Posts by nsearch

Meeting is tomorrow. Show up and support spearfishing, it's going to be a showdown for sure.

Hey guys, please do not send out the previous email letter that was developed for the Sept. meeting. In that letter it says that we support ALL staff recommendations and unfortunately that is NOT the scenerio now.

New tackle will be distributed to everyone here shortly for this upcoming showdown.

If someone could post this over on SB it would be greatly appreciated.

Meeting starts at 8.30 am, not real sure when the permit presentation will be made.

YES, public input is allowed and NEEDED.

This is a PUBLIC meeting, contact the media if you have those contacts. As we get closer I'll post up some very simple and clear talking points. This has been over a year and a half effort, we've got plenty :angry5:

Let me add some additional information that I've learned today in discussing this upcoming meeting with FWC staff. First and foremost, the FWC staff that have been working on this have presented very fair and balanced recommendations to the FWC Commissioners. The recommendations that we saw in September were derived over a year and half of stakeholder meetings and as seen from the Sept presentation was very favorable for spearfishermen. As I stated previously, it's my opinion that some went overboard by pushing for the opening of spearing in State waters and that's what got us into trouble in September. Commissioners Ken Wright and Rodney Barreto about dumped a load in their pants (as well as the CCA) when they heard that from the staff. Regardless, we are where we are today.

The change in the staff recommendation was based on the discussion by the Commissioners at the Sept. meeting and their direction to staff to redo the draft rule making things more restrictive/protective for permit. Thus a spawning season closure is on the table.

In a similar manner, based on the opposition to the spearing discussion that occurred at the Sept. Commission meeting, FWC staff has modified the recommendation for African pompano. (Based on NOTHING!!!)

The thing to remember here is that the Commissioners at any time can make policy calls and direct staff to modify proposals. Therefore, the Sept. proposal (draft rules) was modified at the direction of the Commission. So basically the Bonefish Tarpon and Trust people have a few of the Commissioners in their back pockets (Wright and Barreto in my opinion) and have swayed them to add "more protection" to permit (and African Pompano) even though there is ZERO evidence that either of the fisheries have problems.

This leads us to the upcoming December meeting. Make no mistake about it.....if there has ever been a time for the largest spearfishing gathering at a FWC Commission meeting then that time is Dec. 2nd at Weston, FL. This will be our best collective time to have our views heard before the Commissioners. FWC Staff has told me that they feel that this meeting will be a critical spearfishing discussion and not just on permit and African pompano, but also on how spearing might relate to other species of gamefish which is listed as a separate issue on the agenda.

We need to spread the word and show up in masses at the Dec. 2 meeting!!

:attack1:

This meeting's location is the best location we could have possibly asked for and has presented us for a huge spearfishing community turnout. Weston is a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and will be a great platform for our S. Florida spearfishing community to come together and defend our sport. Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Spearboard, Spearfishing Planet, etc. FWC Commissioner Ken Wright (against spearfishing all together) is going to sh!t his britches Thursday morning!!

The next FWC Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center

250 Racquet Club Road
Weston, FL 33326
(954) 616-1234 phone
(954) 384-6157 fax

Map and Directions

During this meeting FWC staff will present the new (revised) permit, pompano, and African Pompano regulations.

The DRAFT regulations can be viewed HERE.

Changes from the Sept. FWC Commission:

NEW - No spearing of permit in State waters. (this rule is actually not a new rule, however, it's new in the sense that in Sept. the FWC Staff recommended to allow spearing of permit in State waters, which IMO, has SEVERELY hurt our position.)

NEW - 68B-35.006, Closed Season - The proposed draft rule would establish this new section to define a closed season for permit and pompano. The proposed closed season would be May, June, and July, and would apply in all waters for permit and pompano greater than 20 inches.

The proposed 68B-35.006, Closed Season is a slap in the face to all recreational fishermen in the State of Florida. Prior to the Sept. FWC Commission meeting this was the FWC Staff's position on a closed season:

Quote

Other management options mentioned include a spawning season closure for permit, regional management, or separating the combined three-species rule into one rule for each species. FWRI recently began a long-term (possibly up to five years) study on permit this year. Year one of this study is focused on stock movement and connectivity of permit, and other aspects of permit biology will be covered in subsequent years. Staff recommends evaluating these management options after more permit data is collected by FWRI.

Sept. 2010 FWC Permit Pompano African Pompano Presentation. Scroll to page 14 of this document and read the position for yourself.

What happened to that position between September and now? What data is being used to support a need for a 3 month closure? When was the proposed 3 month closure discussed among the stakeholders?

NEW - No spearing of African Pompano in Federal Waters.

