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WKRG Debbie Williams just now announced a "shark event"
BREAKING - SHARK FISHING GULF STATE PARK PIER:
Details to be released later today but what we know so far—there will be a special permit managed shark event the next two Tuesday nights from 8-12 am. There will be 10 fishermen permitted each night. Once they see how these two nights go they will reevaluate for further opportunities.
Wow that's a great compromise! I think this is a great solution. It'll even draw more people to the pier I imagine to watch. Wonder how permits will be dispersed.
Congratulations !!!
No matter how you look at it, it is a start and the state listened to all of the complaints, well done.
The bottom line is eliminating sharks so you can do the real fishing we all want to do without the pests.
Please don't start to complain on who gets to do it or how limited it is.
Sure it would be nice to get some shark steaks but one shark gone is one gone.
I look forward to seeing the results.
Thanks to the state for listening to everyone responsible for making their voice heard
Who wants to guess on 1st shark weight?
I'm overly excited, however I don't think I can chance a 3 hour drive to not get one of those limited permits.
I expect and hope to see locals take full advantage of this and turn it into a good thing.
I don't understand why they're limiting it to ten permitted persons only. There's a legal harvest limit to follow, and they've already set a time limit.
I vote they give Chille a permit, just so we can ooh, ahh, and salivate over a plated money shot of Atlantic sharpnose or blacktip!
Besides it being contrary to current state law, there were concerns raised how anglers could safely handle such large and potentially dangerous fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by fordguy
Consequently the powers that be decided a conservative approach was the best way to proceed in evaluating the effectiveness and addressing any safety issues for the pier patrons.
My suggestion to them was to draw a lottery for the available tags from the list of interested fishermen (similar to how the state alligator hunts have been managed).
As we go forward the system can be 'tweaked' and hopefully expanded...
Here is the full test of the emailed Press Release:
Applicants will be selected in the order in which they apply.Quote:
Gulf State Park Pier to Offer Limited Shark Fishing
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is implementing a pilot program for a permitted managed shark fishing season at the Gulf State Park Saltwater Fishing Pier. The first two events will take place on the south end of the pier – called the octagon – from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 26, 2018. The octagon will close to routine use 30 minutes prior to these events, and reopen to routine use 30 minutes following them. During the events, the octagon area of the pier will be designated for the exclusive use of the participating anglers and their designated assistants. The managed shark fishing events will be limited to 10 anglers per occasion, with each having one rod and reel in use. Each angler may have two assistants, so a maximum of 30 individuals are allowed on the octagon area during these events. No other anglers or pier guests will be allowed within the octagon area during this time. The remainder of the pier will be open to anglers and other pier guests as normally provided.Angler gear shall remain the same as presently provided under existing pier rules, and anglers are required to provide their own gear, including release poles to facilitate the release of undersized catch.After monitoring these two events in June, the agency will evaluate the program and make decisions about additional events for the following months.Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein said the limited shark fishing days are in response to requests from pier anglers. “We surveyed pier anglers about their satisfaction with fishing from the pier, and many of them expressed concern that they are not able to catch other species because of the abundance of sharks near the pier. Anglers often catch sharks inadvertently and are required to cut the line when that happens. We’re offering these initial shark fishing opportunities on a trial basis,” Lein said.Anglers interested in shark fishing on the designated dates can apply in person at the pier, by phone to the park pier management during regular business hours, or online. Applicants should be prepared to provide contact information for notification of selection to a pending managed shark fishing event. Applicants will be selected in the order in which they apply.Additional information will be posted online. To stay current on the most up-to-date information for these events and other pier events, visit http://alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Fishing-and-Education-PierTo register for participation as an angler for these Managed Shark Fishing events, visit www.alapark.com/shark-fishing or call the pier manager at (251) 967-FISH.
Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The division relies on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. To learn more, visit www.alapark.com.
Probably to slowly introduce it and make sure things are worked out. I don't really think 30 or more googans chunkin ladyfish with 100lb braid on giant surf rods is good to start things off lol..Quote:
Originally Posted by fordguy
Personally I think the locals that are best equipped(with knowledge and equipment) should be allowed to get a safe system in place. Afterwards It'd be nice to open up sharking on tuesday evenings to who ever wants to try it, as long as they are properly equipped.
Wow, talk about mixed emotions.
I have a M-F job, that means I'm SOL.
Gluck and safe sharking to those that have the time and luck to get permits.
