Natureboy,
To take it a step further
What REALLY SUCKS
Is a reef being constructed with our tax $$$ and then the SCDNR keeping the location secret, AND then
Allowing DNR employees, which are paid by our tax dollars, to scuba spearfish (while on the clock on a research trip) all the big grouper off their own scientific research reef…
And yes this is Fact with proof
This thread shows that even a small percentage of people on here care about the need for more reefs and a thriving fishery
Lets do something about it!!
Reelfin, a lot of the reefs are made from old parts from dismantled rigs! Go to the Alabama DNR page and check out all the saltwater fishing sancuarys it will tell you the GPS# and what kind of structure is out there, there are pages and pages of them! I printed off a lot before a trip last year!
FishnBarrels- Those reefs were done with research in mind. First one roughly 70 feet of water. Reef units places on four corners 1.5 miles apart, after reefs had been in place for awhile fish were trapped, caught by hook and line etc., each corner got a different colored tag. Meaning 4 total tag colors. Shortly there after two of the spots were basically made void of fish life by use of traps, hook and line and spearfishing. Fish were worked up, otoliths removed for age, gonads for sexual maturity, weight, length etc. taken from each specimen. Before during and after video transects were done at each site. That project was to see how long it took for a overpreassured site to mimic a unfished site. Graduate students did stomach content projects and scrapings from the actual reef units were done to see what was growing on the units. My point here is that your statement makes it seem like the only purpose for the “secret reefs” was to have a spot for DNR personnel to rape the resource, which is the furthest from the truth. Reef construction is very expensive, you have no idea until you get involved, state plan is now to basically maintain and ad materials to the more than forty that we have up and down the coast.
One other thing, reef material- needs to be very stable, meaning concrete and steel, none of these sailboats you see sitting half sunk will be sunk by DNR as a reef.
Longbearded1, this is the kind of information we need. Next question: what are the results of this experiment so far.
quote:
Originally posted by longbearded1
FishnBarrels- Those reefs were done with research in mind. First one roughly 70 feet of water. Reef units places on four corners 1.5 miles apart, after reefs had been in place for awhile fish were trapped, caught by hook and line etc., each corner got a different colored tag. Meaning 4 total tag colors. Shortly there after two of the spots were basically made void of fish life by use of traps, hook and line and spearfishing. Fish were worked up, otoliths removed for age, gonads for sexual maturity, weight, length etc. taken from each specimen. Before during and after video transects were done at each site. That project was to see how long it took for a overpreassured site to mimic a unfished site. Graduate students did stomach content projects and scrapings from the actual reef units were done to see what was growing on the units. My point here is that your statement makes it seem like the only purpose for the “secret reefs” was to have a spot for DNR personnel to rape the resource, which is the furthest from the truth. Reef construction is very expensive, you have no idea until you get involved, state plan is now to basically maintain and ad materials to the more than forty that we have up and down the coast.
So, If this is true , when will the public that PAID for the “very expensive” reef be allowed to fish it?
Natureboy-I assure you it is true. Realfin- every color tag ended up on every corner after a good period of time. Did take a considerable amount of time for all corners to resemble each other after knocking the population down on two. The unfished sites were truely remarkable, meaning that sites left alone do work, which a lot here will not like to hear. Always ranckels my feathers when statements like above are just randomly thrown out there questioning DNRs integrity.
I personally wouldn’t question the DNR’s integrity. Just the integrity of some individuals. No matter where they work.
Longbearded 1
You chose to interpret my words as you wanted. You confirmed what I stated above. I will not waste forum post paste to explain the confusion in the rest of your comments. No mas
quote:
Originally posted by longbearded1
Natureboy-I assure you it is true. Realfin- every color tag ended up on every corner after a good period of time. Did take a considerable amount of time for all corners to resemble each other after knocking the population down on two. The unfished sites were truely remarkable, meaning that sites left alone do work, which a lot here will not like to hear. Always ranckels my feathers when statements like above are just randomly thrown out there questioning DNRs integrity.