Dec. 2010 FWC Permit Pompano African Pompano Presentation

Scroll to page 17 of this document and you'll see the change - no spearing. Again, I have to refer back to the Sept. 2010 FWC Permit Pompano African Pompano Presentation (see link above). Page 15 - Staff recommends allowing spearing of African Pompano in Federal Waters.

What happened to that position between September and now? What data is being used to support a ban on spearing of African Pompano in Federal Waters? When was this spearing ban discussed among the stakeholders? How is a dead AP in the boat that was taken by hook and line gear any different than a dead AP in the boat taken by spearfishing gear? This is a blatent discrimination on spearing gear with zero supporting information!! Seriously, where and when were these decisions discussed among all the stakeholders?

I'm appalled at the apparent backdoor decisions that are being made without zero stakeholder input and discussion.

SUMMARY - We are going to need a HUGE HUGE turnout from the spearfishing community in S. Florida at this Dec. 2 FWC Commission meeting. Put it on your calander and start spreading the word to ALL spearfishermen!! This is going to be a very heated discussion and we are going to need every swinging speargun holder there to defend our right to harvest these fish. Please post all this information on Spearboard. I know there are a TON of S. Florida freedivers.....we NEED them to show up at this meeting and defend spearing gear.

I also hear that there will be a saltwater gamefish discussion following the permit discussion. We are anticipating significant discussion of spearing during this issue. I hope that we can bring out the S. Florida spearfishing community to attend this Commission meeting and to speak on both of these important issues.

This is our last day to contact the FWC Commissioners and express to them that we support the Staff's recommendations for changes to the Permit, Pompano, and African Pompano regulations.

Please email them the letter at the beginning of this thread or create you own if you have not done so.

The more simple the better, example.

My name is John and fully support the Staff's recommendations for changes to the Permit, Pompano, and African Pompano regulations.

Name, Date, Phone number or address

Commissioner's email address --> Commissioners@myfwc.com

Quote from Chuckd

There goes the neighborhood.

Right?

Gamble, that avatar is so old bro!!! :nono: :boring1:

Is it really true you combed your hair before that picture was taken?

Thank you Rolando!! We only have today and tomorrow to contact the FWC Commissioners, please keep spreading the word.

Ok everyone, listen up!!

This is our last attempt to show our force in support of the FWC staff recommendations for the new Permit, Pompano, and African Pompano regulations. If approved these new recommendations will take place Jan. 1, 2011.

The meeting is NEXT week in Pensacola, FL, on Sept. 1-3. On Thursday (the 2nd) the FWC staff who have worked very hard over the last year and a half to develop very fair and balanced regulations will be presenting their recommendations to the Commissioners.

I’m going to list the FWC Staff recommendations and I will also be attaching a general letter in PDF format that you can use as it is or modify it to your views. If you have a problem with obtaining the attached letters PM me your email address here and I will send you both of them. There has been a last minute (smear) letter campaign by a small user group in S. Fl (BTT) that has aimed specifically at eliminating the recommendations for the allowance of spearing gear. The fly-fishermen have been bombing the FWC comissioners with form letters urgently asking them not to allow spearing of permit and African pompano and they will be there at the meeting. Spearos could easily trump the number of letters against if just a third of the regulars here dropped them a note in favor of allowing the same bag limit for all.

Please send the attached letter or your own letter (even better) to the FWC today.

Three or four sentences is all you need to express your opinion. In fact IMO shorter is better if they are merely counting those in favor vs. those against.

My name is XXXX, I live in XXXXX. I have a Fl fishing license, and I support equal bag limits for Permits and African Pompano for hook and line anglers and spearfishermen.

Name, Address, Phone Number

WE NEED AN OVERWHELMING SHOW OF SUPPORT OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP THIS PASS!!!

The attached letter can be emailed to all the commissioners by using this address – commissioners@myfwc.com

PLEASE DO THIS TODAY AND SOUND OFF ON THIS THREAD SO WE CAN KEEP THIS THREAD ON TOP FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. :thumbsup2:

You can also send a hard copy (I highly recommend this, it’s a cost of stamp and 10 minutes out of your day) to the following address:

Attn: Executive Directors Office
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

If you would like to attend the meeting in Pensacola (the FRA and a few others will be there on Tuesday to voice our support of the recommendations to the Commissioners) the meeting will be taking place here:

Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front
12 Via de Luna Drive
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561

The following is a link to the presentation that FWC Staff have prepared for the meeting on Tuesday that will cover the following recommendations –
http://myfwc.com/docs/Commissi…tPompano_presentation.pdf

Staff recommendations:

Currently in state waters, there is a slot limit of 11 to 20 inches for permit and Florida pompano. There is a bag limit of six permit and Florida pompano combined, with an allowance for one fish greater than 20 inches included within the six-fish bag limit. A maximum of two fish over 20 inches per vessel may be harvested.

