RECREATIONAL TILEFISH MORATORUIM

[DIRTYFOOT2]

GUYS,
Here is a copy of the letter I sent Bill nelson, and the governor. Take any and all input. Let me know if you think I missed anything important. Feel free to cut, paste, and sign if it helps to express your feelings on this issue.
Mr. (Politician), substitute your congressperson

Dismayed at the new Golden Tilefish regulations set to take effect 10/23/06. NMFS has changed the recreational bag limit on the Golden Tilefish last month in response to pressure from commercial interests.
This meeting was not publicized, and recreational fisherman were not represented. The new regulation allows for rec. fisherman to take only one fish per day. The tile fishery is a treasured resource for the weekend angler, but is unique in a couple of ways. 1st, it is a deep water fishery requiring specialized,expensive gear. 2nd the conditions ( weather, current, and wind ) have to be perfect for us little guys to fish them. That being said, most of us are only lucky enough to have favorable conditions
for a handful of trips a year. To even think that we are responsible for the decline in tilefish stocks is ludicrous. The one fish per person limit, will for all intents and purposes completely negate this fishery for us, and cost tackle shops and associated buisnesses dearly. While we are in favor of a reasonable bag limit ( say 5-10 fish per person ), this current regulation would end up effectively being a total moratoruim. Fish brought up from the depths that tiles live, do not survive being released. With this Ill concieved plan small tilefish will inevitably be wasted in search of larger quarry, instead of being taken as part of a reasonable bag limit. Please we need your help. As an avid fisherman, and native floridian voter I know from your impeccable record for standing up for the rights of floridians you would be concerned with this issue. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Don't let the commercial interests take away a fishery that belongs to THE PEOPLE. I hope to be able to teach my son the virtues of responsible fisheries MGMT, as well as carry on a florida, family tradition.

Your concerned constituent,
William E. Scott

[Gaitor]

I'm on it Butch. I've been pouring over all the documents online that I can find and am in the process of writing letters to Mr Nelson and Mr Shaw.
I really don't expect much of an answer until after the elections, but we do want them to know we are voters and will actively view their response.
As I posted earlier ... a stated objective of the SAFMC was to reduce overfishing of tilefish by 34%. If you have a 5 fish linit .... one fish = 20%. Reducing the limit to one fish equals an 80% reduction for the recreational fisherman! Bad maff anyway ya look at it.

Gaitor

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by DIRTYFOOT2

GUYS,
Here is a copy of the letter I sent Bill nelson, and the governor. Take any and all input. Let me know if you think I missed anything important. Feel free to cut, paste, and sign if it helps to express your feelings on this issue.
Mr. (Politician), substitute your congressperson

Dismayed at the new Golden Tilefish regulations set to take effect 10/23/06. NMFS has changed the recreational bag limit on the Golden Tilefish last month in response to pressure from commercial interests.
This meeting was not publicized, and recreational fisherman were not represented. The new regulation allows for rec. fisherman to take only one fish per day. The tile fishery is a treasured resource for the weekend angler, but is unique in a couple of ways. 1st, it is a deep water fishery requiring specialized,expensive gear. 2nd the conditions ( weather, current, and wind ) have to be perfect for us little guys to fish them. That being said, most of us are only lucky enough to have favorable conditions
for a handful of trips a year. To even think that we are responsible for the decline in tilefish stocks is ludicrous. The one fish per person limit, will for all intents and purposes completely negate this fishery for us, and cost tackle shops and associated buisnesses dearly. While we are in favor of a reasonable bag limit ( say 5-10 fish per person ), this current regulation would end up effectively being a total moratoruim. Fish brought up from the depths that tiles live, do not survive being released. With this Ill concieved plan small tilefish will inevitably be wasted in search of larger quarry, instead of being taken as part of a reasonable bag limit. Please we need your help. As an avid fisherman, and native floridian voter I know from your impeccable record for standing up for the rights of floridians you would be concerned with this issue. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Don't let the commercial interests take away a fishery that belongs to THE PEOPLE. I hope to be able to teach my son the virtues of responsible fisheries MGMT, as well as carry on a florida, family tradition.

Your concerned constituent,
William E. Scott

Hey DF2, I am on it also ... just figured out how to catch these buggers and they change the rules .... It was a crime not to have the rec guys in the meeting ... bet it would have been standing room only ... my commercial friend told me ... (guides in flamingo) not to give out your spots ... Reason ... if one of these guys find it ... they will rape it in a matter of hours with a bandit rig and ruin your spot for a long , long time ... they are the reason ..our fishing has decined ... remember .. in the early 80`s ... Sword fishing .. was wiped out in one season !!! Us rec guy`s always get the short end ... time we all get together ... if you ever hear of the next meeting ... please let me know ... e-mail me if you like ... Miamiangler1@aol.com ...if they want to stop the over fishing of tile fish .. put a stop to bandit rigs and have the comercial guys do it my way ... reel them up manually ..one at a time :twisted:

[Gaitor]

It's not even the bandit rig guys, it's the long-liners and trawlers who have done us in. But the real issue is how the SAFMC is hosing the rec fishing guy by a totally unfair limitation on our creel.
My opinion.

[miamiangler1]

[quote="Gaitor"]It's not even the bandit rig guys, it's the long-liners and trawlers who have done us in. But the real issue is how the SAFMC is hosing the rec fishing guy by a totally unfair limitation on our creel.
My opinion.[/quot

Hi Gaitor,

True I , also include the longliners and trawlers , which is just as wasteful fishing .. with all the bycatch that get thrown overboard.. it has been going on for decades... sure glad they are not doing it off Dade county....what usually gets me mad is some of the fisherman that fish in the Tortugas going up to the shrimp trawlers and bartering beer for the by catch...I just hope everyone reading this forum will write to their congress man and senitors and maybe can change things .. just remember the SAFMC can do what they want so long it benafits the commercial guy`s ...now it`s time the little fish do something about the big ones! :twisted:

[Gaitor]

Yup ... I've already written Clay Shaw and Bill Nelson ... more to follow if necessary!

[poolman]

:thumright: Butch,nice job man.I've also written those guys.I did a little"creative persuading" as well,knowing full well both those guys are up for re-erection Haven't got this politically active since the net ban 10 years back.That reminds me...time for an editorial letter to Wickstrom.Guys you get my drift Rich

[DIRTYFOOT2]

PMAN,
You read my mind. Super busy at work this week, but was definately going to pen something Wickstroms way. I will be suprised if he ( or his staff )isn't allready aware. If he's not it speaks volumes about the way this was backdoored on us all. Helpful hint for everybody who's scribbling
to thier politician: :idea: :idea: Do your best to use the spellcheck, and pay attention to your grammer as well. Its petty I know, but its all too easy to dismiss our concerns if the powers that be percieve us as a bunch of slackjawed uneducated slouches. They need to realize we are knowledgable and empassioned about responsibly utilizing our resource. KEEP THE PRESSURE ON, THIS WILL PAYOFF.

DIRTYFOOT2