Boatless Fishing Forum, Reports, Info

Found this on another Forum

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) -- The largest marine reserve in North America is emerging on Florida's southwest coast.

Gov. Jeb Bush and his Cabinet voted 3-1 on Tuesday to approve a management plan banning fishing in a 61-square-mile section of Dry Tortugas National Park in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits about 75 miles west of Key West.

The new Research Natural Area will be added to the existing Tortugas Ecological Reserve, where fishing has been prohibited since 2001. Combined, the two areas will prohibit fishing in 261 square miles.

The plan is designed to help overfished species such as grouper and red snapper recover. It also will provide scientists with a living laboratory, and divers and other visitors with recreational and educational opportunities.

"It's good for the fish; it's good for the ecosystem; it's good for fishermen," said University of Miami marine biologist Jerald Ault, who testified in support of the plan.

The only dissenting vote was cast by Attorney General Charlie Crist, also Florida's governor-elect.

"I am reluctant to restrict a freedom from individual recreational fishermen and fisherwomen," Crist said, who spoke fondly of growing up fishing with his father.

Bush and the Cabinet added a provision that would restore fishing after five years without another vote.

The research area is so far from shore few recreational fishermen go there, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/15/fla.fish.ap/index.html

I dunno. I always see fisherman return from the dry tortugas with mutant muttons and grouper by the dozen, and i think that they should lessen up a bit. But banning a big portion? Well 5 years from now they WILL be big

... If the boats stuck to the laws of fishing, the population wouldn't shrink so much. When fishermen return with coolers full of fish, far over the limit, the stock numbers go down, and this is what you get. I have no problem with these new rules.

Lomax wrote:... If the boats stuck to the laws of fishing, the population wouldn't shrink so much. When fishermen return with coolers full of fish, far over the limit, the stock numbers go down, and this is what you get. I have no problem with these new rules.

Lomax, I tend to agree with you as well. I particulary like the timetable with no re-vote necessary.

This is for anyone just browsing through who may have happened upon this post. This up there is exactly what happens when people do not follow regulations. They are in place to allow fish to spawn once or twice before they are harvested, and the ones with an upper slot is so they may spawn when they get to a certain age without interruption or unnatural death. SO, SELECTIVELY harvest fish, and EDUCATE people around you.

Word of mouth goes a long way. Remember also that just because a fish is of legal size does not mean you should keep it... Give it a chance, and keep our sport alive... You shall be rewarded by our fish gods.