Spot on video!! I just yesterday came back from a week on Core Sound and caught my limit of one flounder on two days. I've watched the fishery be destroyed. As a legislator back in the mid-90's, I signed onto a bill to ban netting in the sounds. I spoke at a press conference on the issue and they had bused many commercial guys--quite a hostile group. You are right in that they are the ones getting hurt the most. I've been flounder gigging/fishing the Drum Inlet area for over 50 years now. I am one of the old guys. I remember seeing some guys with nets in the campground we stayed in back in the 80's with Texas license tags. I asked the campground owner what they were doing and he said netting flounder. It has been downhill ever since then. Hopefully the lawsuit will be the answer to help find the truth. As you have found out, you can't depend on Republican or Democrat lawmakers to solve the problem. Very, very few lawmakers actually fish the inshore waters in NC and they must rely on someone else to give them advice. The "public trust" waters of NC are now to serve just a handful of big money people and you found that out. Keep up the good work. Maybe truth will prevail one day.
I got choked up reading this. Your words of encouragement mean a great deal to me. I harbor no ill will towards anyone involved here. Not even those that have bent our systems to extract personal fortunes from a public resource. I'm not enough of an idealist to think that there's a man alive standing at the top of an industry with a totally clean conscience. One thing is for sure, if we're going to have any hope of turning this thing around it's going to take the majority of both sides to squeeze the money it'll take to fix it out of our elected officials when the vast majority of them are not from the coast. I just worry that it may already be too late.
Excellent video. While most of the information has been presented before, it was never in one clean, neat package. Well done. I've been involved in marine fishery management for nearly 35 years and would like to speak with you if possible. I'm glad to see Dennis Reynolds is still fishing and at least keeping his hand in it.
Thank you for investing the time and effort into this video. I tell my friends all the time, we want to complain about how our fishery is managed, but until we hire a lobbyist and go to Raleigh and/or Washington it means nothing. What the average public doesn’t realize, you can complain all you want, but until you contribute to the legislators, you are just wasting oxygen. We’ve got to resolve this between all user groups and the Division of Marine Fisheries is not the place to do it. Do your homework. The Division’s original name was Division of Commercial Fisheries and it’s never changed. Let’s all figure out how to come together or there’s going to be a chain across every boat ramp if we aren’t careful.
Great information. Can't imagine how much time and effort involved. Appreciate all your work. Wish the news would get on board, but I'm sure someone is in their pockets too! Keep it coming!
They have in the past. The video of the MFC meeting was from a WRAL documentary. Let me ask you this. Did you e-mail a legislator or join the CCA? No pressure of course. Just making a point that tons of people can know but the public is generally pretty apathetic about issues like this. It would only take a fraction of the anglers moving together to end this and that is why every other state has done it but we just haven't managed to here. These guys manage to hide behind the small time, family oriented commercial fishermen and women of our state and you can't help but love those people because they're great people! Hopefully, we can cut the head off the snake and also protect those people at the same time.
I applaud your time and effort to put this story out here for all to see! It’s all been camouflaged and hidden for years. Local commercial fishermen have unfortunately caught the blame for damage caused by a few bloated industry giants!!
Thank you but I'm afraid getting me on the news won't help. Taking action is the only thing that will. Every single one of us anglers. The rest of the state won't care enough to act even if they agree its messed up. Join CCA and email a representative. It's way cheaper than a trip to the tackle shop and it'll catch you way more fish in the long run.
This is a gem and you're quite the Columbo. My wife will have to hear that it's not all just conspiracy with these 2 agencies and decades of contradictions. Please, sir do follow thru with the release of the rest of this "series"...it's big time investigative documentary worthy and you have done what many cannot. Maybe I'll see you on the water down here in Topsail. Take care and I'll be looking for your next upload. Subscribed
Thank you so much for investing you time into making this video. I just subscribed and look forward to your upcoming videos. My wife and I live in the WNC mountains but love to come down to the coast. Your video clarifies some of the obscure answers to the questions I’ve been thinking about how NC coastal fisheries stack up to our neighbors. I’ll happily do my part in membership and outreach to our state’s representatives. Thank you again. Keep it up.
Thank you so much for your support. With the amount of people we've got moving there's a chance we won't have to wait for CCA lawsuit. The most important thing is that this message reaches as many people as possible for now.
@@FishingwithBrewski it’s unfortunate because I would love to target flounder in NC waters but the season limitations push our recreation to South Carolina. I can imagine some people would have pleased to hear that us mountain residents are going elsewhere but it’s not a good thing. I joined the CCA last night. Definitely a good cause because the money we invest into licensure should absolutely be used for conservation of the resources.
I’ve fished coastal nc waters my entire life, and I have fished some in Va and SC. The Oceanside of the eastern shore of Virginia and the low country in South Carolina both have lights out flounder fishing.
Thanks for working on this and putting it out there, Steve. The money trail in particular was really interesting and I hate to admit, I didn't know much about the power structure. Keep it man, hope to run into you on the water again one of these days.
WOW! Talk about eye opening… Every single topic that most of us allege with our fishing buddies, you have validated. Thank you for your time and effort making this, it shows your love for our fishery.
The same thing is been going on in Florida so glad you are showing this I am 66 years old and this exactly the same here keep up the great work you are doing 💯💯 now I am a new sub 👍
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't NC the only state that still allows gill nets/trawling in estuaries. I recall hearing about Florida ending them and their Red Drum population recovered incredibly! Of course, now we they've jacked up the Blue Fish fishery; BLUE FISH!
We allow gill nets a lot more extensively than other states do for sure and we're dang sure the only state where you can net protected waters an infinite number of times and not lose your license. That said, my perspective on a gill net is one that might surprise you. Anchored nets that are left are wasteful and they need to be gone. But strike netting where the fish are scared into the net or corralled is at least nearly as clean as hook and line. The only issue with it is that it is INCREDIBLY effective and if the fisherman isn't careful he can wipe out small areas. They do it with speckled trout in New River and sometimes they really hit them hard but they're following the law so you can't be mad at the fisherman.
My pleasure! The real work is going to come later. We're a long way down the wrong path and it's going to take everyone doing their part if we're going to have any hope to recover from more than a century of bad management decisions.
