Bag Limit goes from 3 to 2 with a boat limit of 6.
Slot Changes from 15-23 to 18-26
Gigging is banned for REDS ONLY.
CCA and DNR seem to be in agreement on these changes. Just curious of your thoughts.
Thanks.
I’m in favor! I like to proposed slot limit from a culinary standpoint.
17’ Mako
16’ Alumacraft
I like these changes
I have never gone gigging but thought it wasn’t very good for reds to be taken like that.
01 Scout 177 w/ 150 hpdi
It’s a move in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough in my opinion. In the Edisto area, flats reds are down over 90% from 2010. Several formerly productive flats are now deserts. Very few upper slot and over slot fish remain on the flats from Church Creek to Bull River. The largest schools remaining have 50-100 fish as opposed to 300 to over 500. It’s sad to say the least. What makes it even sadder is that no one knows why, including our biologists. It definitely is not fishing pressure around here, so until the reasons are determined, I believe there needs to be catch and release only in the areas that are severely depleted.
I’m in favor. Remember, we can all choose to follow personal catch and creel limits that are more restrictive than the law allows. Just because you can keep a limit doesn’t mean you should.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYIt’s a move in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough in my opinion. In the Edisto area, flats reds are down over 90% from 2010. Several formerly productive flats are now deserts. Very few upper slot and over slot fish remain on the flats from Church Creek to Bull River. The largest schools remaining have 50-100 fish as opposed to 300 to over 500. It’s sad to say the least. What makes it even sadder is that no one knows why, including our biologists. It definitely is not fishing pressure around here, so until the reasons are determined, I believe there needs to be catch and release only in the areas that are severely depleted.
You really think they are down 90%? I’m not seeing it. I’ve never had a trip that I was unable to find them in the Edisto, Asheepoo, or Combahee. While underslot and slot stayed the same , actually caught more over slot this year. Granted I’m just a lone individual.
I guess I should reassess my dislike of this proposal. If able to keep a couple up to 26" I could see the reduction to 2 fish. Two 26" would provide supper and limit their likely demise when released.
Since 2010 we have had several serious storms and floods. These could be factors in displacement. That really is a bummer about your area. But not the slap in the face that is going on in my area. My area has poachers and I’ve reported it several times but I’ve seen less of a presence of DNR each time I report it. In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a DNR out in the early am or late at night or when its cold and rainy. Poacher are aware of this and work around the 9 to 5 sunshine time.
Fred, how often do you fish the area? Do you fish creeks or flats mainly? What do you consider a good day or being “able to find them” when pursuing redfish? Honestly, I haven’t spoken to anyone in this area who believes the redfish population is healthy here and yes, the flats populations are down 90%. You can actually do head counts when the water is clear on the flats.
I’m in agreement 100%. Never did like to see Red’s gigged either. I am catch and release and so is my boat for anyone in it.
quote:The schools that used to line the ICW from the harbor to bulls bay are nowhere near the same than in years past. Used to have a school not 3 minutes from the marina that was several hundred fish strong and it disappeared completely. I blame Hoppy.
Originally posted by RADDADDYIt’s a move in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough in my opinion. In the Edisto area, flats reds are down over 90% from 2010. Several formerly productive flats are now deserts. Very few upper slot and over slot fish remain on the flats from Church Creek to Bull River. The largest schools remaining have 50-100 fish as opposed to 300 to over 500. It’s sad to say the least. What makes it even sadder is that no one knows why, including our biologists. It definitely is not fishing pressure around here, so until the reasons are determined, I believe there needs to be catch and release only in the areas that are severely depleted.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
50% of the schools in Wadmalaw Sound and St. Helena Sound have completely disappeared.
Thank you for your thoughts. I can speak to the fishery between Murrells and Bulls Bay and can tell you that I’m seeing the same thing. Winter schools that used to be 300 strong prior to 2010 are maybe 50 strong now. Some have been depleted completely. I proposed some catch and release areas a few years ago to try to get ahead of this, but the meat fisherman almost used me as bait. I think a realistic compromise between conservation-minded folk and meat-minded folk is to reduce the limit but increase the slot. Hopefully this will accomplish the mission.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
Please address the “why.”
You say those schools have been depleted, whose to say that those fish didn’t just “grow up” and move along? Most of the schools have the same general size fish in them from what I remember.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYPlease address the “why.”
over powered bay boats everywhere ?
Fritz, how much experience do you have fishing the flats around Edisto? There is only so much habitat in which the fish have to take up residence as juveniles. This is the lowest flats population I have seen in this area. Don’t be ignorant for the sake of argument.
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYPlease address the “why.”
I’m sorry…maybe I missed something somewhere. If the question is “why does it need to happen,” then I think you have plenty of anecdotal evidence here. Aside from that, DNR reports that our recruitment is aproximately 20-25% when we should be at 40%. DNR’s data shows a very clear trend of overfishing since 2007. Hope that answers your question.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
quote:
Originally posted by CaptFritzYou say those schools have been depleted, whose to say that those fish didn’t just “grow up” and move along? Most of the schools have the same general size fish in them from what I remember.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
I’m sure some do move on. That’s life. The schools that I’ve fished over the years tended to have an abundance of over-slot fish for a number of years before the schools plummeted and went to under-sized fish. With that said, I’ve seen guys sit on a school and stick fish after fish in the boat. Once they find the school, they come back the next day, and the next day, until there’s nothing left. Different issue, but concerning nonetheless.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
Mr. Goldfinch, the question is why have flats schools vacated previously filled areas with very little pressure? I mean no disrespect and appreciate all the work you have done, but the Georgetown area ( north inlet) and Cape Romain are WAY down as well. Why aren’t the juveniles repopulating? I’m getting the vibe from you that fishing pressure is the problem. Again, it’s not the problem in this area. Chaleston and Beaufort guides used to come here for better fishing. This is no longer the case.