KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Fishing ban not likely, but anglers worry

Fishing ban not likely, but anglers worry

By Ryan Peterson - bio | email

TYLER, TEXAS (KLTV) -  Fishing anglers across the country were reeled in by a big story on Tuesday.  An espn.com article claimed that the Obama administration could prohibit anglers from fishing in waters across the country.

Today, ESPN's Outdoor Executive Editor apologized for how the story was presented, saying the article was actually a commentary.

While it's not accurate to report the Obama administration is going to stop recreational fishing like this, it is true that the President has appointed an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force.  The task force is responsible for developing a national policy and strategy to conserve and manage our oceans, coasts and Great lakes.

With the task force in place, thousands of anglers are not happy because they have been kept out of the loop.  They fear there could be future fishing restrictions.  Though no new changes are on the books,  East Texan and Lake Fork guide Lance Vick says fellow anglers should be worried.

"We do need to investigate this as anglers," said Vick.  "Is there a fire where the smoke is? Are we going to wake up one day and they're going to have a bill in the house where they're going to limit inland fisheries. I don't think we need more policies. We have governing agencies to manage our resources as it is, and it's working."

The most recent report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that salt water angling generated 82 billion dollars in sales in the United States.

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