Liking and commenting is NOT ENOUGH… I like your approach on TAKING ACTION. Well done. I’ll be following closely in next steps to get closer. If EVERYONE takes action and gets involved this all changes.
I can see how many people care. If a fraction of those people are willing to take action we might not even need the lawsuit. These guys don't stand at the top of the industry for no reason though. They're incredibly good at what they do and nothing is going to change without a fight.
I believe in Capitalism. I think it's a big part of what makes our country great. So I don't hate these people but they've given me no choice but to take up a position against them.
Gonna spread the word. Thanks for informing even more.Lived and fished here my whole life. This flounder crap has pissed me off since it started. Everything is so crooked and rotten it pisses me off. Gonna do my part . LFG!
That's what I love to hear!! Unfortunately our biggest problem going forward is that many people will spend hours arguing on FB about who's fault this is and very few will take appropriate action to do anything about it. Many of the reps involved are just totally ignorant of the situation. Make sure they hear us!!
Thanks for doing all the research you obviously did here and for your courage and commitment to the environment and a sustainable fishery. There is another way to help: people need to stop supporting and voting for politicians who are climate change deniers and conspiracy supporters. Stop voting for politicians who only care about staying in power. As long as the top dogs control the people below them, you have to start at the top to make real change. Because this problem is universal (I am not even a N.C. resident and my blood is boiling). If people really want change in the areas that really matter, they must stop voting single issues that don't really make a real difference in the lives of most people. Whether someone is pro or anti abortion, for example, has nothing to do with protecting our fisheries and the environment. Vote to save the planet first.
The first time Cooper won Gov of NC he had fisheries reform as a key part of his platform and it most definitely made the difference in the election. Money seems to have completely changed his mind. I'll be asking the up and coming candidates for Gov of NC how they feel about this and asking that they speak openly about their plans to deal with it before the election.
Again, thanks for your efforts to make a change for the better. It does take the fear of not getting elected/reelected to office for the candidates/politicians to vote for the right cause. @@FishingwithBrewski
There's a video out there that's native to Facebook. The FB algorithm will bury youtube shares because it takes people away from their site. Thanks so much! Email your legislators and help the CCA if you can. Knowledge is meaningless without action!
It's actually been all over the media for over a century. I have newspaper articles from 1916 of local fishermen protesting bycatch in the shrimp fishery.
You're welcome! Please know that the majority of the politicians are just as clueless or more so than the average fisherman. They're just backing the people that are backing them.
I'm glad I lucked into this video. Thank you for this information. Im with you 100% about this. Its all about the money of the few. I know there are hard working commercial fishermen out there who follow the rules and regulations. I have already shared your video with my brother in law and my nephew, who, like me, are avid outdoorsmen, in hunting and fishing.
Thank you for sharing! More to come along with a plan of action. Stick with me and maybe one day you can tell your nephew about how we toppled a giant so that his generation could reap the benefits.
Great information, Johnston County here, I fish our inshore waters a bunch, I remember when we could catch lots of nice sized croker, gray trout, striped bass, and many other species. It’s sad that alot of my friends as well as myself go to Virginia to catch big croker and stripers………..I’ve never had any animosity against the netters, just the rule makers. I’ve considered joining the cca many times but after seeing this video I for sure will…… I’ve always known it is more political and about those making big money off of it. You have given me more information in this video than I’ve ever known about, my primary care doctor is a member and actually has a letter on the wall in the main lobby urging people interested to join and he also is a serious inshore fisherman. I will be signing up for sure and thank you for posting this…….. tight lines brother
Thank you. I will continue to try and scream the truth louder than they can scream the lies but screaming has never moved a mountain. Only action can do that. Thank you so much for standing with me.
Those came from other states where the size limit is lower. A lower size limit would actually be healthier for our population because male flounder only grow to maybe 16” maximum, so we’re killing only females.
Wow! Very informative. A billion pounds of juvenile fish could easily be a 10 billion pounds of adult fish in just one season. Thanks for posting. Our legislature also just decided it is not littering to dump tons of dead fish (by-catch) back into the sound.
My avatar may be from my Texas home, but I've been in ENC since 2001, and this is now home. I've been saying this for years about the trawlers. I'm with you...something HAS to change. Looking fwd to future videos.
Heard you today on with Joe Simmons at Salt Strong and had to look deeper into this. I’m literally sick to my stomach right now. Although I’m not from NC but I do vacation there every year and wish to move there at some point in my life. I am willing to do whatever it takes to assist I stopping this hiatus act of trawling. If you ever need any assistance please I would love to get involved beyond calling legislatures.
Shoot me a text with your name and some basic info and I'll let you know how you can help when the time comes. 910-581-4415. Until then, sharing my videos and leaving likes and comments always help the YT algorithm to push the message out to more people.
Crooked politicians? Oh me, oh my. I grew up in NC, and have fished most of my 68 years. The blatant mis-management of our fisheries is criminal. We all know money talks, and it is fairly obvious that the big money is coming from the commercial sector, and most of it is going to Republican lawmakers, who by the way hold a super majority in both the House and the Senate.
Excellent journalism. You just did the work and presented what you found. I dabble in motion graphics, so let me know if I can help you in the future. This is a cause I can get behind.
Thank you. I never knew how difficult of a job this could be. I did this with three kids, a wife, a full time job, and a youtube channel 😄. Only took me about 9 months. If you wanna help just join CCA, back the lawsuit and email a rep. I'd take help in the motion graphics dept as well. As you can see, my editing skills are not amazing. Shoot me an email. Stbbrewster@gmail.com
Until we gry the money out of it this will not change unfortunately. Sad we could have a florida like fishery but we trawl and gill net our inshore waters.
Did you e-mail your legislators and join the CCA? The people of Florida took their fishery back! We can do it too. www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators ccanc.org/
@@FishingwithBrewski Been following this for years. part of the CCA and been monitoring the court battle that is current going on. We will see what happens. Money over people is how NC government works on both sides of the aisle.
If you want to thank me. E-mail a legislator or join the CCA and support the lawsuit. Every other state on the coast has kicked the trawls out of their sounds. We can do it to. www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators ccanc.org/
I've heard about what's happening up there from several people. Throughout this learning process I've even had moments where I questioned if our current fish house royalty aren't keeping something even worse at bay.