For the hundredth time... How about we just be allowed to land sharks on the pier according to state creel/ size limits already in place?
Most of use do Chile, however, PTO is saved up for when my son arrives in Sept..... I may have to borrow a bit of that PTO to sneak off and try my luck at getting a permit.
Even if I don't get a permit, Ima gonna bring my heavy gaff out there to help out. It's a start---more than we've had in years.
So is this our version of “Shark Week?”
Someone please run some video of the events and post it for us poor nonlocals.
I'm assuming they are doing it on a Tuesday as it is one of the slower days, as well as why at night as it was the "safest" times to test how this all will work. I'm sure if some idiot gets himself bit it will end the trial pretty quickly. There is still liability to be worried about. It's an awesome first step. I'm torn on the locals first suggestion as it's the tourists who bring a lot of money and exposure to the area and this could just help to increase that.
Gulf State Park Pier to Offer Limited Shark Fishing | Outdoor Alabama
Thats the link to the announcement
I dont care really who is allowed to fish first but the first time someone gets hurt it will be closed down.
I registered, but am not sure I should have. It says each angler must have a "release pole."
Does anybody have a "release pole?"
I'm not sure what that is or how it works, but you can buy one on Amazon for about a hundred bucks. I was going to use a tail rope.
The large print giveth, the fine print taketh away.
Can someone who has contact with Greg Lein find out about this?
Managed Shark Fishing Events at the Gulf State Park Pier | AlaparkQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Cleland
(See "click here to register" link)
I was just sitting in my office having a discussion with someone when the email popped up on my computer. I had to usher them out quickly so I could read it. I'm not a local but this is great news. Although I would love the opportunity to land one I must say I support giving the locals first shot at this in order to make it work. They will have much more knowledge on how to handle these fish. For those tourists who say it will provide additional opportunities I'd ask that you consider the potential improved fishing opportunities we will all experience if this thing goes well. If you really want to catch a shark that bad...go somewhere that it's permitted and have at it. For me..I enjoy this pier and want to see everything possible done to improve this fishery. Good luck to those who get the permits. Please...please..someone bring a video camera and post some videos!
Need some volunteers to chum up the sharks Tuesday afternoon to make sure they are there for the 6 o-clock opening. Did anybody see anything about limits and baits yet? Did see that pier regulations are still in place as far as size of Reel and Rod. Wish I could be there to watch and good luck to the 10 that get drawn.
The rules say you have to be a member of a team of three (maximum), one fisherman and two helpers. You sure your shoulder is up for the shark-gaff challenge?Quote:
Originally Posted by Haywire
Existing rules still apply. So if its against the rules now it will not change.
We can't "chum", but I might be chunking a bubble rig and in no hurry to deck my fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert(Tato)Piteo
Here's the email!!
Gulf State Park Pier to Offer Limited Shark Fishing
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is implementing a pilot program for a permitted managed shark fishing season at the Gulf State Park Saltwater Fishing Pier. The first two events will take place on the south end of the pier – called the octagon – from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 26, 2018.
The octagon will close to routine use 30 minutes prior to these events, and reopen to routine use 30 minutes following them. During the events, the octagon area of the pier will be designated for the exclusive use of the participating anglers and their designated assistants.
The managed shark fishing events will be limited to 10 anglers per occasion, with each having one rod and reel in use. Each angler may have two assistants, so a maximum of 30 individuals are allowed on the octagon area during these events.
No other anglers or pier guests will be allowed within the octagon area during this time. The remainder of the pier will be open to anglers and other pier guests as normally provided.
Angler gear shall remain the same as presently provided under existing pier rules, and anglers are required to provide their own gear, including release poles to facilitate the release of undersized catch.
After monitoring these two events in June, the agency will evaluate the program and make decisions about additional events for the following months.
Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein said the limited shark fishing days are in response to requests from pier anglers. “We surveyed pier anglers about their satisfaction with fishing from the pier, and many of them expressed concern that they are not able to catch other species because of the abundance of sharks near the pier. Anglers often catch sharks inadvertently and are required to cut the line when that happens. We’re offering these initial shark fishing opportunities on a trial basis,” Lein said.
Anglers interested in shark fishing on the designated dates can apply in person at the pier, by phone to the park pier management during regular business hours, or online. Applicants should be prepared to provide contact information for notification of selection to a pending managed shark fishing event. Applicants will be selected in the order in which they apply.