Staff recommends extending the current recreational size and bag limits into federal waters.

Staff recommends extending the current allowable recreational gear for permit and Florida pompano within the slot limit of 11-20 inches to federal waters. In addition, staff recommends to allow spearing of permit and Florida pompano greater than 20 inches in ALL (State and Federal) waters. Permit or Florida pompano that are speared would be held to the bag limit of 1 fish over 20 inches per person per day, and a 2 fish maximum per vessel.

Currently, commercial vessels are allowed to harvest two permit or Florida pompano in any combination greater than 20 inches, but these fish cannot be sold. Staff recommends that possession of permit and Florida pompano greater than 20 inches on commercial vessels be prohibited. This change will aid enforcement of the slot size.

There is currently a commercial incidental bycatch limit of 100 Florida pompano. This bycatch limit applies to commercial vessels targeting a species other than Florida pompano with gillnets in federal waters. Staff recommends amending the bycatch limit to create a 100 Florida pompano and permit combined limit.

Currently in state waters, there is a minimum size limit for African pompano of 24 inches and a bag limit of two African pompano per person, with a maximum of two per vessel. This size and bag limit applies to both recreational and commercial harvesters. Staff recommends applying these regulations in federal waters.

Currently in state waters, the only allowable gear for African pompano is hook and line. Staff recommends applying hook and line as an allowable gear in federal waters as well. Staff also recommends allowing spearing of African pompano in ALL waters. Spearing of African pompano both recreationally and commercially is currently occurring in federal waters. Spearing will be restricted with the same 2 fish bag limit and which would be applied in both state and federal waters.

We were offshore and only about 10 miles NE of him the day he went missing. It was one of the first real nice weather days we had since winter. Water was still in the upper 60s/low 70s from the frigid winter we had here. Apparently he and his buddy were heading out to do some scuba shooting (they were not experienced freedivers) and as they were preparing to anchor on the Pillsbury wreck a school of AJs came up to the surface to greet them (standard if the school is thick). Guy saw the school of jacks, threw his (scuba) weight belt on, mask and fins and jumped in with his scuba gun. Buddy on the boat never saw him return to the surface. He was located 4 to 5 days later a hundred feet or so off the wreck, lying on the bottom. 1 - the cold water shocked him without a wetsuit, and 2 - he was way overweighted.

RIP

On the weekend of the 21st most of the shooters in this general area will be participating in the St. Pete Open. See link --> 2010 St. Pete Open. If you're in town for that Saturday evening you will not want to miss the weigh-in and huge party at the Holiday Sunspree Hotel, starting at around 5 pm and goes way past midnight. I promise that you'll see some of the biggest fish that you've ever laid eyes on. Not only that but there will be 250+ spearfishermen there from CA, Australia, Lousiana, NC, and FL to talk shit with. :drink3:

If you close your eyes you can't not see them and they cannot see you.

Rolo - that's hilarious! When typing grogan does it automatically link it?

Shallow - that pic was taken at the O'Neils marina in downtown St. Pete.

Ben - always enjoy diving with new people so definitely shoot over a PM if you're heading up this way.

attan - that was all freediving. I'll leave the scuba hunting pictures for spearfishingplanet.

Thanks for the warm welcome fellas, I need another forum to post on like a need a hole in the head

Quote from Tin Man

I cringe a little when I see home built guns where the handle is simply screwed to the flat bottom of the stock. Regardless of the brand of handle, I am a fan of recessing the top of the handle into the stock, so that the shearing load is distributed to the handle itself, and not born entirely by a couple of tiny #6 screws.

Most definitely, Ken Jones does this with his DeathSticks and custom handles.

I've seen this sort of cracking and failure occur on mid-handles from guys who use the handle as the pivot point to load their bands, verses a standard hip load or chest load.

FB = Facebook

Saw this update on FB, nice day on the water Rolo. Glad to see Emil is still getting out and putting the smack down on some fish, haven't seen or heard from him in quite awhile.

That is one fat ass tripletail!!

If it's teak rub it down with some teak oil after a day of diving. The epoxy is the best route for longevity though.

Another newbie here to this board but not to the sport or the boards, I think several here will recognize my screen name. I’ve been spearfishing for over 10 years primarily out of St. Pete, Fl. Most of my experience is scuba spearfishing but in the past 2 to 3 years have been doing more and more freediving. Each time I get back from a freedive trip and I'm cleaning and storing my gear I look at my scuba gear and only see dollar signs for more freedive gear Looking forward to learning more and putting up some trip reports here. If you have a flickr acct. here's a link to a photo from a bluewater trip we did last week out of St. Pete on some springs and wrecks in 165 feet.

BTW - nice site Dan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45806927@N04/4875404497/