Since the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1997 changed the way our fish populations are estimated, they are now determined by a total 'biomass' or baseline for determining the number of fish in the ocean. The 'biomass' is compared to the total number of fish estimated to be in the ocean in 1965, which is considered to be the maximum size of the population.

Here's the big problem! We all know the gill nets, long lines and trawl nets that have been allowed to rape our ocean waters year after year are the culprits here and the recreational anglers are being lumped together with these "clear cutters" of the sea and being forced to share in the punishment for their destructive practices.

Just look at the fishing reports and speak to the anglers fishing out of Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg and San Francisco. We've seen some of the best lingcod action in recent memory during the last two years and rockfish scores are the best I have seen in my six years of writing for the Fish Sniffer. Why should we be hit with further restrictions when it is obvious that we are not part of the problem and the areas we fish are showing signs of healthy populations of both species?

How would you like to run a charter boat out of Fort Bragg, where only a handful of bocaccio are taken during the entire year, and be told you might lose half of your season in order to protect these fish?

That is exactly the case for Brandon Van Dine, owner of the Lady Irma II from Anchor Charters. "We probably had three or four bocaccio taken during all of last year and since the minimum size restriction on the lingcod went into place, we're catching and releasing more lingcod than we ever have," he explained.

"They're saying that we have taken more than double the number of lingcod that we took last year and this is all based on angler surveys. I can tell you that we have kept less lingcod than ever before because of the size restrictions, and from the numbers of fish we're catching it appears the limit reduction and size restrictions are making an impact."

According to Van Dine, no one has even asked to look at their log books to see how many fish are really being caught. "I have to question the validity of the data they came up with, especially when they are basing our livelihood on that data," he added. "We were o.k. with the rockfish limits going down to 10 and the lingcod limit at 2 fish. If they completely cut off the lingcod fishing, it would kill us. Just about everyone comes out here to catch a lingcod."

I just don't understand how the fishing can be so good, and the powers that be are telling us there aren't any fish left. I believe putting further restrictions on recreational fishermen may well result in the elimination of many of the charter boat operations along our coast rather than the intended purpose of returning our rockfish and bocaccio populations to sustainable levels. Once again, the recreational fishermen are being forced to "share the pain" when we are not the problem.

It's time to stand up and fight for what we know is right. If no action is taken, we may be faced with drastically reduced fishing opportunities along our coast. Here are three steps in the right direction.

First, we need to maintain the current recreational rockfish and lingcod regulations that were adopted by the PFMC last year, with a limit of 10 rockfish, 2 lingcod and a two month closure.

Second, request the California Fish and Game Commission to rescind its lingcod closure this November and December.

Third, pass emergency regulations to ban all gill, trammel and trawl nets from the California coast.

You can let your voice be heard on their website at www.pcouncil.org., where an e-mail link is available at pfmc.comments@noaa.gov or DO IT THE EASY WAY- Click Here to send a prepared email letter!