Additional information will be posted online. To stay current on the most up-to-date information for these events and other pier events, visit http://alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Fishing-and-Education-Pier
To register for participation as an angler for these Managed Shark Fishing events, visit www.alapark.com/shark-fishing or call the pier manager at (251) 967-FISH.
Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The division relies on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. To learn more, visit www.alapark.com.
I will be in town on the 26th. :D I have a gaff, it's sharp, and I know how to use it. I've applied for the permit, but it looks pretty "iffy" that I can get one of the 10 on the day in question. Just volunteering to be a "helper" in case I'm not a lucky one.
Now for the downer part of me....it will be our luck that neither mackerel nor sharks will be anywhere in sight on either day...kind of like when the news crew showed up back in May. :pirate
I will be down June 20th-27th
I won't apply but I look forward to watching on the 26th
Hey Guys... This is progress and we need to thank the Officials for trying this out. If things go well perhaps we will see more of this type thing. Let's not criticize this initial effort but be appreciative of it. I personally think it is intelligent to limit the number of people on the Octi for this trial run. Good luck guys...........
It's not against tourists, as i'm a tourist, the locals/regulars with the proper gear can make this work for the rest of us. They will have failures/issues, and resolve them, then pass the knowledge on to use tourists that don't know what to expect... Say you're up for Tuesday, and you hook the 1st shark a 70" blacktip, how are you getting him measured, then harvested? I imagine going to be a bit different than sticking a gaff in a king or ling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimakdm
The locals have the best chance to put on a safe show for the powers at be. I think, this is a good move in the right direction, maybe soon it'll open up like this every tuesday or every other tuesday.
Read it again...You don't have to be a team of 3, you can if you wantQuote:
Originally Posted by eym_sirius
"The managed shark fishing events will be limited to 10 anglers per occasion, with each having one rod and reel in use. Each angler may have two assistants, so a maximum of 30 individuals are allowed on the octagon area during these events."
You don't have to have "assistants" but you can
I'm guessing this "release pole" business is something that somebody just put in because they thought it sounded like a good idea. If they "require" each angler to have one this is not going to work.
EDIT: Maybe they'll go along with one for everybody to share, but how do you come up with one by Tuesday?
Edit2: Maybe somebody can talk them into saying "release pole OR tail rope" and let us haul them up to unhook them (of course breaking off is the easiest).
I'm an old fart, but I'll be anybody's "assistant" if they don't have two already.
Edited for dumb content. :)
At one point in the last couple of years there was something of that nature on the end of the pier to release/unhook tarpon. I saw it but never used it and don't know who supplied it or what happened to it.
I may be making more of this than it means.
Most of us just break the dang things off now and that is surely the easiest way to deal with them. I suppose some guys might have long steel leaders that can't be broken off short (not me, if I'm drawn) and that is what they are trying to address, but it does not seem that way.
This needs to be clarified. That pier is a long way off the water and I can't imagine getting a hook off at that distance with less harm to a shark than cutting or breaking it off.
In my mind I'm seeing 5 or 6 foot spinners and blacktips, seems like they are wanting to be prepared for 10 foot tigers, reasonable in some regards, but not likely..
Beware of pro shark gogoons!! Pro shark people will put in for permits and not fish . This just happened in Indiana with our proposed bobcat season.Peta and friend of animals got together at a DNR MEETING and had close to 200 spoke out against it and we lost our bobcat season. Same thing happened in I'll.with their bobcat drawing, they got a third of the permits so they couldn't be used.Hope it doesn't happen on the pier.
Yeah, I sure do wish I had some vacation time left, I just used it all up on my Pennsylvania trout fishing vacation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Cleland
No more till Jan 1st '19.
I'd call in with a bad case of Scaleyfinittus, but I took all my sick time too for flu/pneumonia.
I know there's not a chance for me to get a permit for the 19th. I will be there if anyone needs an assistant. It sounds like a great start!
Where would one find a 30 foot release pole?
And every fisherman must have one... There's your gotcha! IQuote:
Originally Posted by Haywire
I was responding to Haywire's specific statement that he may not get a permit, but he was going to be there with his gaff to assist the shark fishermen. As an "assistant", you have to be a member of a (as I stated) maximum three person team. It goes without saying that the team may have two members. It may be a requirement for the fisherman to have someone to land it for him (a second member of his team) because each person on the octi has to be a member of an "Angler Group" (the point I was making to Haywire).Quote:
Originally Posted by hammerhead
Here's what it says:Anglers and assistants constitute an Angler Group. The participating angler named on this permit is responsible for the compliance and conduct of the parties inclusive to their respective Angler Group.
