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To whom this concerns,

I've always been Daddy's little girl. I come from a lineage of
fishermen. My dad introduced me to fishing when I was about 4 or 5.
We would go to the local lake to fish trout. I can still hear the
sizzle of the fish frying in the pan from our catch that day. My
dad loved the outdoors as did the rest of his family. My dad always
loved sharing the outdoors with me. 

Fast forward to my 19-year-old self. Still in love with fishing, my
uncle Mike (dad's oldest brother) took me on my first ocean
trip....a day and a half trip for albacore in the early 2000's. I
was hooked. I was connected to the ocean from that point on. He
never had kids. But he was a master fisherman and was committed to
teaching me everything he could on that trip and I know he was
proud that I was there. I was like a daughter to him. 

That was the only trip I ever got to go on with Uncle Mike. He got
diagnosed with brain cancer not long after that trip. I would help
watch over him while he was at the hospital and we would talk about
all the trips we would take once he recovered. Unfortunately he
never did. After he passed away, I made it my mission to keep
learning the craft of sport fishing. 

My dad's younger brother Tommy, another master fisherman, took me
out occasionally when I was in college. I couldn't afford to go on
trips, but would try when my work and college schedule would allow,
and when I'd get the invite to fill a spot on his charters. 

Then I took a hiatus from the ocean because I had kids. Just after
my first son was born, I went on what I didn't know at the time,
would be the only ocean trip and last fishing trip I'd go on with
my dad. A couple years later he was diagnosed with prostate
cancer.

As the kids got older, while my dad was in remission from that
cancer, I started going out onto the ocean again more regularly. I
would frequently drive from Northern California to Southern
California easily 6 or more times each summer to fish tuna and
other sport fish.

It was my mission to master the family craft. My first trip back on
the water after several years of hiatus, I landed a 35# yellowtail
and got published in Western Outdoor News for it. My dad was super
proud. His cancer came back though. This time he was diagnosed with
stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He would never live to see my personal
best. The next year I was published for landing a 303# bluefin. 

You see, this fishing industry is important to me. The people that
work in this industry are important to me. The regulatory
modifications that are being suggested for boats are insanely
ridiculous. Yes we want to take care of the planet, but at what
expense? There needs to be a balance. 

Many boats are unable to make these modifications because they are
insanely too costly. This would not only affect the income/jobs of
boat owners, but also the jobs of all the crewmen, all the
employees that work at the landing, and the fish processors, their
families..... this affects thousands upon thousands of people that
need these jobs to survive. For some, it is the only craft and
skill they know. 

From a fisherwoman's standpoint, this industry connects me with a
legacy that I am trying to leave behind. A craft that I am
continuously trying to master so that I can pass that down to
future generations. Being in the minority as a female out on the
ocean, I am trying to kill the stereotype that there ARE strong
women that can hang with the men and fight just as hard if not
harder. I want to open the door for girls in the world to let them
know that there ARE women that are massively skilled,
knowledgeable, and independent anglers. 

And lastly, I am a teacher. I am a middle school teacher that has
taught science and math to students for over 7 years. My goal is to
educate students on sustainability and how important and
fascinating our oceans are. I have brought certain fish into my
classroom and have seen eyes light up with amazement as they get to
see, touch, explore, and learn about the anatomy, environment, and
importance of being a responsible angler. 

My dad and Uncle Mike may have had their lives cut short by cancer,
but please do not let these regulations stop me and others from
educating, helping others, and carrying on a legacy of fishing that
I can pass down to future generations. Please do not force boats to
make ridiculous costly modifications that will jeopardize the
industry due to the inability to comply. There are more important
things in this world that matter greatly. 

On Instagram @fishingwithjenn

-Jenn Majdi