we need to do something about this issue, changing the legal definition of 'personal use' is probably the best bet.

aggressive use of 'personal' gill net licenses, will lead to the same result as the old purse seine nets, that were banned. (i.e. no bunker, it will just take longer than one big net scoop). Think about it, if every single person in CT spent all day snagging non-stop keeping every single one, that would also have the same effect.

and I think it goes far beyond the loss of the bait which the predator fish in our area are eating. Menhaden are also extremely important for maintaining water quality. They are part of the food chain for nearly all fish and shellfish.

http://www.amazon.com/Most-Important-Fish-Sea-Menhaden/dp/1597261246

Also, if all the adult ones are gone, then there probably wont be a peanut bunker run in our area in the fall.