I’m saddened and disappointed by what has happened in the general waterways for fish and wildlife, I’m at the point where I’m beginning to think we all deserves the same rules, same size limits, same everything. It may mean less fish on the table for the commercial guys but there’s no way they should be keeping the season open for those guys and not for the recreational fisherman.
Thanks, Brewski, great work running this down. I agree with everything except that CCA is our golden knight. I want to support that notion, but maybe they can be more transparent with their plans. If this lawsuit flounders, (pardon the pun) then what do we do? How do we know with 100% assurance that CCA is not just as bad as Fulcher? Other states also worked with the Federal Government to eliminate this type of manipulation. Again- Great Job and Thanks!
I never expected this level of response from people but now that I'm seeing it I would love to do this without the CCA lawsuit. At the time it seemed like the only hope because the sad reality is that most of us are willing to complain on FB or some other forum for hours but won't actually send a single e-mail to a rep. The CCA has taken real action and the lawsuit is a chance to restructure this. It's not a cure all. We still have to get our legislators to hear us and know that we speak the truth. Many legislators are so sick of hearing about it that they just try not to be involved at all.
Do not wish to be a downer here, but the group is in bed with the same group you're fighting. The original group of fishermen had the ears of Mr. Bass now its just about paying off there directors. Not the same group anymore.
Really appreciate your work and supportive evidence. I was told this week that possession of finger mullet is to be unlawful. Is that correct? And Brads logic about licenses doesnt hold water. Yes there are more rec guys but for the head of a commerecial division to insinuate bycatch and mortality is worse for rec than commercial guys is an outright lie. There are less commercial guys because of the big guns ruining the fishery.
That's correct about mullet and it's also another slap in the face to us from the MFC. A large majority of the mullet harvest and used as bait "finger mullet" are actually white mullet and not striped mullet. Striped mullet are the ones in trouble. From what I understand, wildlife has said they will not enforce this ruling. It seems to me that wildlife is fighting for rec fishermen now. Between flounder and now mullet surely this can't be just simple miscommunication.
menhaden boats are screwing up Louisiana fisheries too. Recreational fishermen getting stricter redfish and speckled trout limits while the pogie boats dump millions of them offshore.
Appreciate your effort. Also, I do not know the truth of the matter but I heard the inland troll nets etc. were only allowed during the 1970 oil and gas crisis when it was over all the other states push them off but I cannot find anything to substantiate that, it would go against the entire argument of it is our tradition and we have been doing it for generations too
I'm going to cover this in a later piece but the trawls were in fact banned in many areas long ago in NC and it was the local commercial fishermen that had them banned.
I would get behind the CCA if they would only focus on the large scale commercial trawlers and environmental impacts and loss of critical habitat and not group the small artisanal commercial fishermen with them. Their all or nothing approach is a no go for me and shows me that they are the rich and powerful trying to control the public resources just like the large scale commercial operations.
Also read the book “Wetland Riders” and look into the nonprofit explorer for the CCA. Only 1-5% of their revenue actually goes to conservation projects. it’s mostly a fundraiser for a group of rich guys. I do not get paid for saying this btw but i do notice on most social media anytime a new regulation is brought up there are instant replies like “get rid of commercial fishing” or “the commercial guys killed them all” or “commercial fishing should not be allowed” or “commercial fishing should be banned and recs should be able to sell their bag limits” every time.
It makes me sick to think of trying to run anybody off a job. Especially in this economy. Going down this road has completely changed how I see a gill net. I see this as the only choice I have though. It's CCA or fish house barons and the current road only leads to one destination. The lawsuit, assuming they manage to win, won't give CCA total control. It will only force restructuring of the management system. Look back at the historical MFC votes. Compare limits of neighboring states. This current system is in a strangle hold and it's only benefitting a very small number of people.
With the kind of response I'm seeing from everyone, it may not even be necessary to wait for the lawsuit. I'm thinking the future potential Governor of NC might like the sound of about 10k votes. Unfortunately, Cooper ran on fisheries reform and it quite possibly won him the election. Then he did very little to follow through and I'm sure we can all see why.
There’s tons of finger pointing as to why Stripers are declining in the bay. The real reason is the lack of menhaden in the bay and how Omega protein is allowed to drag seine nets in the Chesapeake killing everything.
@@auggyboy284 You know it's happening you gotta do something! A lot of people don't understand how certain fisheries collapse. Especially in the case of stripers you'll have what appears to be a massive amount of fish still around but the striper spawn is a feeding frenzy for lots of other fish up the rivers and their numbers aren't being reduced by commercial harvests so the spawn will start to be unsuccessful. It might take a few years for your biologists to realize it and by then it might be too late. I just got an update on the Pamlico striper fishery today from our wildlife and last years roughly 40% native striper assessment is now less than 1%. We had 4 spawning populations and now 3 are extinct and the last one isn't looking good.
We have known this lo key for many years. Thanks for providing the proof. Harris Teeter showcases Fulcher on their seafood web offerings. Guess I will be supporting CCA.
Follow the money, let me guess commercial fisherman can harvest flounder, but residents can't. We now have a 6 week closed season here in Fl ruining the flounder run fishing for us, but commercial gingers can still keep 50 fish a night, always the recreational fisherman who takes it in the shooter!
As long as we sit back and just complain, it will always be like that. I don't have an issue with commercial harvest. Harvesting more than what can be sustained is the big issue we face and as long as those who stand to profit get to make the decision of how much we take we're doomed. We can fight till the end of time over who gets the bigger cut because there's no ultimate right answer there.
Hey man shared this video as much as possible this message needs to be heard. I’m local to you I think I may have some content that might could pair well with some of you videos
its crazy seeing them wear hazmat suits to grind naval paint when i worked at a shipping container refurbisher that used the same type of paint used on boats and we only had 3M dust masks
I don't think they're actually full hazmat suits. That's just what the article said. They look more like hoods to me but I'm sure that paint isn't good to be getting in your eyes or lungs.
Planning to ask everyone to reach out to him in the next video. He's been getting contributions from commercial sector for a couple years now so I'm thinking it might already be an uphill battle but I'm hopeful.
