Fishermen, support NC HB513 to ban saltwater gill netting

[Whatev]

North Carolina is essentially the only state that still allows widespread gill netting commercially.  You don't need to go any further than looking at regional Trout, redfish, flounder, etc commercial numbers and you'd see that NC disproportionately pulls in much more fish than others.  Yes, there are larger estuaries, but the actual game fish populations such as grey trout, flounder, and some others have had their population dwindled drastically the past decade.  Flounder season for recreational fishermen last a month and a half.  Slot limits on drum.  Size limits on nearly every other fish.  These are really good things, but the main cause of the degradation of the populations are the rod/reel, it's the gill nets.  There are a number of laws/lawsuits right now regarding shrimp trawlers in estuaries, but nothing regarding gill nets right now.  

Here's the bill.

https://webservices.ncleg.gov/.../2863/0/DRH40327-MH-119

Here's how to find your rep

https://www.nc.gov/services/find-your-legislators...

If you want the science and data regarding NC and regional states, just go listen to Salt Strong's podcast regarding it.  

[Paa Langfart]

If we really wanted to make a difference they'd stop trawling for shrimp everywhere,  get rid of the gill nets and get rid of about half of the toxic pesticides , fertilizers,  etc they let homeowners buy and use at will.

[thefuzz]

Good luck man.

 

I've been fighting this fight for about 25 years.  WAY too much political power coming out of Morehead/OBX and such to ever get our fisheries back to normal.

Growing up you could catch something (maybe not what you wanted) for dinner every single fishing trip...these days, even with bottom finders, boats, trolling motors, very expensive tackle, much better fishing techniques, etc...you MIGHT get something that you CAN take home and eat.

NC is controlled by the Triangle and Charlotte....the coast has very little say in Raleigh, and less representation.  They WILL NOT go against the commercial fishing guys.

[Whatev]

On 4/15/2021 at 3:59 PM, thefuzz said:

Good luck man.

 

I've been fighting this fight for about 25 years.  WAY too much political power coming out of Morehead/OBX and such to ever get our fisheries back to normal.

Growing up you could catch something (maybe not what you wanted) for dinner every single fishing trip...these days, even with bottom finders, boats, trolling motors, very expensive tackle, much better fishing techniques, etc...you MIGHT get something that you CAN take home and eat.

NC is controlled by the Triangle and Charlotte....the coast has very little say in Raleigh, and less representation.  They WILL NOT go against the commercial fishing guys.

Basnight was the godfather of this.  CCA was created to bring political clout to the subject.  I hope it keeps getting mentioned.  My yak needs to see the water.  

[Whatev]

Well, 1.5 months reduced to two weeks now for flounder

[Brooklyn 3.0]

Meanwhile in Japan ...

[thefuzz]

On 7/10/2021 at 12:55 PM, Whatev said:

Well, 1.5 months reduced to two weeks now for flounder

If we could only figure out what is happening to all the flounder....it can't be the netters, commercial guys, or the shrimp boats....

Joke.

[Panther'sBigD]

On 4/15/2021 at 3:59 PM, thefuzz said:

Good luck man.

 

I've been fighting this fight for about 25 years.  WAY too much political power coming out of Morehead/OBX and such to ever get our fisheries back to normal.

Growing up you could catch something (maybe not what you wanted) for dinner every single fishing trip...these days, even with bottom finders, boats, trolling motors, very expensive tackle, much better fishing techniques, etc...you MIGHT get something that you CAN take home and eat.

NC is controlled by the Triangle and Charlotte....the coast has very little say in Raleigh, and less representation.  They WILL NOT go against the commercial fishing guys.

I'm in my 40s and in the 80s and even early 90s, on our summer vacation, we would buy our vegetables on the way down to the beach at roadside stands and then catch most of our fish out of the surf to eat for the week, supplementing with fresh shrimp. I started noticing a sharp drop in our catch the mid-90s. Surf fishing used to be the highlight of our trips, now you're lucky to catch more than a couple. Such a bummer. 

[Whatev]

What's stupid is the offshore flounder aren't even the ones threatened.  They have the season for all types.  Inshore/nearshore sure.  Doormat off 5-15 miles, nope because 90% of the time they are a different species.

[thefuzz]

17 hours ago, Panther'sBigD said:

I'm in my 40s and in the 80s and even early 90s, on our summer vacation, we would buy our vegetables on the way down to the beach at roadside stands and then catch most of our fish out of the surf to eat for the week, supplementing with fresh shrimp. I started noticing a sharp drop in our catch the mid-90s. Surf fishing used to be the highlight of our trips, now you're lucky to catch more than a couple. Such a bummer. 

