The rumors of the 40-inch fish were true. I found out while listening to Ben's first "Catch It, Cook It, Eat It" radio show. The show featured three guests: "Salty fishermen of the East River," Ben told me via telephone while we rearranged yet again an interview time. Of the guests, John Ruffino, a gregarious and excitable, loud-voiced Brooklynite, was the man responsible for catching what would surely be the biggest fish of the derby, before I even put a line in the water. Robert Piskorski, the owner of Dream Fishing Tackle was there as well as Greg, the owner of a local pizzeria. Ben focused his first episode on the newly implemented fishing licenses, and asked for his guests opinions, none of which were close to positive.

"I don't have a license," John began in his thorough Brooklyn accent. "I'm not going to pay $10. I'm not going to pay no money. I think it's unfair because it pushes out all the bums. The bums aren't going to spend $10. They want $10 to buy food or beer or whatever. It's like elimination in the fishing game. And then they keep tabs on you, the government. Even if you don't keep the fish or even catch one. They want you to pay $10 and I don't even catch one?"

Robert took over. Except for a few syntax issues, Robert's Polish-accented English is quite good. "Ten dollars that's not what it's all about. You just don't realize that October 1, saltwater fishing in New York became a privilege. It's written on a green piece of a paper and you pay ten bucks for a privilege. That means this privilege they can take it away from you," he said. Robert in his own act of protest doesn't carry the new saltwater license, jokingly explaining he tells his customers to go ask the Post Office instead.

"Rob, you're telling me they're going to tell me I can't fish?" John asked.

"If you are a bad boy the privilege is taken away from you. They have you in the computer. If you catch a fish an inch shorter or inch longer or whatever. You litter. You fish with bait when you're supposed to be fly fishing. They're going to write you a ticket but they can also revoke your license. Fishing license is becoming like a driver's license which can be revoked at any time."

"So they can trace you now," Ben said.

"Exactly, because it's your name attached to the number [on the license]," Robert said.

"The government! Like I was saying before!" John shouted.

Greg, who had been quiet up until this point, commented about the expanding role of the government and how everyone knows they're taking more and more control of people's lives, but nobody does anything about it.

"It's not just that," Robert said. "They want us to fish where they want us to fish. We can't fish where we want to fish."