The little man can’t keep a couple of flounder to feed his family REAL food, they want you to buy nothing but bull junk! 🤬🤬🤬 They just kill everything and I can’t keep 1 damn flounder except for 2 weeks 🤬🤬🤬
Unfortunately the only way we get out of this is if we can get them to stop AND we stop. From what I've seen so far a complete moratorium is now unlikely to recover the stocks in 10 years time.
Great information keep it up. Scraping the sound flood will wipe out our fishery. Gray trout have been managed for years and no change why is that. The little ones get killed by large shrimping company's. The DMF is a joke.
There are some great people in the DMF. Not many people become marine biologists in the hope of helping an industry that they do not profit from. It's the MFC where the power lies and we've had some great people serve on the commission. They've just always been outnumbered.
Excellent video. I've been involved in marine fishery management for 35 years and have fished in NC for over 50 years. Would like to chat with you if possible.q
Someone who TRULY cares about our waters. I pray that someday NC can have seats that actually care instead of those continuing to prostitute the NC waterways to these Shrimp cartels.
I don't think it's a matter of not caring. I think it's mostly ignorance. This video was just a brief overview and it took 30 mins to present. Generally the only people watching and commenting are really into fishing so we also see the general public doesn't care very much.
I get choked up thinking about all the people like yourself who have lost their livelihood through the last few decades. If I'd been born 20 years earlier I would have definitely become a commercial fisherman after leaving the Marines and I hope that the commercial fishermen who see this understand that I don't hate anyone involved here. Comments like yours make me hopeful that there can be a day where we don't have to pad the wallets of lawyers and politicians. If we ever showed up in Raleigh screaming the same thing the politicians surely wouldn't be able to deny us.
The whole thing makes me want to just fish freshwater. Of course my favorite type of freshwater fishing, yellow perch in Currituck Sound, has been destroyed by commercial fishing. So there's that. Gone from a world class fishery known far and wide to a pathetic shadow of its former self. But, hey, someone made a prophet off the public resource so I shouldn't be reminded of the buffalo hunter of old. 😶
Sounds like you've known for a long time what's going on. Have you supported any organizations trying to stop it? We've got more hope now that ever that we can turn this around so nows the time if you're not already on board.
Thank you and Im working on it! In the mean time please take action! I'm powerless alone. Many before me have screamed at the mountain and yet it still stands. It's going to take an army to move it.
It's an honor. If you wanna thank me, go look up your legislators and email them. Tell them it's time for a change. Without your action, my words are meaningless. Thank you!
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THIS VIDEO DESERVES A MILLION VIEWS
I'll be happy if just ten more people join the fight.
Spot on video!! I just yesterday came back from a week on Core Sound and caught my limit of one flounder on two days. I've watched the fishery be destroyed. As a legislator back in the mid-90's, I signed onto a bill to ban netting in the sounds. I spoke at a press conference on the issue and they had bused many commercial guys--quite a hostile group. You are right in that they are the ones getting hurt the most.
I've been flounder gigging/fishing the Drum Inlet area for over 50 years now. I am one of the old guys. I remember seeing some guys with nets in the campground we stayed in back in the 80's with Texas license tags. I asked the campground owner what they were doing and he said netting flounder. It has been downhill ever since then.
Hopefully the lawsuit will be the answer to help find the truth. As you have found out, you can't depend on Republican or Democrat lawmakers to solve the problem. Very, very few lawmakers actually fish the inshore waters in NC and they must rely on someone else to give them advice. The "public trust" waters of NC are now to serve just a handful of big money people and you found that out. Keep up the good work. Maybe truth will prevail one day.
I got choked up reading this. Your words of encouragement mean a great deal to me. I harbor no ill will towards anyone involved here. Not even those that have bent our systems to extract personal fortunes from a public resource. I'm not enough of an idealist to think that there's a man alive standing at the top of an industry with a totally clean conscience. One thing is for sure, if we're going to have any hope of turning this thing around it's going to take the majority of both sides to squeeze the money it'll take to fix it out of our elected officials when the vast majority of them are not from the coast. I just worry that it may already be too late.
Excellent video. While most of the information has been presented before, it was never in one clean, neat package. Well done.
I've been involved in marine fishery management for nearly 35 years and would like to speak with you if possible.
I'm glad to see Dennis Reynolds is still fishing and at least keeping his hand in it.
This was a lot of information. Thank you for doing the research and taking the time to make this video. 🤘
Thank you! If it gets just a few more people to decide to actually take some action it'll be worth it.
Thank you for investing the time and effort into this video. I tell my friends all the time, we want to complain about how our fishery is managed, but until we hire a lobbyist and go to Raleigh and/or Washington it means nothing. What the average public doesn’t realize, you can complain all you want, but until you contribute to the legislators, you are just wasting oxygen. We’ve got to resolve this between all user groups and the Division of Marine Fisheries is not the place to do it. Do your homework. The Division’s original name was Division of Commercial Fisheries and it’s never changed. Let’s all figure out how to come together or there’s going to be a chain across every boat ramp if we aren’t careful.
Great information. Can't imagine how much time and effort involved. Appreciate all your work. Wish the news would get on board, but I'm sure someone is in their pockets too!
Keep it coming!
They have in the past. The video of the MFC meeting was from a WRAL documentary. Let me ask you this. Did you e-mail a legislator or join the CCA? No pressure of course. Just making a point that tons of people can know but the public is generally pretty apathetic about issues like this. It would only take a fraction of the anglers moving together to end this and that is why every other state has done it but we just haven't managed to here. These guys manage to hide behind the small time, family oriented commercial fishermen and women of our state and you can't help but love those people because they're great people! Hopefully, we can cut the head off the snake and also protect those people at the same time.
I applaud your time and effort to put this story out here for all to see! It’s all been camouflaged and hidden for years. Local commercial fishermen have unfortunately caught the blame for damage caused by a few bloated industry giants!!
Almost everyone involved here is mad about our current situation for sure.
Man I swear. You post facts. How do we get this info out. We need you on the news my guys. Always enjoy watching and listening to you.
Thank you but I'm afraid getting me on the news won't help. Taking action is the only thing that will. Every single one of us anglers. The rest of the state won't care enough to act even if they agree its messed up. Join CCA and email a representative. It's way cheaper than a trip to the tackle shop and it'll catch you way more fish in the long run.
