgetting back on the beach there.
George Scocca (30:14):
Yeah, yeah, and I'm sure you're spending on
tackle and just like everybodyelse.
Anthony Fiolrello (30:19):
Well, just like everybody else and the guy
in the bait shop is gonna feelit when you know his three to
500 guys a month come in and allspend $15 or $20 less.
George Scocca (30:32):
Well, you know, I've spoken to six different
tackle shop owners on this issueand they don't get.
Nobody gets it.
No one gets it.
No, no, you know, and it kindof feels like you know, it's one
of these things that are gonnaramp down on the roads.
I'm hoping that they don't andyou know who knows for sure.
(30:55):
But you know, when you gotgroups and I'm not trying to
knock anybody, because you knowI know everybody involved in
these organizations but you knowwe've become so micro, these
groups, that you actually havesurf fishermen that are agreeing
with this, but in most casesthey're surf fishermen that have
never done it before and theyfind you getting in the way.
(31:18):
So you know, I understandwhat's happening.
It's like you get all of asudden Liby is in support of I
don't believe that they are, bythe way, but as far as the
coalition, they do, so they aresupportive of the rules.
Who are they talking to and whodo they represent?
I'm not buying.
Anyone represents 5,000 people.
(31:41):
I don't buy it.
Anthony Fiolrello (31:44):
No, I don't believe they have our best
interests at heart.
George Scocca (31:47):
Yeah, yeah, and you know what.
Liby, bill and Nicky was agreat friend of mine.
He's gone.
And Willie Young, who startedcoalition he was a good friend
of mine, always meant well,these guys.
And now we have people sittingon the Emmerich committee and
guys I'm not knocking you, butyou're like lifelong freaking
politicians.
(32:08):
You know you remind me of theNancy Pelosi's of the world
you've been around forever.
It's time to start listening tothe anglers that are on the
beach and you know that might beworth a shot.
I think I'm gonna put some upon our website.
Mention something later in thispodcast with direct emails to
(32:31):
the people on Emmerich who willhave a huge say in what happens
here.
And you know there's one ofthem there, charlie Widdick, who
is a good friend of mine.
A lot of people you know theydon't like his.
I don't know his managementstyle, but I got to wonder if he
(32:51):
is in support of this.
You know he's a smart guy andanyone knows lighter tackle
right, smaller hook is going toresult in more dead sharks.
It's just a fact.
That's correct.
You know so well, look, I again.
You know I'm sorry for what youguys are going through.
(33:13):
Next time, you know, maybe youneed to somehow be better
organized, but I wouldn't giveup yet, and-.
Anthony Fiolrello (33:20):
No, I'm not giving up.
If you put anything on that, ifyou list anything, I'll be
making phone calls of my own.
You know, to try to do whateverI can do.
I don't want to see itrubber-stamped without a fight.
George Scocca (33:32):
Well, I appreciate that, because a lot
of people they don't want tofight and sometimes they have to
, and you know what?
It's not a fight, maybe it'sjust an education thing.
I think I know I'm taken bysurprise by the amount of
support that you guys aregetting, considering the people
that are opposed to it.
(33:52):
You know that.
Rather that, support it.
So, yeah, yeah, I think you gota shot, an outside shot, but I
need someone to say well, we'rekilling it, they can't say it.
They can't say it because it'snot happening.
It's all about perception.
Anthony Fiolrello (34:11):
I asked repeatedly yeah, I've asked
repeatedly for the data.
I need the data to support yourproposals and it just falls on
deaf ears over and over.
I've called it the.
You see it does at times.
Where's the data?
Where is the data?
Where's the data?
We don't have the data, Justthat's it, no data.
George Scocca (34:29):
Yeah.
Anthony Fiolrello (34:30):
They're doing this for the people on the
beach.
They're not doing it foranybody else.
It's the elephant in the room.
The shark sightings, the sharksightings, the shark sightings.
Oh, what do we got?
We got a few hundred anglers.
They're fishing for sharks.
They're bringing them in.
You know, the sharks are there.
The bait is there.
You know we're seeing moreblack tips.
We're seeing the cobia I gotsome cobia in the back bay last
(34:50):
year.
The fish are there.
Yeah, the fish are there.
And you know what?
The bait is certainly there andthe water is cleaner.
You're talking to a person whohas spent 26 years working
cleaning water in one of thebiggest wastewater treatment
plants in New York.
The water is clean.
We're doing everything andeverybody is the recipient of
(35:11):
this.
