I still think the biggest reason nothing like this ever passes is that the opposition can legitimately argue that, no matter how the harvest pie is divided (short of closing sport fisheries altogether), the sport fishing dollars will continue to flow. As long as there's opportunity, we buy our licenses, like clockwork. Meanwhile, legislators continue to collect contributions from the commercial lobby. Indeed, we let them have their cake and eat it too.

If we want the status quo to change, we have three options:

1. Stop buying licenses. One year ought to do the trick.
2. Start supporting campaigns.
3. Keep fishing, but also start supporting campaigns.

Any one of those options will have the desired effect. Unfortunately, the second coming of Christ is more likely to occur during our lifetimes than any of those things. If we were organized as one interest and each kicked in $5, we'd probably be able to out-lobby the commercials, but, lest we forget, sport fishers getting organized is the least likely scenario of all.