This is a gem and you're quite the Columbo. My wife will have to hear that it's not all just conspiracy with these 2 agencies and decades of contradictions. Please, sir do follow thru with the release of the rest of this "series"...it's big time investigative documentary worthy and you have done what many cannot. Maybe I'll see you on the water down here in Topsail. Take care and I'll be looking for your next upload. Subscribed
Thank you so much for investing you time into making this video. I just subscribed and look forward to your upcoming videos. My wife and I live in the WNC mountains but love to come down to the coast. Your video clarifies some of the obscure answers to the questions I’ve been thinking about how NC coastal fisheries stack up to our neighbors. I’ll happily do my part in membership and outreach to our state’s representatives. Thank you again. Keep it up.
Thank you so much for your support. With the amount of people we've got moving there's a chance we won't have to wait for CCA lawsuit. The most important thing is that this message reaches as many people as possible for now.
@@FishingwithBrewski it’s unfortunate because I would love to target flounder in NC waters but the season limitations push our recreation to South Carolina. I can imagine some people would have pleased to hear that us mountain residents are going elsewhere but it’s not a good thing. I joined the CCA last night. Definitely a good cause because the money we invest into licensure should absolutely be used for conservation of the resources.
I’ve fished coastal nc waters my entire life, and I have fished some in Va and SC. The Oceanside of the eastern shore of Virginia and the low country in South Carolina both have lights out flounder fishing.
Thanks for working on this and putting it out there, Steve. The money trail in particular was really interesting and I hate to admit, I didn't know much about the power structure. Keep it man, hope to run into you on the water again one of these days.
Now you know. Are you ready to help fix it? We're gonna need every last man.
WOW! Talk about eye opening… Every single topic that most of us allege with our fishing buddies, you have validated.
Thank you for your time and effort making this, it shows your love for our fishery.
The same thing is been going on in Florida so glad you are showing this I am 66 years old and this exactly the same here keep up the great work you are doing 💯💯 now I am a new sub 👍
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't NC the only state that still allows gill nets/trawling in estuaries. I recall hearing about Florida ending them and their Red Drum population recovered incredibly!
Of course, now we they've jacked up the Blue Fish fishery; BLUE FISH!
We allow gill nets a lot more extensively than other states do for sure and we're dang sure the only state where you can net protected waters an infinite number of times and not lose your license. That said, my perspective on a gill net is one that might surprise you. Anchored nets that are left are wasteful and they need to be gone. But strike netting where the fish are scared into the net or corralled is at least nearly as clean as hook and line. The only issue with it is that it is INCREDIBLY effective and if the fisherman isn't careful he can wipe out small areas. They do it with speckled trout in New River and sometimes they really hit them hard but they're following the law so you can't be mad at the fisherman.
Gillnetting. Was only used for mullet. In Florida. Outlawed thirty-plus years ago
Thanks for posting this and helping to get the word out. You're doing good work.
My pleasure! The real work is going to come later. We're a long way down the wrong path and it's going to take everyone doing their part if we're going to have any hope to recover from more than a century of bad management decisions.
Liking and commenting is NOT ENOUGH…
I like your approach on TAKING ACTION. Well done. I’ll be following closely in next steps to get closer. If EVERYONE takes action and gets involved this all changes.
I can see how many people care. If a fraction of those people are willing to take action we might not even need the lawsuit. These guys don't stand at the top of the industry for no reason though. They're incredibly good at what they do and nothing is going to change without a fight.
Fantastic video and eye opening information! It's sad. Starting to think that there's not one industry left that hasn't been corrupted.
I believe in Capitalism. I think it's a big part of what makes our country great. So I don't hate these people but they've given me no choice but to take up a position against them.
Gonna spread the word. Thanks for informing even more.Lived and fished here my whole life. This flounder crap has pissed me off since it started. Everything is so crooked and rotten it pisses me off. Gonna do my part . LFG!
That's what I love to hear!! Unfortunately our biggest problem going forward is that many people will spend hours arguing on FB about who's fault this is and very few will take appropriate action to do anything about it. Many of the reps involved are just totally ignorant of the situation. Make sure they hear us!!
Thank you for posting this video. I appreciate you describing what needs to be done.
More to follow. Specific steps to be outlined with each new video.
Thanks for doing all the research you obviously did here and for your courage and commitment to the environment and a sustainable fishery. There is another way to help: people need to stop supporting and voting for politicians who are climate change deniers and conspiracy supporters. Stop voting for politicians who only care about staying in power. As long as the top dogs control the people below them, you have to start at the top to make real change. Because this problem is universal (I am not even a N.C. resident and my blood is boiling). If people really want change in the areas that really matter, they must stop voting single issues that don't really make a real difference in the lives of most people. Whether someone is pro or anti abortion, for example, has nothing to do with protecting our fisheries and the environment. Vote to save the planet first.
The first time Cooper won Gov of NC he had fisheries reform as a key part of his platform and it most definitely made the difference in the election. Money seems to have completely changed his mind. I'll be asking the up and coming candidates for Gov of NC how they feel about this and asking that they speak openly about their plans to deal with it before the election.
Again, thanks for your efforts to make a change for the better. It does take the fear of not getting elected/reelected to office for the candidates/politicians to vote for the right cause. @@FishingwithBrewski
Thank you for this enlightening information and the work you have invested in this very important topic! Please keep up the great work.
More to come!
This was great video. Thank you for all your hard work. It is on FB and Salt strong. We will cont to get this video out everywhere .
There's a video out there that's native to Facebook. The FB algorithm will bury youtube shares because it takes people away from their site. Thanks so much! Email your legislators and help the CCA if you can. Knowledge is meaningless without action!
Thank you for your dedication to north carolina fisheries..this should be a headline in every news market in the state..
It's actually been all over the media for over a century. I have newspaper articles from 1916 of local fishermen protesting bycatch in the shrimp fishery.
Crooked politicians !! Crooked people
Thanks for sharing.
It’s all about the dollar!!
You're welcome! Please know that the majority of the politicians are just as clueless or more so than the average fisherman. They're just backing the people that are backing them.
