Pete,

You are dead on with your quote

"It has always been my personal belief that lower catch limits, size limits, and slot limits, along with "recreational fishing" only reserves, and "catch and release/artificial lure only" reserves is the answer - and only if there is un-deniable proof that recreational fishing is causing the problem."

Stopping all recreational fishing in specific areas is not the answer. Reasonable bag limits for both sport and commercial fisherman, and catch and release (even if it IS mandatory) is the answer.

I'd much rather be catching and releasing than not fishing at all.