Nice analysis, SH. The problem is how do we get the managers to implement such a plan?

If they really thought about it, the economy could recoup the entire value of the commercial catch in just a few days of extra openers for the sports. The average expenditure per fish on one of the other threads I recall was quoted as $138.00. The commies might lose out, but society as a whole would derive much more value from the resource. The obscene bycatch mortality would also become a non-issue.