Good afternoon, Forum. Ron knows what he is speaking about as his livelihood depends on the waters that surround Edisto Island. He is on these waters almost everyday and has been for years. I believe he qualifies as an subject expert when comes to the waters extending from Church Creek to Beaufort.
I read the entire five pages of this post and I have only one thing to add: I believe that the ahingas or cormorants are part of the problem. These birds target juvenile fish of all species and have NO natural predators. I put a LOT of time in on the water and can attest to their growing population. We all now that you can shoot them on the lakes and I believe this option should extend to saltwater.
Personally, this has been one the best years fishing I can ever remember, but I fish many different areas from Toogoodoo to Beaufort and choose days when conditions are conducive to catching fish. These include a rising barometer, incoming tide, southwest wind, normal tides, and a favorable moon phase. Looking back over this year, I fished over a hundred times with the wife and/or buddies and was only skunked twice. However, I know others who can’t say the same and I have seen a decrease in large schools of fish over the past three years. In our experiences, trout numbers seem to up while redfish numbers are in the decline.
One more thing mentioned in the posts are people fishing from the roads and the total lack of presence of DNR agents. Of all the trips taken this year, I saw a DNR boat twice and wasn’t checked once, either on the water or at a landing.
If the state needs more money to bolster DNR’s presence, why not raise the cost of a fishing license; $10.00 a year is a little ridiculous in these times? Also, fines for breaking slot limits should be as high as possible to dissuade folks from even attempting to break them.
Finally, I agree wholeheartedly to the proposed redfish regulations and would even advocate a catch and release for one or two species a year until population numbers increase signif
Just checked a honey hole and no floaters to be seen and the water didn’t feel much colder than the 29th. This area has a lot of flats and shallow water that should warm with the sun a decent amount during the day. I also think the tides we have been having may help some.
Glad to see lots of agreement on state of our redfishery in here, besides the typical childish arguing that is somehow unavoidable on this forum.
Its my belief that the depletion is multifaceted but all coming back to various forms of pressure and reduction of stocking. More development degrading the water quality, more dolphins, more birds of prey, more cormorants, more clueless new-resident recreational anglers filling coolers, more bay boat guides with fish killer 1 time tourist clients, more pressure on breeders all spring/summer/fall, more fly boys in skiffs constantly harassing what inshore schools are still left, et al. The state of fishing today across the nation is depressing with everyone wanting to be a social media hero or some brand ambassador (see insta bikini chicks). The vast majority can’t even catch a cold, yet they use the same couple of fish for weeks worth of posts. Its absolutely crazy to see how many new shallow water red fisherman there are, given the state of our fishery. Last year one rainy day, I got on google earth and counted 40ish schools from just Sullivans to Bulls bay that are either totally gone or depleted to the point of unfishable numbers. And these were all at least 50+ fish (fall/winter) just 5 years ago. This deficit then way overcrowds the still productive areas.
In a perfect world I’d like to see both trout and reds at 0 this year especially. In reality any reduction would be helpful, however it will take a long time to see results if stocking and enforcement aren’t equally increased. The hurdles we face in changing laws is the amount of rock solid data needed to get the bill into the state house, and from there getting upstate legislators to see the larger picture and not be resentful at taking away their constituents ability to fill coolers. My main gripe is that it has to become some huge crisis before anything gets done, no proactivity to manage fishery health.
Glad to see lots of agreement on state of our redfishery in here, besides the typical childish arguing that is somehow unavoidable on this forum.
