If you have a few moments...
Concerned anglers,
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is currently planning to rework the laws governing permit (Trachinotus falcatus). Many of you might be unaware that permit are still fished commercially in the state of Florida. While the limit for mature permit (over 20") is only two per day, the is NO harvest limits for fish under 20". Equally alarming, permit are still pursued with spearfishing tackle in federal water (just offshore). Since there are no federal laws concerning the harvest of permit, it is literally open season out there.
This is a great chance to protect the future of this species forever. The Key West and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association supports the following law changes. We want the FWC to list permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species. We also support mandating the permit fishery as catch and release only, with some provision (a stamp or tag system) for the harvest of one fish per day for those pursuing world records. Lastly, we want to see state regulations extended into federal waters to ensure the success of these law changes.
A few minutes or your time could help protect these fish. Any comment in support of these law changes will go a long way. Seriously, public comment plays a very large role in the decision making/law making process. Please, cut&paste and email the comment below to marine@myfwc.com or for those preferring more old fashioned methods, download/print and mail/fax the attachment to:
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
2590 Executive Ctr Circle E #201
Tallahassee, FL 32301
fax: 850 487-4847
Thank you very much for your time and please forward this to anyone you feel might be concerned,
Capt John O'Hearn
President
Key West & Lower Keys Fishing Guides Assc
jpohearn@hotmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Cut and paste, write your name, enter "permit law changes" in the subject box.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FWC Commissioners,
In light of the proposed law changes for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), I would like to voice my opinion. I support listing Permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species.
I support the creation of a catch and release fishery for the species, with some provision (stamp or tag) for possessing one a day.
Lastly, I support the extension of State regulations into federal water to insure complete protection of the species. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
done
done did it
yep,sent
email sent
Thanks guys.
What's McDonalds going to use for fish sandwiches if I do this ;D >:D
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on October 28, 2009, 10:27:01 AM
What's McDonalds going to use for fish sandwiches if I do this ;D >:D
LOL...just send the email. Save the Kermits ;D
good job flatsides ;D 0--0
i'm real edgy right now.... the albies are bustin up lookout and i still have to wait another week to get down there... argggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh.
wally
Done
Quote from: walt on October 30, 2009, 10:31:49 AM
good job flatsides ;D 0--0
i'm real edgy right now.... the albies are bustin up lookout and i still have to wait another week to get down there... argggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh.
wally
I hear you Walt...I can't stand looking at Brian's site any more o-o
Not sure why gamefish status is necessary.
From the perspective of the sport fishing guides it seems simple. They want the entire fishery for themselves. :o
Considering that there is currently no scientific data to reflect a stock status that is in danger, why is it necessary to exclude other user groups from the fishery?
Commercial harvest is <30% of the total and their take has been stable. Also, there are some recreational anglers who actually enjoy eating some of the fish they catch.
Quote from: troutrus on November 02, 2009, 18:12:32 PM
Not sure why gamefish status is necessary.
From the perspective of the sport fishing guides it seems simple. They want the entire fishery for themselves. :o
Considering that there is currently no scientific data to reflect a stock status that is in danger, why is it necessary to exclude other user groups from the fishery?
Commercial harvest is <30% of the total and their take has been stable. Also, there are some recreational anglers who actually enjoy eating some of the fish they catch.
LOL...Is the union working some angle (scam) on permit fishing?
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on October 28, 2009, 10:27:01 AM
What's McDonalds going to use for fish sandwiches if I do this ;D >:D
Creek Chubs!!! ;D
Quote from: Flatlander on November 03, 2009, 08:13:04 AM
Quote from: troutrus on November 02, 2009, 18:12:32 PM
Not sure why gamefish status is necessary.
From the perspective of the sport fishing guides it seems simple. They want the entire fishery for themselves. :o
Considering that there is currently no scientific data to reflect a stock status that is in danger, why is it necessary to exclude other user groups from the fishery?
Commercial harvest is <30% of the total and their take has been stable. Also, there are some recreational anglers who actually enjoy eating some of the fish they catch.
LOL...Is the union working some angle (scam) on permit fishing?
Say what? You lost me with the union comment, but your failure to offer any substantive input would suggest a lack of knowledge on the Permit issue.
Quote from: troutrus on November 07, 2009, 08:20:49 AM
Quote from: Flatlander on November 03, 2009, 08:13:04 AM
Quote from: troutrus on November 02, 2009, 18:12:32 PM
Not sure why gamefish status is necessary.
From the perspective of the sport fishing guides it seems simple. They want the entire fishery for themselves. :o
Considering that there is currently no scientific data to reflect a stock status that is in danger, why is it necessary to exclude other user groups from the fishery?
Commercial harvest is <30% of the total and their take has been stable. Also, there are some recreational anglers who actually enjoy eating some of the fish they catch.
LOL...Is the union working some angle (scam) on permit fishing?
Say what? You lost me with the union comment, but your failure to offer any substantive input would suggest a lack of knowledge on the Permit issue.
Only a tremendous asshole would start an argument about protecting one of the greatest gamefish on the planet. >:D. Look, you're entitled to your opinion...that's fine. Don't sign the petition and leave it at that. I don't really think I need to provide a "substantive" argument here.
Thanks to everyone who signed the petiton. 0--0
I'm uncertain as to why my request for clarification on the need for protection of Permit would be construed as an argument. I was considering signing the petition and was merely seeking some additional information, as I'm not in the habit of signing such without good reason and clear understanding of the issue. Since no one has supplied any good data to suggest additional protection is needed to ensure sustainability of that species, I believe I'll abstain. Don't worry though, there are a bunch of sheep out there that will sign because they were "told" that it was a great idea.
