Last week, the SAFMC approved the following no-fishing spawning Special Management Zones as the preferred alternatives in proposed Snapper-Grouper Amendment 36:
North Carolina: South Cape Lookout - 5 sq. miles
South Carolina: Devil’s Hole/Georgetown Hole - 3.1 sq. miles
Georgia: No sites
Florida: Warsaw Hole - 1 sq. mile
While it’s a significant accomplishment to have the total amount of proposed closed areas reduced from 70 sq. miles to about 9 sq. miles, there is still no justification for the action, which will unnecessarily hurt fishermen and fishing communities.
The SAFMC effectively deferred action on the snapper-grouper Vision Project until next month, when hopefully they will honor their promise of a “stakeholder-driven” plan and remove overwhelmingly opposed catch shares, closed fishing areas, and electronic vessel monitoring from the project.
The SAFMC e-mailed me today and I would like to re-phrase their note of justification for the un-necessary closure of the "spawning areas. :
“the Council is pleased to be closing another area to fishing. We received LOTS of support from the environmental groups and ignored any comments from anyone that fishes. After all the thousands of EDF members, PEW supporters, and the thousands of Sierra members are stakeholders too. Soon all the productive fishing areas will be closed , and all fish will live full,and happy lives”
Duck em all…shudda took that convoy to Columbia and made the news headlines by shutting down traffic like the liberals would have done instead of playing nice…
Spare me the that wouldn’t work BS Cuz the current strategy sure as hail ain’t working worth a dame.
I was schooled on politics a while back and was told to always follow the money…Now I don’t know who’s cashing checks while telling everybody to just remain calm while compromise works its course.
CORRECTION:
This version of the news release updates information about the number of proposed spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) chosen by the Council as preferred sites at the recent September 2015 Council meeting. The Council chose five (5) preferred alternatives for spawning Special Management Zone (SMZ) sites including,
a five square mile area off the coast of North Carolina known as the South Cape Lookout site;
a 3.1 square mile area off the coast of Georgetown, South Carolina called “Devil’s Hole” or “Georgetown Hole”; 3) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 51; 4) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 53; and
a one square mile area off the east coast of the Florida Keys referred to as the “Warsaw Hole”.
I’m curious as to how they can LEGALLY justify creating a “Special Spawning Zone” for Area 51 (60’ of water) and Area 53 (90’ of water)? These do not match the criteria for a spawning zone. First of all, they are artificial reefs created by DNR, not historical “spawning zones”. Secondly, those are not the depths that speckled hind and warsaw are associated with AT ALL… Looks like there were able to ride these in on the ticket. I understand that DNR wants to protect these areas that they have invested in, but they are already protected by the fact that only a handful of people know where they are… Not only that, but this creates a VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE in which they can create a reef and THEN designated it as an MPA. This is dishonest. They should be going the completely opposite direction. This sets a precedence where they can put a field of landmine MPAs all up and down the east coast. Imagine how hard it’s going to be to keep track of where you can fish and where you can’t.
The DNR created these spots with OUR MONEY!!! and now we cant fish that in which we’re invested
quote:Originally posted by skinneej
Woah… Hold the horses… Check out their UPDATE:
CORRECTION:
This version of the news release updates information about the number of proposed spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) chosen by the Council as preferred sites at the recent September 2015 Council meeting. The Council chose five (5) preferred alternatives for spawning Special Management Zone (SMZ) sites including,
a five square mile area off the coast of North Carolina known as the South Cape Lookout site;
a 3.1 square mile area off the coast of Georgetown, South Carolina called “Devil’s Hole” or “Georgetown Hole”; 3) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 51; 4) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 53; and
a one square mile area off the east coast of the Florida Keys referred to as the “Warsaw Hole”.
I’m curious as to how they can LEGALLY justify creating a “Special Spawning Zone” for Area 51 (60’ of water) and Area 53 (90’ of water)? These do not match the criteria for a spawning zone. First of all, they are artificial reefs created by DNR, not historical “spawning zones”. Secondly, those are not the depths that speckled hind and warsaw are associated with AT ALL… Looks like there were able to ride these in on the ticket. I understand that DNR wants to protect these areas that they have invested in, but they are already protected by the fact that only a handful of people know where they are… Not only that, but this creates a VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE in which they can create a reef and THEN designated it as an MPA. This is dishonest. They should be going the completely opposite direction. This sets a precedence where they can put a fiel
Makes sense to me,less experienced folks fish the reefs,semi pro anglers and pro anglers don’t…
Anybody from group one that is on the council or has the least bit of pull with the council please raise your hands…
Unless you hitch a ride or wait years to go on that ride why even worry about it…Believe me,your best bet is to fish where they let or fish where you want to and try and dodge the man if you can figure out who the man really is…You think closing the reefs down was an accident?? More like a sacrificial lamb is what it is.
I’m going to fish with my buddies and take pics without mentioning sponsors and have fun like the old school guys so many of us brag about learning from…
They would have laughed at that don’t ya think…Really,is there any difference between a fish whore back then vs now???