I'm glad I lucked into this video. Thank you for this information. Im with you 100% about this. Its all about the money of the few. I know there are hard working commercial fishermen out there who follow the rules and regulations. I have already shared your video with my brother in law and my nephew, who, like me, are avid outdoorsmen, in hunting and fishing.
Thank you for sharing! More to come along with a plan of action. Stick with me and maybe one day you can tell your nephew about how we toppled a giant so that his generation could reap the benefits.
Thank you for saying what nobody seems to want to hear....the truth.
Thank you Brewski! Keep pushing!
We've got a mountain to move. I've showed you where to push. The rest is up to you!
Great information, Johnston County here, I fish our inshore waters a bunch, I remember when we could catch lots of nice sized croker, gray trout, striped bass, and many other species. It’s sad that alot of my friends as well as myself go to Virginia to catch big croker and stripers………..I’ve never had any animosity against the netters, just the rule makers. I’ve considered joining the cca many times but after seeing this video I for sure will…… I’ve always known it is more political and about those making big money off of it. You have given me more information in this video than I’ve ever known about, my primary care doctor is a member and actually has a letter on the wall in the main lobby urging people interested to join and he also is a serious inshore fisherman. I will be signing up for sure and thank you for posting this…….. tight lines brother
Thank you. I will continue to try and scream the truth louder than they can scream the lies but screaming has never moved a mountain. Only action can do that. Thank you so much for standing with me.
Heck yeah brotha good stuff. Glad you posted and talked about this.
The most frustrating thing about flounder is seeing 100 flounder under 10" at your local fish market.
Those came from other states where the size limit is lower. A lower size limit would actually be healthier for our population because male flounder only grow to maybe 16” maximum, so we’re killing only females.
thanks for this video a lot of information that we all need to know, keep them coming hopefully theirs is still time to fix this....
Knowing is just the first step! Write your reps and help the CCA push this thing across the goal line! www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators ccanc.org/
Small time commercial fisherman and would love to speak with you anytime
Shoot me an email. Stbbrewster@gmail.com
Wow! Very informative. A billion pounds of juvenile fish could easily be a 10 billion pounds of adult fish in just one season. Thanks for posting. Our legislature also just decided it is not littering to dump tons of dead fish (by-catch) back into the sound.
I read up on that actually. It didn't really smell of any corruption to me but I could be wrong.
Thank you for all the hard work, and putting this video out . 🙏
Always follow the money trail. Great video!
Lets do this Steve. Keep us informed.
I will. Every Thursday! I think NC is finally awake.
My avatar may be from my Texas home, but I've been in ENC since 2001, and this is now home. I've been saying this for years about the trawlers. I'm with you...something HAS to change. Looking fwd to future videos.
Thanks for the support. Please share it as widely as possible. We're going to need an army to have any hope of making change that lasts.
Thank you for spreading the truth about our fisheries .
Thank you! Please feel free to share it. Stay tuned for more as well. The next video will outline a more detailed plan of action.
Heard you today on with Joe Simmons at Salt Strong and had to look deeper into this.
I’m literally sick to my stomach right now. Although I’m not from NC but I do vacation there every year and wish to move there at some point in my life. I am willing to do whatever it takes to assist I stopping this hiatus act of trawling.
If you ever need any assistance please I would love to get involved beyond calling legislatures.
Shoot me a text with your name and some basic info and I'll let you know how you can help when the time comes. 910-581-4415. Until then, sharing my videos and leaving likes and comments always help the YT algorithm to push the message out to more people.
wow this was eye opening, please continue with the videos
Holy crap! No wonder our fisheries management is so pathetic. A completely corrupt system.
It's so much worse than this too. Mountains of money changing hands to benefit so few.
Keep going!!! Good video. Said a lot of what Ive been thinking too
Crooked politicians? Oh me, oh my. I grew up in NC, and have fished most of my 68 years. The blatant mis-management of our fisheries is criminal. We all know money talks, and it is fairly obvious that the big money is coming from the commercial sector, and most of it is going to Republican lawmakers, who by the way hold a super majority in both the House and the Senate.
Texas fisherman here! Stay strong for these fish!
Just subscribed and sent this to all my fishing buddies. Thanks for the information and the extra effort, keep up the good work.
Awesome thank you!
Excellent journalism. You just did the work and presented what you found. I dabble in motion graphics, so let me know if I can help you in the future. This is a cause I can get behind.
Thank you. I never knew how difficult of a job this could be. I did this with three kids, a wife, a full time job, and a youtube channel 😄. Only took me about 9 months. If you wanna help just join CCA, back the lawsuit and email a rep. I'd take help in the motion graphics dept as well. As you can see, my editing skills are not amazing. Shoot me an email. Stbbrewster@gmail.com
Thanks..informative and a cause for action.
God Bless youn and your family. Thanks for the research. Keep up the good work. Tight lines
Until we gry the money out of it this will not change unfortunately. Sad we could have a florida like fishery but we trawl and gill net our inshore waters.
Did you e-mail your legislators and join the CCA? The people of Florida took their fishery back! We can do it too. www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators ccanc.org/
@@FishingwithBrewski Been following this for years. part of the CCA and been monitoring the court battle that is current going on. We will see what happens. Money over people is how NC government works on both sides of the aisle.
@@ianperna2173 I'm afraid it's how all government works. We can reign them in though if we all pull together. They represent us they don't rule us.
Good job. Thank you for your work on this video.
Thank you for putting this out there.
If you want to thank me. E-mail a legislator or join the CCA and support the lawsuit. Every other state on the coast has kicked the trawls out of their sounds. We can do it to. www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators ccanc.org/
@@FishingwithBrewski I have donated before, but never joined. This inspired me to get a coastal caretaker membership.
Great job. Please do more.
Thank you
Well said brother, the same is happening to us in VA. Keep fighting.
I've heard about what's happening up there from several people. Throughout this learning process I've even had moments where I questioned if our current fish house royalty aren't keeping something even worse at bay.
Thank you for sharing. I deal with NEPDS and I'm not surprised.
I'd be interested to hear some of your stories! stbbrewster@gmail.com
Extremely well done Steven! I’m gonna share this with CCA national.
Thank you. I know you have problems of your own and I really appreciate you taking the time to show support.