Also, is the name calling really necessary? :-*
Quote from: troutrus on November 08, 2009, 10:19:39 AM
Also, is the name calling really necessary? :-*
Yes, it is because everyone who I know that has actually met you in person has told me that you are a tremendous asshole. So, until someone can provide me with some good data suggesting that you are not an asshole, I will abstain from not calling you one.
Quote from: Flatlander on November 08, 2009, 10:30:12 AM
Quote from: troutrus on November 08, 2009, 10:19:39 AM
Also, is the name calling really necessary? :-*
Yes, it is because everyone who I know that has actually met you in person has told me that you are a tremendous asshole. So, until someone can provide me with some good data suggesting that you are not an asshole, I will abstain from not calling you one.
i havent always seen eye to eye with trouts on here. but i have met him in person, and i think he is a pretty good guy.
as for data suggesting he is not an asshole. all i can say is about a year and a half ago. he gave me a orvis bamboo rod for free. yes it needed some work, and i have since fixed it up and caught trout on it... to me that doesnt sound like an asshole.
Quote from: Flatlander on November 08, 2009, 10:30:12 AM
Quote from: troutrus on November 08, 2009, 10:19:39 AM
Also, is the name calling really necessary? :-*
Yes, it is because everyone who I know that has actually met you in person has told me that you are a tremendous asshole. So, until someone can provide me with some good data suggesting that you are not an asshole, I will abstain from not calling you one.
I've only met a handful of folks that frequent these forums. All meetings were very casual and very cordial in my estimation. That would leave me to believe that some were actually two faced bastards or you are full of shit. Either way, I couldn't care less.
Getting away from the personal bullshit and back to the topic of this thread, the lack of supporting data concerning the need for additional protection of the Permit would seem to suggest that this petition is just another effort from a group of elitists to monopolize a natural public resource for their own purposes at the expense of other user groups.
Asking for data that doesn't exist (there is no data on Permit stocks) and then suggesting that the data doesn't support protection for Permit because there is no dat seems pretty flimsy to me.
Furthermore, Permit aren't protected in Federal waters where they spawn. When Permit are spawning, they are as dumb as a bag of hammers and easily taken with live crabs or spear guns. For-hire party boats of anglers and spear fishermen, as well as recreational anglers, frequently target spawning Permit aggregations, which occur in the same places every year. If you think that's a good idea, then that's your opinion. I don't think that's a good idea and would like to see Florida state regulations apply to federal waters concerning Permit.
As far a Florida guides being self-serving and in this for their own gain, I couldn't disagree more. While I am sure there are unethical guides out there, most that I have dealt with are very protective of the fishery and have its best interests in mind. I think you are way off base.
"Though susceptible to overfishing, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) does not currently list the permit as an endangered or vulnerable species. The IUCN (a global union of states, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations in a partnership) assesses the conservation status of species."
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/permit/permit.html
I agree that our resources need to be managed to protect from overharvest. I do not agree that a species should be restricted to catch and release or gamefish status just to satisfy one user group, particularly when current practices don't seem to be a threat to that species.
If you are truly concerned about pressuring fish during the spawn, maybe you could circulate a petition to close rivers to all fishing while the trout are spawning. Early October through mid June should about cover it.
Tell me this....who eats permit? Do you see it on menus?
Or is the commercial catch just for cat food or fertilizer?
Jis wonderin...
Quote from: Beetle on November 09, 2009, 18:43:05 PM
Tell me this....who eats permit? Do you see it on menus?
Or is the commercial catch just for cat food or fertilizer?
Jis wonderin...
I've never seen it listed on a menu, but have eaten it in a couple restaurants in Florida where it was served as "catch of the day".
Chances are that many folks who thought they were catching and eating Pompano were actually eating Permit. Juvenile Permit look very similar to Pompano and they frequent the same waters. The fishing regs lump the two fish together for creel limit purposes.
Quote from: troutrus on November 09, 2009, 19:20:53 PM
The fishing regs lump the two fish together for creel limit purposes.
No regs or creel limits for Permit in federal waters, where they spawn.
Quote from: Flatlander on November 09, 2009, 19:43:19 PM
Quote from: troutrus on November 09, 2009, 19:20:53 PM
The fishing regs lump the two fish together for creel limit purposes.
No regs or creel limits for Permit in federal waters, where they spawn.
I believe that was established in your original post. (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd188/bowsreign/Beating_A_Dead_Horse_by_livius.gif)
I think ther'll be some preliminary information next month on proposed rule changes. Let's hope they make choices that will be best for the fish and allow all user groups to enjoy the public resource.
You know, I'll bet folks didn't see any need to do something to protect bonefish 30-40 years in Florida. Look at that fishery now, estimated to be down 80-85% from what it used to be. A bonefish has an estimated economic value of $3500 annually to Florida's economy...that's potentially $70,000 over its conceivable lifetime.
I don't have any problem extending state creel limits into Federal waters. Personally, I don't care about keeping or eating Permit. I don't have a problem with people who want to eat fish. Modify the email to reflect that if you wish, but don't accuse people who take action to conserve a tremendous resource of being "sheep" or "elitists who want it all for themselves". My opinion is that it's better to act now while the fish are in relatively good shape than it is to wait until they get into trouble.
Well, it looks like things fell apart on the effort to protect Permit in Florida.
http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2009/11/opinion-florida-wildlife-commi.html (http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2009/11/opinion-florida-wildlife-commi.html)
Thanks to all who sent the FWC an email in support. 0--0 As for those of you who opposed...I fart in your general direction >:D
Too bad. Is it a dead issue or is there a chance it can be approached from another angle?