You have completely avoided answering my question. When will the public that paid for the reef and pays for the research & fishing by state employees be allowed to use what we have paid for? ? It rankles my feathers when holier that thou gov employees assume ownership of our publicly owned natural resources .
Calm down boys, nature boy the answer to your question and to how to get more reefs is very simple. Contact your local state and federal politicians. Nothing in this fine state, regardless of what biologist say, goes forward without the politicians saying so. Want the locations, contact them. By the way, not a government employee.
Your still avoiding a straight answer to a direct question
That’s some messed up stuff!!! Local and state elections make the biggest difference. We’re back to politics. The politicians in this state get voted in for three things. Holding a bible, saying someone is going to come take your guns and he won’t let them, and… LOWERING TAXES!! There’s grass growing in some of our roads. Think they give a crap about our fishery!!!
Carl your answer is exactly what I posted, when the politicians you elected want you to know where and when you can fish these “2” spots they will let you know. I don’t have a timeline for you put pressure on Sanford, Scott, Graham or the guys that just got that deer bill passed in the state. That is your answer, whether you choose to accept that or not. Reminds me of a turkey hunt I had this past spring in the Francis Marion, I chose to take actions when I found bait, take action sir, and you might just get what you want. Ugly truth but SC is run by the politicians not your DNR.
quote:
Originally posted by natureboy
quote:
Originally posted by longbearded1
FishnBarrels- Those reefs were done with research in mind. First one roughly 70 feet of water. Reef units places on four corners 1.5 miles apart, after reefs had been in place for awhile fish were trapped, caught by hook and line etc., each corner got a different colored tag. Meaning 4 total tag colors. Shortly there after two of the spots were basically made void of fish life by use of traps, hook and line and spearfishing. Fish were worked up, otoliths removed for age, gonads for sexual maturity, weight, length etc. taken from each specimen. Before during and after video transects were done at each site. That project was to see how long it took for a overpreassured site to mimic a unfished site. Graduate students did stomach content projects and scrapings from the actual reef units were done to see what was growing on the units. My point here is that your statement makes it seem like the only purpose for the “secret reefs” was to have a spot for DNR personnel to rape the resource, which is the furthest from the truth. Reef construction is very expensive, you have no idea until you get involved, state plan is now to basically maintain and ad materials to the more than forty that we have up and down the coast.
So, If this is true , when will the public that PAID for the “very expensive” reef be allowed to fish it?
You are allowed to fish it right now, just have to go out there and find it
Carl your answer is exactly what I posted, when the politicians you elected want you to know where and when you can fish these “2” spots they will let you know. I don’t have a timeline for you put pressure on Sanford, Scott, Graham or the guys that just got that deer bill passed in the state. That is your answer, whether you choose to accept that or not. Reminds me of a turkey hunt I had this past spring in the Francis Marion, I chose to take actions when I found bait, take action sir, and you might just get what you want. Ugly truth but SC is run by the politicians not your DNR.
So - Tell us - are you in favor of the people that paid for this to know?
Now, I guess I’m gonna get shot. Let’s assume there are no special fishing privileges on any reef. There are people who claim that artificial reefs don’t work for a variety of reasons. Wouldn’t it be to our advantage for DNR to experiment with several new reefs in very limited areas along our coast with no fishing pressure? Leave the Feds out of it.
Carl I will put it this way, I am in favor of protected areas for fish as well as animals, I pay taxes just like everybody on this site. I would love to be able to go to Yellowstone and shoot one of those majestic elk that just walk around your vehicles there. Is it going to happen, heck no. The reason being that some people had the forethought to set up some small areas where game and unique land formations should be set aside and not destroyed by land barrens and game hogs. The ocean should be no different, in my opinion, that will have some here wanting my head removed but so be it. I have seen the results first hand and it is very impressive. Heck I contribute to some people having free phones payed for without my approval, you think I enjoy doing that? The numbers will be made public at some point, again I am not a government employee, ask someone who might know. This is my last post on the subject, tired of beating a dead horse.