Its my belief that the depletion is multifaceted but all coming back to various forms of pressure and reduction of stocking. More development degrading the water quality, more dolphins, more birds of prey, more cormorants, more clueless new-resident recreational anglers filling coolers, more bay boat guides with fish killer 1 time tourist clients, more pressure on breeders all spring/summer/fall, more fly boys in skiffs constantly harassing what inshore schools are still left, et al. The state of fishing today across the nation is depressing with everyone wanting to be a social media hero or some brand ambassador (see insta bikini chicks). The vast majority can’t even catch a cold, yet they use the same couple of fish for weeks worth of posts. Its absolutely crazy to see how many new shallow water red fisherman there are, given the state of our fishery. Last year one rainy day, I got on google earth and counted 40ish schools from just Sullivans to Bulls bay that are either totally gone or depleted to the point of unfishable numbers. And these were all at least 50+ fish (fall/winter) just 5 years ago. This deficit then way overcrowds the still productive areas.
In a perfect world I’d like to see both trout and reds at 0 this year especially. In reality any reduction would be helpful, however it will take a long time to see results if stocking and enforcement aren’t equally increased. The hurdles we face in changing laws is the amount of rock solid data needed to get the bill into the state house, and from there getting upstate legislators to see the larger picture and not be resentful at taking away their constituents ability to fill coolers. My main gripe is that it has to become some hu
Those that don’t honor the existing slot size and creel limit won’t honor a new one either. The only ones being “punished” (for lack of a better term) are the honest fishermen like myself. I’m a recreational fisherman (at best) and only make infrequent trips to the coast to scratch my saltwater itch. Ten to twelve years ago, it was not uncommon for my 8-10 saltwater fishing trips to produce ZERO redfish. However, within the last 6-8 years, I have been able to catch several short reds but rarely one in the 15-23 slot size (maybe 1 or 2 per year - MAYBE). I only say this to indicate that I don’t see the decline in the reds (or trout) population that the guides along the coast are seeing. I’m actually seeing (not keeping) more reds than I ever have in the saltwater around Edisto. Again, I don’t live on the coast so I can only respond to what I see from my experience. I would however like to echo something so many have already said - raise the price for a saltwater license and increase stocking and enforcement (especially enforcement). In the 200-300 trips I’ve made to saltwater, I’ve been checked 1 time.
Kevin
1720 Sea Hunt w/ 115 hp Yam
M’Ocean Sickness
As always its all about the money! A real fisherman would not gripe at doubleing the licence fee. The idiots we eleected to run this state th ink that an increse will hurt the tourisom. and realy don’t give rats A about the home boys! It take money to add feet on the ground not to mention, truck, boats, 4 wheelers. The wildlife commision should have more say in the running of this states resorces!
As always its all about the money! A real fisherman would not gripe at doubleing the licence fee. The idiots we eleected to run this state th ink that an increse will hurt the tourisom. and realy don’t give rats A about the home boys! It take money to add feet on the ground not to mention, truck, boats, 4 wheelers. The wildlife commision should have more say in the running of this states resorces!
That’s because they’re a bunch of dinosaurs and their thinking is light years behind. That’s why it’s always such an ordeal to make changes. Sadly, a lot of the dinosaurs’ more-affluent constituents are dinosaurs themselves and share the same “light years behind” mentality. Put the two together and it’s a frustrating recipe, at best, as it pertains to being proactive and/or making progressive change. Too many proposals are met with the “the way we’ve always done things” mentality. Well, needs change, especially when we’re talking about the management needs of natural resources. You can’t be static when you’re dealing with a dynamic subject matter.
As always its all about the money! A real fisherman would not gripe at doubleing the licence fee. The idiots we eleected to run this state th ink that an increse will hurt the tourisom. and realy don’t give rats A about the home boys! It take money to add feet on the ground not to mention, truck, boats, 4 wheelers. The wildlife commision should have more say in the running of this states resorces!
That’s because they’re a bunch of dinosaurs and their thinking is light years behind. That’s why it’s always such an ordeal to make changes. Sadly, a lot of the dinosaurs’ more-affluent constituents are dinosaurs themselves and share the same “light years behind” mentality. Put the two together and it’s a frustrating recipe, at best, as it pertains to being proactive and/or making progressive change. Too many proposals are met with the “the way we’ve always done things” mentality. Well, needs change, especially when we’re talking about the management needs of natural resources. You can’t be static when you’re dealing with a dynamic subject matter.
