Good article. VSSA polls are skewed toward boat limits and not what the VMRC is looking at or asking. They are getting a lot of participation though. What the VMRC is looking is the following.
1. Do you support increasing the minimum size cobia possession limit?
- No, leave the current regulation of 37in total length as is
- Yes, increase the minimum size limit to 40 in total length
- Yes, increase the minimum size limit to 42 in total length
- Yes, increase the minimum size limit to 44 in total length
2. Do you support establishment of boat limits for cobia in 2016?
- No, leave the current regulations as is
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 1 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 2 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 3 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 4 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 5 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
- Yes, establish a boat limit of 6 cobia per boat (possession limit of 1 per person/per day still applies)
3. Do you support establishment of a variable fishing season for cobia?
A variable fishing season would permit VMRC fishery managers to open/close the cobia fishery season during the 2016 season after reviewing available fishery information regarding cobia harvest.
- No, I do not support the establishment of a variable fishing season
- Yes, I support the establishment of a variable fishing season
4. Do you oppose or support a prohibition on the use of a gaff to land cobia?
- I oppose the use of a gaff for cobia
- I support the use of a gaff for cobia
VSSA poll does not address all these issues. They do have a gaff poll. VSSA is probably going to be a good organization and having them is probably going to be a good thing. Time will tell.
There are multiple VSSA polls going on and the recent ones correctly represent the options in front of the VMRC.
