CAB Approves Fish Discard, Sheeps Head Limits & Turtle Regulations

http://www.outdooralabama.com/oaonline/

CAB Approves Fish Discard, Turtle Regulations

By DAVID RAINER
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

With spring breakers heading to the Alabama Gulf Coast in droves, a quandary for the anglers in that group, as well as for the locals, has been what to do with fish carcasses after they are cleaned.
The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board dealt with that issue at its most recent meeting in Montgomery, approving a motion by Bill Hatley of Gulf Shores to allow the discard of bycatch (which also includes carcasses) in the Gulf of Mexico waters as long as it is farther than 500 feet from the shoreline.

“On inside water, fishermen can discard bycatch as long as they are not within 500 feet of the shoreline,” said Marine Resources Director Chris Blankenship. “The proposed regulation would allow fishermen to discard bycatch no closer than 500 feet from the shoreline in the Gulf waters, except for shrimp boats. This will make Gulf waters consistent with what we have on inside water. Shrimp boats, because their discards are so large, still must abide by the three-mile limit that is currently in effect.”

Anglers on Gulf State Park Pier now have the option of discarding carcasses from the cleaning station on the pier, which is past the 500-foot mark, or placing the carcasses in containers made available by the park for those who do not wish to throw bycatch into the water.

“We would love to find somebody to recycle the carcasses into fertilizer or other uses,” said Acting Parks Co-Director Tim Wishum. “The marinas already do that, so to find somebody to do that for the pier would be great.”

In other Marine Resources action, the bag and size limit for sheepshead was set at 10 fish per person per day with a minimum fork length of 12 inches. The minimum size for the commercial harvest of grouper was lowered to 22 inches to match federal regulations. The board also approved a motion that would increase the minimum size for tripletail (blackfish) to 18 inches total length.

In light of testimony at the first board meeting in February, Dr. Warren Strickland, board member from Huntsville, made the motion that would ban the commercial harvest of wild turtles in Alabama waters and limit the recreational harvest of turtles to two per person per day. The motion does not affect turtle farming, other than it would prohibit the importation of nonindigenous turtles into the state. The motion passed unanimously.

:headbang:

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Well, I must admit I didn’t think they would approve the over the side request, but I sho am glad they did.
I bet Dawg has got the signs down and the cans moved away from the tables already!
:bow: :yippee: :bow: :banana:
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Can I get a w00t w00t?
:headbang:

Blaine even though you don't have to chunk cans of fish carcasses anymore, my offer of helping still stands.

Sweet...Bring on the Fishies!!!

Wow, I can't believe it. :yay: :yay: :yay:

Also a big thank you to all of you who pushed the issue and those who went to Montgomery. I can't thank all of you enough. I only get to come down and fish 2 or 3 times a year but y'all just made those fishing trips a little less stressful so again THANKYOU!!!!

I am only down for vacation but thanks for everyones efforts on cleaning.

[quote author=DUCK link=topic=803.msg7556#msg7556 date=1332446601]
Also a big thank you to all of you who pushed the issue and those who went to Montgomery.
[/quote]

+1

Yes! Now I can clean fish without looking over my shoulder.

Btw, did the whole deal about the whole fish carcus needing to be in your presence until you got in the parking lot get resolved? What happens if we get our coolers searched and only have filets of King in there - or what if we get searched in the parking lot and only have filets?

Thanks to pescador and his hard work. It's appreciated by us!

And to everyone else, thanks!

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=803.msg7562#msg7562 date=1332449115]
Yes! Now I can clean fish without looking over my shoulder.

Btw, did the whole deal about the whole fish carcus needing to be in your presence until you got in the parking lot get resolved? What happens if we get our coolers searched and only have filets of King in there - or what if we get searched in the parking lot and only have filets?
[/quote]

my momma said the boys in blue are the devil

[quote author=PurpleNGold link=topic=803.msg7565#msg7565 date=1332450512]
Thanks to pescador and his hard work. It's appreciated by us!

And to everyone else, thanks!
[/quote]

+1
And thanks for posting this Carl!

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=803.msg7562#msg7562 date=1332449115]

Yes! Now I can clean fish without looking over my shoulder.
[/quote]

LOL! Glad to know I'm not the only one (thinking that way) :evil:

AMAZING NEWS!!!!!

Gulfshorespierfishing.com: FORUM MEMBERS, We won! We won! :banana: :banana:

Our officials heard our cry, and met the needs of the people. :headbang:

Proof that not all voices fall on deaf ears. :bow: :bow:

Special thanks to Jim for putting all of the materials together so thoroughly, and for the added support Bob, Jeb, and Emily brought to the table when we endured the meeting in Montgomery.

Also, to others on the forum who provided great suggestions and input which helped us deliver the vital message necessary to display the relevance of our concerns--thank you as well.

This is a team victory for all of us, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources members in place have shown true sportsmanship and honor with this strategic decision.

Horray!!!!!!!!!! :yippee: :yippee:

It's really good to see that our government still has some common sense. :yay: :yay:
A big thanks to all involved including the advisory board. :bow: :bow: :bow:

Thanks for the info, :headbang:

Yea:Thanks,this is the 1st I've heard of it.They still have not responed to the formal request;I will be looking forward to the language of this news;the devil in the details.

So :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :horse: some time it does work,To everyone that did their parts;the complants,the e-mails,letters phone calls,calling upon friends,family,and to those of you who took time out of your lives,to meet,and spent your money to make trip to Montgomery.This is not for us but it is for all of our friends,who come down to visit,and for those friends we have not met yet,who will get the full measure of Alabamas hospaltality.THANKS YALL!!!

The data we used to ask for this change,came to us from the good folks at Marine Resoures,and to the Enforcement personal that brought this to our attention by doing the fine job they do every day.Thanks.

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Thank you Jim :bow: for leading a well thought out plan and getting results. Great job!

Now let’s get the net boats banned within a three mile radius of the GSP Pier! Actually the Alabama coast would be better, but baby steps first. Right? :guns:
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[quote author=divedeep link=topic=803.msg7552#msg7552 date=1332444796]
Can I get a w00t w00t?
:headbang:
[/quote]
yep