I’m saddened and disappointed by what has happened in the general waterways for fish and wildlife, I’m at the point where I’m beginning to think we all deserves the same rules, same size limits, same everything. It may mean less fish on the table for the commercial guys but there’s no way they should be keeping the season open for those guys and not for the recreational fisherman.
Great video! We have been saying this all along! Keep up the pressure and the videos.
Thank you. That was very insightful of you to put that together. I had a lot of trouble believing it was real even after seeing it.
Thanks, Brewski, great work running this down. I agree with everything except that CCA is our golden knight. I want to support that notion, but maybe they can be more transparent with their plans. If this lawsuit flounders, (pardon the pun) then what do we do? How do we know with 100% assurance that CCA is not just as bad as Fulcher? Other states also worked with the Federal Government to eliminate this type of manipulation. Again- Great Job and Thanks!
I never expected this level of response from people but now that I'm seeing it I would love to do this without the CCA lawsuit. At the time it seemed like the only hope because the sad reality is that most of us are willing to complain on FB or some other forum for hours but won't actually send a single e-mail to a rep. The CCA has taken real action and the lawsuit is a chance to restructure this. It's not a cure all. We still have to get our legislators to hear us and know that we speak the truth. Many legislators are so sick of hearing about it that they just try not to be involved at all.
Do not wish to be a downer here, but the group is in bed with the same group you're fighting.
The original group of fishermen had the ears of Mr. Bass now its just about paying off there directors.
Not the same group anymore.
@@darrellborak-xx6rs if you can elaborate a little on that I'd love to hear about it. send me an email. stbbrewster@gmail.com
Semper Fi brother! Great video and information.
All enemies. Foreign and domestic. We pose a much bigger threat to ourselves than anybody else ever could.
Great info bro. Very informative. Thank you!
@tonycross2449 several more videos uploaded since. Many of which are point towards specific calls for action to turn this broken system around.
And now, 5/24/24, there is NO Recreational Flounder Season, for 2024
But there is a commercial season! Have you seen the last couple videos? We're tired of talking. It's tome to start doing.
Really appreciate your work and supportive evidence. I was told this week that possession of finger mullet is to be unlawful. Is that correct? And Brads logic about licenses doesnt hold water. Yes there are more rec guys but for the head of a commerecial division to insinuate bycatch and mortality is worse for rec than commercial guys is an outright lie. There are less commercial guys because of the big guns ruining the fishery.
That's correct about mullet and it's also another slap in the face to us from the MFC. A large majority of the mullet harvest and used as bait "finger mullet" are actually white mullet and not striped mullet. Striped mullet are the ones in trouble. From what I understand, wildlife has said they will not enforce this ruling. It seems to me that wildlife is fighting for rec fishermen now. Between flounder and now mullet surely this can't be just simple miscommunication.
menhaden boats are screwing up Louisiana fisheries too. Recreational fishermen getting stricter redfish and speckled trout limits while the pogie boats dump millions of them offshore.
Appreciate your effort. Also, I do not know the truth of the matter but I heard the inland troll nets etc. were only allowed during the 1970 oil and gas crisis when it was over all the other states push them off but I cannot find anything to substantiate that, it would go against the entire argument of it is our tradition and we have been doing it for generations too
I'm going to cover this in a later piece but the trawls were in fact banned in many areas long ago in NC and it was the local commercial fishermen that had them banned.
I would get behind the CCA if they would only focus on the large scale commercial trawlers and environmental impacts and loss of critical habitat and not group the small artisanal commercial fishermen with them. Their all or nothing approach is a no go for me and shows me that they are the rich and powerful trying to control the public resources just like the large scale commercial operations.
Also read the book “Wetland Riders” and look into the nonprofit explorer for the CCA. Only 1-5% of their revenue actually goes to conservation projects. it’s mostly a fundraiser for a group of rich guys. I do not get paid for saying this btw but i do notice on most social media anytime a new regulation is brought up there are instant replies like “get rid of commercial fishing” or “the commercial guys killed them all” or “commercial fishing should not be allowed” or “commercial fishing should be banned and recs should be able to sell their bag limits” every time.
It makes me sick to think of trying to run anybody off a job. Especially in this economy. Going down this road has completely changed how I see a gill net. I see this as the only choice I have though. It's CCA or fish house barons and the current road only leads to one destination. The lawsuit, assuming they manage to win, won't give CCA total control. It will only force restructuring of the management system. Look back at the historical MFC votes. Compare limits of neighboring states. This current system is in a strangle hold and it's only benefitting a very small number of people.
IF IT DOES NOT HAVE SCALES, IT IS UNCLEAN TO EAT ! AS GOD !!! SHALOM
OK
I BELIEVE ALL THESE TYPES EVEN LOBSTER SHRIMP CRABS, ALL THERE TO HELP KEEP THE WATER CLEAN, SHALOM
The logical solution to me seems to be a shorter recreational season. I’d really love to see a 1 or 2 hour season.
Lol
Could you imagine the absolute clown show at the boat ramps?!
Absolutely spectacular work man!!! Keep it up and go follow the CCA! I learned about them about a year ago from Salt Strong
With the kind of response I'm seeing from everyone, it may not even be necessary to wait for the lawsuit. I'm thinking the future potential Governor of NC might like the sound of about 10k votes. Unfortunately, Cooper ran on fisheries reform and it quite possibly won him the election. Then he did very little to follow through and I'm sure we can all see why.
There’s nothing…… A politician won’t do for a dollar!!!!
How do we fix it. It appears we have so many crooks in our Government how do we get them out ? What's the plan.
Well Done! #Followthemoney
We’re having a similar fight with Striped Bass and Menhaden here in Virginia…Semper Fi brother!!
What's going on with striped bass up there? I know a little about the menhaden situation.
There’s tons of finger pointing as to why Stripers are declining in the bay. The real reason is the lack of menhaden in the bay and how Omega protein is allowed to drag seine nets in the Chesapeake killing everything.
@@auggyboy284 You know it's happening you gotta do something! A lot of people don't understand how certain fisheries collapse. Especially in the case of stripers you'll have what appears to be a massive amount of fish still around but the striper spawn is a feeding frenzy for lots of other fish up the rivers and their numbers aren't being reduced by commercial harvests so the spawn will start to be unsuccessful. It might take a few years for your biologists to realize it and by then it might be too late. I just got an update on the Pamlico striper fishery today from our wildlife and last years roughly 40% native striper assessment is now less than 1%. We had 4 spawning populations and now 3 are extinct and the last one isn't looking good.