You've got people enjoying thewater from a number of different
ways From the beach, from theboat, scuba, a lot of
water-based recreational sportsand the one guy that pays the
price is the guy that schlepsout his beach caught onto the
beach.
He's the guy that has to payfor it.
That's not fair.
George Scocca (35:30):
No, it is not, and hopefully we've got the EC
listening and you know they'llget that.
You're not just speaking foryourself.
I know you had a bunch offriends and you guys probably
all know each other.
You know kind of like tunafishing men that are sharing
things.
You know you have your littlegroup there but it doesn't take
(35:54):
that many people.
But you've got to be vocal andyou've got to plug in to the
right people.
So we'll be in touch.
I have your number now.
You have my number now and Ireally appreciate you coming on
Because I wanted that side of itand, believe me, it's my
pleasure.
I've been doing this for 35years, so it's been.
(36:17):
But let me tell you we've had alot of close wins but so many
losses.
But we have three big winsright.
One was maximum 20 fishblackfish limit commercial
that's still holding tight andthe strike bass limit they are
not allowed to take commerciallyover a million pounds and the
(36:41):
bunker bill which we passed.
So things can get done becauseall legislators listen.
Anthony Fiolrello (36:49):
So we're going to get them involved.
You put that information outthere and I'm sure myself and
quite a lot of other peoplewe'll make the necessary calls.
They're going to hear us.
We're going to go down with thebest fight possible.
But this is everybody needs toknow that this is really the
beginning of the end for shorebass fishermen, because what
(37:11):
they want to do is not going towork and then they're going to
just keep clamping down furtherand further until it's over.
George Scocca (37:20):
Yeah, sadly, I agree, and there's no need for
it.
There's got to be a way, likeyou said.
Maybe I mean, look, I don'tknow anything about it, but
maybe you limit it to a nightfishery or something, or hours
of people are not on the beach.
Anthony Fiolrello (37:37):
You can go out there and fish and use the
equipment that you're accustomedto using, but you got to use it
when the lifeguards are offduty, right, because when the
lifeguards are off duty, youshouldn't be in that water
anyway.
George Scocca (37:49):
Right, that's true.
Anthony Fiolrello (37:51):
So when the lifeguards are there, you're
mandated to use a certain hooksize and do as the mandate says.
But once those lifeguards arenot there, you can fish a little
bit more freely.
They should try somethingbefore just ramming it down off
the boat, because it is notgoing to work and you're going
to give people a false sense ofsecurity by doing this and then
(38:13):
they're going to go in thatwater and if there is an
interaction with the shark, it'snot going to have anything to
do with anybody, just the way itdoesn't have to do with us.
Now, right, you're mandating us, you're hurting us, you're
depriving us, you're regulatingus and at the same time, you're
selling a false sense ofsecurity to the beachgoer about
sharks.
George Scocca (38:34):
Well, I'll give you an example of that the woman
who got bit.
What was it two days ago InRockaway?
There's no surf fishing there.
There's nobody.
Shark in there None, not asingle person.
I already checked that thereare no shark fishermen there.
Anthony Fiolrello (38:51):
I looked at that too.
I was wondering, and somefeedback we got the people
exchanging information.
Afterwards there weren't anyfishermen anywhere.
No, if you're doing this to usjust to tell everybody it's safe
to go into the water, that'snot right.
You can go into the water, bemindful of your lifeguards,
(39:12):
follow what the flags say.
But if you see me 100 yardsdown, I'm not doing anything.
See, I'm just minding mybusiness, trying to have a good
time with my kids.
George Scocca (39:21):
Exactly, and enjoy what I mean.
We live on an island.
Enjoy our coast, people.
That's how I feel.
You pay all this money to livehere.
That's what it's all about.
Oh yeah, so all right, anthony,great speaking with you.
We will be in touch and I wishyou nothing but the best.
Anthony Fiolrello (39:45):
You too, my friend, Be well.
Thank you for this opportunity.
George Scocca (39:48):
Yes, thank you.
Well, that wraps up anotherepisode of the New York Fishing
Podcast.
Please be sure to check offthat subscribe button, so this
(40:10):
way you know you're notifiedeach time that a new episode
comes out.
Also, be sure to stop bynyanglercom.
We have many real good Sharpieanglers that are willing to help
and assist in any questions youmay have about fishing here in
(40:36):
New York.
Again, thank you all forjoining and until next time.
Tight lines all.
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