Feeling sorry for them

During that protracted period of horrible water, I couldn't help but be real sorry for all the net fishermen. The Spanish and pompano had been run away from the beach and I'm sure they were bereft. After all, they cried and wailed to the government that their very livelihood and traditional way of life hinged on their ability to gill net fish here along the Alabama coast.

That spell of bad water probably caused them to have to sell their wives and daughters as prostitutes, and Heaven only knows what they used their sons for---getting jobs, maybe? I'm sure they were so depressed that they may have turned to drink and/or drugs for solace. It's so sad that they were unable to pursue their chosen profession which they insisted to the government was their source of support.

By the way, just in case there was any question in anyone's mind, I tried to find the sarcasm font, but was unable to do so.
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Originally Posted by Haywire

During that protracted period of horrible water, I couldn't help but be real sorry for all the net fishermen. The Spanish and pompano had been run away from the beach and I'm sure they were bereft. After all, they cried and wailed to the government that their very livelihood and traditional way of life hinged on their ability to gill net fish here along the Alabama coast.

That spell of bad water probably caused them to have to sell their wives and daughters as prostitutes, and Heaven only knows what they used their sons for---getting jobs, maybe? I'm sure they were so depressed that they may have turned to drink and/or drugs for solace. It's so sad that they were unable to pursue their chosen profession which they insisted to the government was their source of support.

By the way, just in case there was any question in anyone's mind, I tried to find the sarcasm font, but was unable to do so.
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You should write a book Mr. Haywire.

I'm gonna be very blunt... F them netters and a whole lot of other commercial fishermen.
Way too many of them would all but close fishing to recreational fishers, and way too many have zero ethics/morals pertaining to fishing.

Commerical fisherman consider themselfs farmers of the sea but that is far from true. A true farmer takes care of the resource and puts back more than he takes.

I have to believe that the recreational fisherman puts a LOT more money into the economy here than the guy that goes to the fish market (in another state) and pays $13 a pound-or whatever-for snapper/grouper/etc. I'd like to get a breakdown of the cost per pound of most of the fish the rec. guys take home after they've bought gas, tackle, food, drinks, bait, hotel rooms, on and on. That's what put's money back into an area. Without the fish to catch a lot of that would dwindle.

I saw what a difference a few years of no gill netting made in north Florida. The mullet and pompano had been beat to death. It's nice to see a fishery turn back in the right direction after you think its gone forever.

Speaking of fish sales... Anyone have any spare cobia they'd like to part with for a northerner? Pm if interested.

Not all the commercial fisherman are bad. Some of them are smart and know about the fish and how much they should harvest them. Then you've got the people that wipe out schools of fish. Just saying you don't have to hate em all some are good hardworking people that know about the recources they have and take care of em. and thats a little harsh to say they should use their daughters and wives as prostitutes. I know a lot of commercial fisherman mess up the great resource god has given us but not all of them have. Don't dislike a whole group just cause a majority of em are bad. dislike the individuals

Its the major food chain providers that are probably what kills the most fish and environments. That and these kind of commercial fisherman -http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/destructive_fishing/

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Originally Posted by southernfishin

Not all the commercial fisherman are bad. Some of them are smart and know about the fish and how much they should harvest them. Then you've got the people that wipe out schools of fish. Just saying you don't have to hate em all some are good hardworking people that know about the recources they have and take care of em. and thats a little harsh to say they should use their daughters and wives as prostitutes. I know a lot of commercial fisherman mess up the great resource god has given us but not all of them have. Don't dislike a whole group just cause a majority of em are bad. dislike the individuals

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Hate the sin not the sinner, ehh?

Am I thinking right that May 15 closed them down from the Florida line to DI?

We used to see huge schools of Spanish in front of and around the pier. Anyone seen a school yet this year?

Since kings are known to mix with spanish, is it possible that kings are being killed or taken by the nets?

If the season is in fact closed, then any night or early morning appearance of net boats around the pier should merit a call to the popo, right?

Gill Net Regulation Changes
http://www.outdooralabama.com/images...as_June_10.pdf

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Originally Posted by Rich1

Am I thinking right that May 15 closed them down from the Florida line to DI?

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Actually it is only west to Little Lagoon Pass, until the day after Labor Day (Tuesday Sept 2 this year).

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Originally Posted by Rich1

We used to see huge schools of Spanish in front of and around the pier. Anyone seen a school yet this year?

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We rarely see spanish on the surface in the spring. That is mainly a summer and fall phenomenon.

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Originally Posted by Rich1

Since kings are known to mix with spanish, is it possible that kings are being killed or taken by the nets?

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It is possible that some juvenile kings are taken along with the spanish, just as juvenile kings are a bycatch at the pier.

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Originally Posted by Rich1

If the season is in fact closed, then any night or early morning appearance of net boats around the pier should merit a call to the popo, right?

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ANY active netting activity (day or night) along the shore of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores (east of Little Lagoon Pass) from now until September 2nd should be considered a violation and reported immediately (251) 968-7576 along with a description of the boat and its occupants.
However, simple transit or the appearance of a net boat is NOT a violation as they may egress from Perdido Pass westward to west of Little Lagoon Pass where they are legal.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Mr. David, we can always count on you for the "straight."

How many of you remember $4.50 a box for cigar minnows? That was the price before FL implemented a state water net band. For every action there is a reaction. FL anglers were jumping with joy when the law was passed but were shocked when bait prices went through the roof and supply was almost nonexistent because most net boats were small and fished close to the beach. It took a couple years for the net fishermen to gear up and learn how to fish in federal waters.

I'm sure the people who hunted buffalo, ate buffalo tongue and wore buffalo robes adjusted as well 150 years ago ;-)

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