We have known this lo key for many years. Thanks for providing the proof. Harris Teeter showcases Fulcher on their seafood web offerings. Guess I will be supporting CCA.
With the overwhelming amount of support I have received already I'm not certain that we're even going to need to wait for the lawsuit.
Music to my ears. I have gotten mad about this. Thank you for your efforts to expose this long running corruption. @@FishingwithBrewski
I knew there was something wrong...give us more
Great video.
Cedar Point for the win!
Great video. This video needed to be made. Thank you!
Thank you. I can't do it alone though. Knowing is just the first step.
Follow the money, let me guess commercial fisherman can harvest flounder, but residents can't. We now have a 6 week closed season here in Fl ruining the flounder run fishing for us, but commercial gingers can still keep 50 fish a night, always the recreational fisherman who takes it in the shooter!
As long as we sit back and just complain, it will always be like that. I don't have an issue with commercial harvest. Harvesting more than what can be sustained is the big issue we face and as long as those who stand to profit get to make the decision of how much we take we're doomed. We can fight till the end of time over who gets the bigger cut because there's no ultimate right answer there.
Hey man shared this video as much as possible this message needs to be heard. I’m local to you I think I may have some content that might could pair well with some of you videos
Thank you for that! What content do you mean exactly? I'm not sure I'll ever produce regular fishing content again.
@@FishingwithBrewski is there a way to message you either like Instagram or something
I’m going to bed before my brain explodes. Excellent content
Yooo man you killed it with this video this is like pulitzer prize material
I'm just speaking the truth. It's going to take us all moving together to change our management for the better. Email your reps!
its crazy seeing them wear hazmat suits to grind naval paint when i worked at a shipping container refurbisher that used the same type of paint used on boats and we only had 3M dust masks
I don't think they're actually full hazmat suits. That's just what the article said. They look more like hoods to me but I'm sure that paint isn't good to be getting in your eyes or lungs.
@@FishingwithBrewski yah i was just thinking “oh crap am i gonna die from that summer job?” 😬
Scrap DMF, NCWRC can do that job just fine, create different sections for same. You can't have competing bururacracies never works....
Have you spoken with Mark Robinson? I’d love to get you in front of him.
Planning to ask everyone to reach out to him in the next video. He's been getting contributions from commercial sector for a couple years now so I'm thinking it might already be an uphill battle but I'm hopeful.
Been saying it for years. Spot on!!
Thank you! Start saying it louder from this point forward. Maybe they'll hear us in Raleigh.
The little man can’t keep a couple of flounder to feed his family REAL food, they want you to buy nothing but bull junk! 🤬🤬🤬 They just kill everything and I can’t keep 1 damn flounder except for 2 weeks 🤬🤬🤬
Unfortunately the only way we get out of this is if we can get them to stop AND we stop. From what I've seen so far a complete moratorium is now unlikely to recover the stocks in 10 years time.
Great information keep it up. Scraping the sound flood will wipe out our fishery. Gray trout have been managed for years and no change why is that. The little ones get killed by large shrimping company's. The DMF is a joke.
There are some great people in the DMF. Not many people become marine biologists in the hope of helping an industry that they do not profit from. It's the MFC where the power lies and we've had some great people serve on the commission. They've just always been outnumbered.
Keep them coming!!!
great video, finally makes sense!
Thank you! Now that you know I hope you're ready to stick with me and do something to fix it.
Excellent video. I've been involved in marine fishery management for 35 years and have fished in NC for over 50 years. Would like to chat with you if possible.q
Thank you! Shoot me an e-mail. stbbrewster@gmail.com
Someone who TRULY cares about our waters. I pray that someday NC can have seats that actually care instead of those continuing to prostitute the NC waterways to these Shrimp cartels.
I don't think it's a matter of not caring. I think it's mostly ignorance. This video was just a brief overview and it took 30 mins to present. Generally the only people watching and commenting are really into fishing so we also see the general public doesn't care very much.
@@FishingwithBrewski can we get a video that’s closer to the 5 minute mark for this? It will help circulate to the masses better.
Ive commerical fished the pamilco river for 24 years and when dmf took half the river from us for flounder it was over. Sad but true
I get choked up thinking about all the people like yourself who have lost their livelihood through the last few decades. If I'd been born 20 years earlier I would have definitely become a commercial fisherman after leaving the Marines and I hope that the commercial fishermen who see this understand that I don't hate anyone involved here. Comments like yours make me hopeful that there can be a day where we don't have to pad the wallets of lawyers and politicians. If we ever showed up in Raleigh screaming the same thing the politicians surely wouldn't be able to deny us.
The whole thing makes me want to just fish freshwater. Of course my favorite type of freshwater fishing, yellow perch in Currituck Sound, has been destroyed by commercial fishing. So there's that. Gone from a world class fishery known far and wide to a pathetic shadow of its former self. But, hey, someone made a prophet off the public resource so I shouldn't be reminded of the buffalo hunter of old. 😶
Sounds like you've known for a long time what's going on. Have you supported any organizations trying to stop it? We've got more hope now that ever that we can turn this around so nows the time if you're not already on board.
Brewster I wanna see more videos like this !
Hey buddy. Thanks for being on the receiving end of my obsessive ranting as I fumbled my way though this.
Keep dropping the bombs!
Well done Sir.
Thank you
Wow!
This is just the highlights. Stay tuned and help us turn this around.
Please publish your new videos. Great work. Many thanks!
Thank you and Im working on it! In the mean time please take action! I'm powerless alone. Many before me have screamed at the mountain and yet it still stands. It's going to take an army to move it.
Well played!!
Hey buddy! See you catching some nice trout. I've been in the cave for months over this one. Hopefully I'll get back out there more soon.
Hey Brew. Where did you find that video of them setting those nets? Can you share it please?
It should be in the comments titled "shrimp trawl bycatch".
❤️thank you for this video!!
It's an honor. If you wanna thank me, go look up your legislators and email them. Tell them it's time for a change. Without your action, my words are meaningless. Thank you!
@@FishingwithBrewski yes sir, will do!