“…be a man and PM me.”
Ding ding ding…DNR doesn’t have power to set the rules and regulations only provide recommendations. I guess the legislature knows better than the biologists. Its ridiculous that the agency in charge of the state’s natural resources doesn’t have more control or power over what it is supposed to be managing.
Edit: I didn’t read through all the posts so this may have been brought up. But there is al
Just goes to show it has nothing to do with biologists or biology. It’s all about 'good’ol boy politics." Plus, the General Assembly knows the uninformed and misinformed hunter and/or fisherman is going to blame the DNR for pretty much anything that happens and is at odds with said hunter’s or fisherman’s ideology/methodology so they’re off the hook.
Politicians and politics have no business in the management of our natural resources. Granted, there are those among us that believe the DNR has some kind of hidden agenda and in believing so, they spin the most asinine conspiracy theories I’ve ever seen, X-files included, and are overly-suspicious of the DNR. It’s also funny to point out that some of those same people that don’t trust the DNR have also found themselves on the wrong said of the law, as it pertains to their interactions with the DNR.
Many would be surprised how many DNR staff are stakeholders in both hunting and fishing…not smelly hippies with dreads eating tofu sammiches trying to shut everything down.
The dnr is supposed to INFORM the public about natural resources and help people understand how to manage them. Check there social media accounts and see if there is more efforts on here or there to inform people about our current situations. Last I checked it was pretty easy to make statements online.
.not smelly hippies with dreads eating tofu sammiches trying to shut everything down.
LOL, you remind me of a few I actually know. They literally cried when Hillary lost the election to Trump!! And yes they are smelly. Not sure the disdain for washing and deodorant? That “gone nose Blind” Commercial comes to mind. Even if I’m out camping and all I have is ice water to wash with… I’m gonna wash before I go to sleep.
The dnr is supposed to INFORM the public about natural resources and help people understand how to manage them. Check there social media accounts and see if there is more efforts on here or there to inform people about our current situations. Last I checked it was pretty easy to make statements online.
You can only “inform” people that are interested in the information you’re trying to give. From what I’ve seen, anytime the DNR posts anything on social media in an attempt to “inform” people, the ignorant mouth-breathers come out from under their rocks and bash the DNR for messing up hunting or messing up fishing. Personally, I believe it’s more difficult to manage said ignorance than it is to manage or state’s natural resources.
The dnr is supposed to INFORM the public about natural resources and help people understand how to manage them. Check there social media accounts and see if there is more efforts on here or there to inform people about our current situations. Last I checked it was pretty easy to make statements online.
You can only “inform” people that are interested in the information you’re trying to give. From what I’ve seen, anytime the DNR posts anything on social media in an attempt to “inform” people, the ignorant mouth-breathers come out from under their rocks and bash the DNR for messing up hunting or messing up fishing. Personally, I believe it’s more difficult to manage said ignorance than it is to manage or state’s natural resources.
“…be a man and PM me.”
This is about the extent of my social media, but I was shared a story about DNR catching some Jack Holes pouring beer down an alligators mouth from a picture on Facebook. Everyone was very supportive of DNR. It seems most really like the fact that DNR is looking out for our resources.
Hey 40 if you are that concerned about the resource maybe you should stop giving away exact fishing locations with pictures online…This just happened last week its going to take them some time to figure out the extent of the damage.
What spot did I give away? Bump that post so I can see it and you can back up your statement. I would love for you to show me 1 example of me giving an exact spot away. It should be real easy to do.
40 how about the pic you put up of where you found a school of reds in the Folly and took it down shortly thereafter? Think it was a couple weeks ago. There have been other occasions in the past that I am not looking up in the search function.
Also, DNR still has to get approval from the legislature for an emergency closure, so technically they don’t have complete control over the decision. Albeit they would most likely be on board for an emergency closure if it was recommended.
I am done arguing with you 40. Good luck with your future fishing endeavors.