Fish aggregating devices (FADs)

Hey gang, I’m curious as to why SC does not use floating FADs(at least I never heard of any). In Hawaii the FADs are most likely where the majority of pelagics are caught. Not only for trolling but for vertical jigging. I’m not sure how much it would cost to deploy one but I would figure it probably shouldn’t be more then a piece for an artificial reef.

  1. We don’t need them as much as other places. We have a lot of “structure” here to fish like eddies\backflows\gulfstream\weedlines\rips, etc as well as the continental shelf.
  2. We do have buoys out there that would meet the requirements of a “FAD”. People jig up bait off of the channel markers all of the time.
  3. Because the Army Corps of Engineers in our region thinks they know it all.
  4. High shipping traffic

Yes, so that same channel marker out in 100 fathoms will still hold bait and in turn bring in the predators.

quote:
Originally posted by Bishop

Yes, so that same channel marker out in 100 fathoms will still hold bait and in turn bring in the predators.


I'm not saying it won't. You asked why we don't have them. And I gave you some reasons. If there weren't 800 other ways to catch 40 dolphin in a day, then there might be more priority around it.

Keep in mind, unless they are kept a SECRET, they will receive a lot of fishing pressure. The last stats on the SC artificial reef system were 203K trips in 2006 on 49 artificial reefs.

quote:
Keep in mind, unless they are kept a SECRET, they will receive a lot of fishing pressure.

Nothing to stop you from making your own. I’ve made several, they work Use a few concrete blocks for an anchor, tie a bunch of palm fronds on a line from bottom to top and a float at the top. They usually last a few months.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

Ive heard of guys making them and actually having them subsurface about 15 ft under water so others would not be able to stumble upon them. U have to mark you coordinates pretty exact and take in to account how the current might shift it. That way you can have your own personal FAD and not risk others finding it or crashing into it.

Exactly :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

Exactly [:smiley:


Nice:sunglasses:

quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

Nothing to stop you from making your own.


How about Annex V of the MARPOL Act signed into law January of 2013?

I know where a swing set with 2 swings and a slide is on the bottom

Covered with ARS

They do work

Here is an article on the subject that appeared in a recent Governors cup newsletter.

http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/Newsletter/t_and_r_v19n2.pdf

quote:
How about Annex V of the MARPOL Act signed into law January of 2013?

Garbage :question::smiley:

quote:
However, in March 2012, the Army Corps of Engineers issue a policy statement which said the following: ? Nationwide Permit (NWP) 4 authorizes placement of fish and wildlife harvesting devices and activities such as pound nets, crab traps, crab dredging, eel pots, lobster traps, duck blinds, clam and oyster digging, and small fish attraction devices such as open water fish concentrators (sea kites, etc.) into waters of the United States. This NWP does not authorize the construction of artificial reefs.? They went on to say.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

Nice article. So if you get ur nation wide 4 permit from the army corps of engineers, u are authorized to deploy small personal FADS.

Hmmm… I had not heard of NWP 4 and it does look promising. However, did you actually finish reading the article that hungryneck posted? It clearly says “it is illegal for any HMS permitted vessel to deploy them or fish them in US waters”. That being said, I could not find any law which states this.

This Nationwide Permit authorizes fish and wildlife harvesting devices and activities such as pound nets, crab traps, crab dredging, eel pots, lobster traps, duck blinds, and clam and oyster digging, and small fish attraction devices such as open water fish concentrators (sea kites, etc.). This NWP does not authorize artificial reefs or impoundments and semiimpoundments of waters of the United States for the culture or holding of motile species such as lobster, or the use of covered oyster trays or clam racks. (Sections 10 and 404)
Nationwide Permit 4. Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities

  • From NOAAs website
quote:
Originally posted by Bishop

This Nationwide Permit authorizes fish and wildlife harvesting devices and activities such as pound nets, crab traps, crab dredging, eel pots, lobster traps, duck blinds, and clam and oyster digging, and small fish attraction devices such as open water fish concentrators (sea kites, etc.). This NWP does not authorize artificial reefs or impoundments and semiimpoundments of waters of the United States for the culture or holding of motile species such as lobster, or the use of covered oyster trays or clam racks. (Sections 10 and 404)
Nationwide Permit 4. Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities

  • From NOAAs website

How about a link?

The Gov Cup article sheds some light, but I can’t say I totally agree with the authors interpretation of the rule. He states that it is illegal to fish or deploy if your vessel is in possession of a HMS permit. He backs up that statement by saying it isn’t listed in the allowable gear list…My question is: Is it on the prohibited gear list?

218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan

quote:
Originally posted by RDW

The Gov Cup article sheds some light, but I can’t say I totally agree with the authors interpretation of the rule. He states that it is illegal to fish or deploy if your vessel is in possession of a HMS permit. He backs up that statement by saying it isn’t listed in the allowable gear list…My question is: Is it on the prohibited gear list?

218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan


I agree. I sent him an email. That being said, is the Army Corps of Engineers permit the "law of the land"? Or do other bodies of government supersede their provisions?

all it takes is an oil or gas rig in 200 ft to produce tons of biomass. oh well, maybe one day.