If I get really serious, I’m gonna give Sell’s a shout and pay him his money he honestly told me about up front…Then I will be just as good as some of the council dudes and all it cost me was a few bills of which I’m sure would be well worth the price…What’s worth more,a book
full of proven numbers away from the protected areas or a promise that might take you the same spot if and when the invite comes?
a 3.1 square mile area off the coast of Georgetown, South Carolina called “Devil’s Hole” or “Georgetown Hole”; 3) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 51; 4) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 53; and
a one square mile area off the east coast of the Florida Keys referred to as the “Warsaw Hole”.
I’m curious as to how they can LEGALLY justify creating a “Special Spawning Zone” for Area 51 (60’ of water) and Area 53 (90’ of water)? These do not match the criteria for a spawning zone.
If they do this then I guess the top secret DNR testing artificial reefs while have to have numbers now posted. Have to go out there on a cloudy day when Satellite can’t pick you up. Wonder if they will put buoys encircling the areas? If so we could have a local diver sneak in and move said buoy in a few hundred yards and be legal “just outside”! you in skinneej?
All of this stinks of big money, lobbyists and a splash of PETA.
Fred67, no need to worry. If they move forward I will likely personally publish the numbers for both locations, right here in CF.com, a month or two before they go into effect. At least the taxpayers can reap some of their investment. And YES, I do have the coordinates for BOTH locations.
There will not be any buoys, but to your point, they will not be able to enforce no fishing there against anyone with a radar.
Fish wherever you want! What’s the chances, you’ll got caught? Put on your Big Boy Pants and go for it! Pay the fine if your to stupid to cut the lines, if a boat roars up on you! Do you think the Government, has the money to have a boat sitting on that spot 24/7 Oh, maybe they might have a dedicated satellite, in a geosynchronous orbit, watching that 1 spot! In that case maybe you better stay home! This past week I was fishing on the US/Canadian border! I mean right on the border. Had to check the Chartplotter to make sure we didn’t cross it while trolling! We saw Ice on the US side, always on land! Never did we see US/Canadian ICE, on the water. We could have smuggled anything we wanted across that border! And your worried about a 5 mile no fishing zone[:0]
Easy, the fear is that they will make an example out of the few that are caught. We do not know what the fines or punishment is, so it might not be worth it. Instead, people should write nasty letters to SC DNR and the council on this one expressing their anger and frustration. Typically SAFMC doesnt care, but SCDNR usually does care! I don’t think it’s too late for this one, but through apathy we will keep on losing.
Fish wherever you want! What’s the chances, you’ll got caught? Put on your Big Boy Pants and go for it! Pay the fine if your to stupid to cut the lines, if a boat roars up on you! Do you think the Government, has the money to have a boat sitting on that spot 24/7 Oh, maybe they might have a dedicated satellite, in a geosynchronous orbit, watching that 1 spot! In that case maybe you better stay home! This past week I was fishing on the US/Canadian border! I mean right on the border. Had to check the Chartplotter to make sure we didn’t cross it while trolling! We saw Ice on the US side, always on land! Never did we see US/Canadian ICE, on the water. We could have smuggled anything we wanted across that border! And your worried about a 5 mile no fishing zone[:0]
Easy, I think I understand your zest, but alas I prefer to abide by the law as I age and just don’t have the youthful vigor of breaking the law because I can… but if you want a fishing partner to fish area 51 I’ll ride with you and swear I had no clue where we were fishing.
Fred, do you only cross the street at the light, or do you cross when and where you want, if there is no oncoming traffic? I can see abiding by the law, when it make sense to! This is not the case! I’m 68 years old, so what are they going to do to me? They can’t take much or put me in jail for very long! Why do we put up with the stupid shi** that they are pulling, with no recourse! Everyone just sit’s by and takes it!
Fred, do you only cross the street at the light, or do you cross when and where you want, if there is no oncoming traffic? I can see abiding by the law, when it make sense to! This is not the case! I’m 68 years old, so what are they going to do to me? They can’t take much or put me in jail for very long! Why do we put up with the stupid shi** that they are pulling, with no recourse! Everyone just sit’s by and takes it!
As to what they could do to you? I don’t know, sometimes it seems a simple traffic violator gets in more trouble than a shop lifter today.
No doubt this is stupid sh$% and make no sense. If they go forward with this crap and Skinneej throws out the numbers, let’s go fish it. I’ll buy the snacks and beverages.
If a Convoy to Columbia is organized like Capehorn suggested, count me in.
Oh, maybe they might have a dedicated satellite, in a geosynchronous orbit, watching that 1 spot! In that case maybe you better stay home! This past week I was fishing on the US/Canadian border! I mean right on the border. Had to check the Chartplotter to make sure we didn’t cross it while trolling! We saw Ice on the US side, always on land! Never did we see US/Canadian ICE, on the water. We could have smuggled anything we wanted across that border! And your worried about a 5 mile no fishing zone[:0]