Changes to Elliot key / Biscayne National Park Rules/Regs.

  • Good News, but* - Florida Sportsman


    Looks like they are considering all kinds of wacky stuff that will aim to limit fishing and spearfishing in the area. Although it looks like they may be backing away from the more aggressive proposals I was reading about earlier.


    Quote


    Possible management actions to achieve substantial improvement of fisheries resources could include considerable increases in minimum size limits, designation of slot limits, substantial decreases in bag limits, and seasonal and/or spatial closures. Under Alternative 4, lobster mini-season would be eliminated in the Park and regulations would be enacted to prohibit the use of an air supply or gear with a trigger mechanism while spearfish- ing.

  • If it does ban the use of guns it makes a big issue for us practically. How are you supposed to prove that you didn't stop and spear in the park when you have guns and fish with spear holes in em? We all go through the park from homestead, black point, mattheson even Crandon really.


    I see enforcement having way too much leeway for this to be well applied. The judge is supposed to be the fact finder and the officer is the gatherer of evidence. In this scenario(and many many on the water) the officer doesn't know the law ergo he doesn't do the right inquiry and there is no good approach with the judge.

    i like to spear fish

  • Before moving from South Florida to Singapore in 2002 - me and a friend made a spearfishing trip in his boat where he drove and I dove. Very easy to lose track (no GPS) of exactly where you are. We got busted for illegally spearfishing in restricted areas of Key Largo. Fortunately I hadn't seen anything big enough to spear and had by passed several Gags and Muttens that may have been legal. $200.00 fine regardless of not having a fish in the boat but I was in the water with a loaded speargun when busted.


    Getting harder on both coasts, primarily Florida South East and California.


    The future looks tougher for spearos :frustrated1::frustrated1:

  • They just never give up, every few months some one proposes new regulations for BNP, they want to keep people out of the water with spear guns yet let the commercial guys tear up the bottom with there traps, or expand the port and dredge what has been 'protected, no entry zones' for years.

  • If it does ban the use of guns it makes a big issue for us practically. How are you supposed to prove that you didn't stop and spear in the park when you have guns and fish with spear holes in em? We all go through the park from homestead, black point, mattheson even Crandon really.


    I see enforcement having way too much leeway for this to be well applied. The judge is supposed to be the fact finder and the officer is the gatherer of evidence. In this scenario(and many many on the water) the officer doesn't know the law ergo he doesn't do the right inquiry and there is no good approach with the judge.


    Dont forget BNP extends 3 miles out as well. Pretty much everything under 40ft from fowey light to the start of john pennekamp is BNP.

  • Before moving from South Florida to Singapore in 2002 - me and a friend made a spearfishing trip in his boat where he drove and I dove. Very easy to lose track (no GPS) of exactly where you are. We got busted for illegally spearfishing in restricted areas of Key Largo. Fortunately I hadn't seen anything big enough to spear and had by passed several Gags and Muttens that may have been legal. $200.00 fine regardless of not having a fish in the boat but I was in the water with a loaded speargun when busted.


    Getting harder on both coasts, primarily Florida South East and California.


    The future looks tougher for spearos :frustrated1::frustrated1:


    ah the dreaded 300' depth area which obviously extends more then the normal 3 mile law :laughing: they have a small cesna that flies over reporting people spearing now

  • "Spearfishing and recreational fishing NEEDS the NRA"
    This has been one of my mantras for years and years. NRA is not perfect, but it has PROVEN to SUCCESSFULLY fight off those who would stop us from spearing and fishing. Many spearos and fishermen also are also gun hunters. Only makes sense that the NRA ALSO support those of us that hunt in the water.

  • "Spearfishing and recreational fishing NEEDS the NRA"
    This has been one of my mantras for years and years. NRA is not perfect, but it has PROVEN to SUCCESSFULLY fight off those who would stop us from spearing and fishing. Many spearos and fishermen also are also gun hunters. Only makes sense that the NRA ALSO support those of us that hunt in the water.


    You and I have both written them letters. they are not interested because there are not enough of us and we are not a unified group.

    i like to spear fish

  • You and I have both written them letters. they are not interested because there are not enough of us and we are not a unified group.


    "Not a unified group" is EXACTLY why we need a "unified group" with lots of clout and money and supporters to fight for our spearin rights in DC and Cali and Florida and etc.


    Sorry to say, but I have given up. I have now left the conti US and am happily spearin every day in the Pacific. I havn't been stopped and searched yet, haven't been threatened by boaters and LEOs or PETA. People stand at the beach and are happy to see me come to shore with dead fish.

  • "Spearfishing and recreational fishing NEEDS the NRA"


    This has been one of my mantras for years and years. NRA is not perfect, but it has PROVEN to SUCCESSFULLY fight off those who would stop us from spearing and fishing. Many spearos and fishermen also are also gun hunters. Only makes sense that the NRA ALSO support those of us that hunt in the water.