Managed Shark Fishing Events at the Gulf State Park Pier | AlaparkQuote:
Press ReleaseJune 15, 2018
Contact: Greg Lein, 334-242-3334
Gulf State Park Pier to Offer Limited Shark Fishing
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is implementing a pilot program for a permitted managed shark fishing season at the Gulf State Park Saltwater Fishing Pier. The first two events will take place on the south end of the pier – called the octagon – from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 26, 2018. The octagon will close to routine use 30 minutes prior to these events, and reopen to routine use 30 minutes following them. During the events, the octagon area of the pier will be designated for the exclusive use of the participating anglers and their designated assistants. The managed shark fishing events will be limited to 10 anglers per occasion, with each having one rod and reel in use. Each angler may have two assistants, so a maximum of 30 individuals are allowed on the octagon area during these events. No other anglers or pier guests will be allowed within the octagon area during this time. The remainder of the pier will be open to anglers and other pier guests as normally provided.Angler gear shall remain the same as presently provided under existing pier rules, and anglers are required to provide their own gear, including release poles to facilitate the release of undersized catch.After monitoring these two events in June, the agency will evaluate the program and make decisions about additional events for the following months.Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein said the limited shark fishing days are in response to requests from pier anglers. “We surveyed pier anglers about their satisfaction with fishing from the pier, and many of them expressed concern that they are not able to catch other species because of the abundance of sharks near the pier. Anglers often catch sharks inadvertently and are required to cut the line when that happens. We’re offering these initial shark fishing opportunities on a trial basis,” Lein said.Anglers interested in shark fishing on the designated dates can apply in person at the pier, by phone to the park pier management during regular business hours, or online. Applicants should be prepared to provide contact information for notification of selection to a pending managed shark fishing event. Applicants will be selected in the order in which they apply.Additional information will be posted online. To stay current on the most up-to-date information for these events and other pier events, visit http://alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Fishing-and-Education-PierTo register for participation as an angler for these Managed Shark Fishing events, visit www.alapark.com/shark-fishing or call the pier manager at (251) 967-FISH.
Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The division relies on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. To learn more, visit www.alapark.com.
"Applicants will be selected in the order in which they apply."Quote:
Managed Shark Fishing Events at the Gulf State Park Pier
Managed Shark Fishing events will take place on the Gulf State Park pier, on designated dates, times and locations as approved by the State Parks Director;
Managed Shark Fishing events will be limited to 10 anglers per occasion, with one rod/reel per angler in use. Anglers may bring more than one pole to the event. Further, each angler may involve no more than two additional assistants in the actual Managed Fishing event during the specified date, time and location;
During the events, a specified area of the pier will be designated for the exclusive use of the participating anglers and their designated assistants. During the initial events, this designated area will be the pier’s “octagon.” No other anglers or pier guests will be allowed within the specified area during these periods;
Interested anglers may apply online using the link below, at the park pier in person, or by phone during regular business hours for registration, and provide contact information for notification of selection for a pending Managed Shark Fishing event. Anglers will only be allowed to participate once, until all registered participants have either participated, or declined, or otherwise failed to show up for a scheduled event. Once all registered anglers have participated or otherwise had an opportunity to participate, anglers may participate again through the same process. Anglers may not re-register until they have been selected and participated in an initial event;
Angler gear shall remain the same as presently provided under existing pier rules. Release poles are required to be provided by anglers during each event to facilitate the release of undersized catch while still in the water. Gaffs are allowed, but sharks that do not satisfy the minimum size limits may not be gaffed;
All participating anglers must provide photo ID to gain access to the designated fishing area during the designated Managed Shark Fishing events, and have a signed Managed Shark Fishing Permit in their possession;
Anglers and assistants constitute an Angler Group. The participating angler named on this permit is responsible for the compliance and conduct of the parties inclusive to their respective Angler Group. Participating anglers and assistants agree to abide by the pier rules, the provisions stated within this permit, and all fishing regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and other fishing laws which are in force in the State of Alabama. Failure to comply with the provisions of this permit may result in the expulsion of any or all parties within an Angler Group.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MANAGED SHARK FISHING EVENTS.
I really think J&M would help us out with any special “equipment” we might need.