Little different situation, but similar.

Grandparents had a tiny place on one of the barrier islands...had a pier.  Any day of the year we could catch enough out of the surf, or off their pier to feed 5-10 people.  All legal keepers, and caught on 15 cent Carolina Rigs.

Now, if you are allowed to fish....you need the dang near best of everything, including a boat to find them....and you MIGHT get a keeper if you stick with it for a couple hours.

The commercial industry (political assholes) have ruined the fishery here in NC for the "little guys".  Damn shame.

[Whatev]

21 hours ago, thefuzz said:

Little different situation, but similar.

Grandparents had a tiny place on one of the barrier islands...had a pier.  Any day of the year we could catch enough out of the surf, or off their pier to feed 5-10 people.  All legal keepers, and caught on 15 cent Carolina Rigs.

Now, if you are allowed to fish....you need the dang near best of everything, including a boat to find them....and you MIGHT get a keeper if you stick with it for a couple hours.

The commercial industry (political assholes) have ruined the fishery here in NC for the "little guys".  Damn shame.

You can thank the Basnight(s) for ruining it for a few decades.  Now if the CCA can just flex their muscle and sue the DMF showing how they've allowed this to happen.  I don't mind slot limits because everyone understands the importance of them.  But when we get into time slots on seasons for fish, something needs to be done.  That's where it's gone from sustainable to stocks that need replenishing.  Bycatch, estuaries invaded by netters, etc need to be reigned in.  Used to find tarpon in Oriental too and still may from time to time, but nothing what was once found.  Tarpon are probably finding other areas to migrate through.  

[Captain Morgan]

South Carolina just increased regulations for flounder...

"

The results from a 2019 study of the Southeast’s flounder, one of the region’s most sought-after saltwater fish, were sobering: the research showed that southern flounder numbers were at historically low levels across the region due to overfishing.

Following the regional study, biologists from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) confirmed similar trends in South Carolina waters: the overall abundance, number of young fish produced and average size of southern flounder were all down. A public survey showed similar observations and concerns among South Carolina anglers, who expressed a strong preference for quickly rebuilding the fishery.

Now, the South Carolina General Assembly has responded with a suite of changes that will reduce the harvest of southern flounder in South Carolina waters, allowing the population to begin recovery. The new regulations include a minimum size limit of 16 inches and allow a catch limit of 5 fish per person per day and no more than 10 fish per boat per day. Previously, the minimum size limit was 15 inches, and the catch limit was 10 fish per person per day and 20 fish per boat per day. These changes apply to all Paralicthys species in South Carolina, which includes Gulf and summer flounder in addition to southern flounder.

The new regulations will take effect July 1, 2021."

https://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/2021/jun/jun22-flounder.php

[Anybodyhome]

3 hours ago, Captain Morgan said:

South Carolina just increased regulations for flounder...

"

The results from a 2019 study of the Southeast’s flounder, one of the region’s most sought-after saltwater fish, were sobering: the research showed that southern flounder numbers were at historically low levels across the region due to overfishing.

Following the regional study, biologists from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) confirmed similar trends in South Carolina waters: the overall abundance, number of young fish produced and average size of southern flounder were all down. A public survey showed similar observations and concerns among South Carolina anglers, who expressed a strong preference for quickly rebuilding the fishery.

Now, the South Carolina General Assembly has responded with a suite of changes that will reduce the harvest of southern flounder in South Carolina waters, allowing the population to begin recovery. The new regulations include a minimum size limit of 16 inches and allow a catch limit of 5 fish per person per day and no more than 10 fish per boat per day. Previously, the minimum size limit was 15 inches, and the catch limit was 10 fish per person per day and 20 fish per boat per day. These changes apply to all Paralicthys species in South Carolina, which includes Gulf and summer flounder in addition to southern flounder.

The new regulations will take effect July 1, 2021."

https://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/2021/jun/jun22-flounder.php

Wow, they caved for a whole inch! Such brave men & women to have voted for a single inch!

Fug 'em. Most of them couldn't approximate an inch if you gave them a ruler head start. They should have gone to 18"

[thefuzz]

19 hours ago, Anybodyhome said:

Wow, they caved for a whole inch! Such brave men & women to have voted for a single inch!

Fug 'em. Most of them couldn't approximate an inch if you gave them a ruler head start. They should have gone to 18"

Negative.  Cut out the commercial guys, and let the recreational guys enjoy their fishery.

A 15" flounder is almost the perfect size for cooking and eating...not to mention being able to find 18"ers is all but out of the question.

F commercial guys.