    That could help, but I think an organization like safari club international (SCI) would be more sympathetic as it's a world hunting organization. I did see a blue fin tuna spear fishing trip at a booth during there Vegas show back in February.

  • Just some unfounded misconceptions.


    Chief, reading that article the only thing I see that would affect us is this bit

    Quote

    Park and regulations would be enacted to prohibit the use of an air supply or gear with a trigger mechanism while spearfishing

    Even so a chance to really be productive with a sling and polespear is not such a bad thing. Still I don't see how they'd differentiate between fish taken with a speargun or polespear/sling.

  • What do people have against spearing?


    As I work at a dive shop, this conversation is brought up nearly every day. I was speaking with an FWC officer the other day and her explanation was this. "while spearfisherman make up a relatively small portion of those taking fish, they are responsible for the majority of violations and poaching" I have no idea of the credibility of this statement but regardless of its accuracy, this is a terrible perception of our community.


    I'm all for smaller bag limits, closed seasons, and increased sizes but sling/gun is silly. Anyone who has been to the Bahamas knows that a sling/polespear can be just as effective as a gun. The only ways to have more fish is to kill fewer fish or allow more fish to reproduce. Either way the impact of recreational fisherman (spearos included) pales in comparison to the numbers harvested by the commercial guys.

  • Polespear and sling are effective in Bahamas because there's no pressure from spearguns in Bahamas. Try to use them in Miami and see how far you get.



    At first it will be difficult but I know people that effectively fish in miami with slings. Shooting a bunch of 12" hogs would be pretty easy even here. However long term it won't effectively reduce the number of fish killed. The pressure from the number of divers and number of fish being taken is the key. Even in the bahamas fishing isn't what it was 20 years ago and it has always been sling/polespear only.

  • At first it will be difficult but I know people that effectively fish in miami with slings. Shooting a bunch of 12" hogs would be pretty easy even here. However long term it won't effectively reduce the number of fish killed. The pressure from the number of divers and number of fish being taken is the key. Even in the bahamas fishing isn't what it was 20 years ago and it has always been sling/polespear only.


    I basically agree with everything you said but come on dude. Ive seen your vids and others like them. Barn door size hogs and groupers in 12 feet of water is one thing. Deep reef/wrecks in stiff currents is another.


    To the point though who would propose a difference in gear before a difference in bag limits/ fish size/ seasons etc. That's so nonsensical.

    Scupper Pro Gives You Wings!

  • True xan. The real issues facing the park are idiot boaters dragging their anchors and running aground and the commercial guys who over take and drag nets around

    i like to spear fish

  • I basically agree with everything you said but come on dude. Ive seen your vids and others like them. Barn door size hogs and groupers in 12 feet of water is one thing. Deep reef/wrecks in stiff currents is another.


    To the point though who would propose a difference in gear before a difference in bag limits/ fish size/ seasons etc. That's so nonsensical.


    It makes a huge different for some species, but oddly enough it makes absolutely no difference for probably the most pressured fish in the area (hogs) people may infact shoot MORE 12" hogs if they only allow slings and polespears because that will be the only easy thing to spear. Also keep in mind almost all of BNP is sub 50ft coralhead stuff.


    Just some unfounded misconceptions.


    Chief, reading that article the only thing I see that would affect us is this bit Even so a chance to really be productive with a sling and polespear is not such a bad thing. Still I don't see how they'd differentiate between fish taken with a speargun or polespear/sling.



    Yeah Dan I was actually pleasantly surprised when I went to find recent information on their plans. A year ago I read some of the proposals they were putting out and they basically all read like a PETA members Scuba paradise dream idea. It looks like they have seriously backed away from the more drastic plans. But its obvious to me they want it closed to fishing, its just a matter of how much the public fights for it to not be.


    The commercial/rec thing is bonkers, the idea that crazy restrictions are put on rec spearos while commercial fishermen,spearos, and bait guys basically have free reign is just insanity and goes to prove what drives these politics. Red snapper is a good example.

  • As I work at a dive shop, this conversation is brought up nearly every day. I was speaking with an FWC officer the other day and her explanation was this. "while spearfisherman make up a relatively small portion of those taking fish, they are responsible for the majority of violations and poaching" I have no idea of the credibility of this statement but regardless of its accuracy, this is a terrible perception of our community.


    I'm all for smaller bag limits, closed seasons, and increased sizes but sling/gun is silly. Anyone who has been to the Bahamas knows that a sling/polespear can be just as effective as a gun. The only ways to have more fish is to kill fewer fish or allow more fish to reproduce. Either way the impact of recreational fisherman (spearos included) pales in comparison to the numbers harvested by the commercial guys.


    Thank you for the explanation. in my experience with other types of hunting, when a statement is made such as the one you quoted, that "spear fisherman are responsible for the majority of violations and poaching", its due to the fact that the group is singled out and searched more. Are the hook and line guys harassed as much as spearos?

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