BigBendFishing.Net

Now is the time to step up and be herd. BIGBENDFISHING.NET needs to have a rep at the meeting. I attended the meeting in Panama City no one there from PC Anglers , Florida Sportsmen or many others. A Pensacola Fourm member was there representing his group . Only 16 folks including FWC staff was in attendance. BIGBENDFISHING.NET needs to get involved or change the name to BIGBENDLOOKINGATWATER.DONTNEEDANET.

The decline in our fish stocks is real. However its not the angler that is the major player here causing this decline. We keep our anglers in check with the FWC. Its the environment we have created with our coastal development , run off , dumping. Untill we have that in check we will continue to see a decline in fish stocks. The fwc will soon see a redfish stamp used like the snook stamp to fund staffing for more research on anglers. The FWC needs to partner with our environment agencies to stop the run off ,development etc. A stamp that uses money soley for water quality would be fine , but to fund staffing for research on anglers is the pitts. I dont have the answers but I belive that untill we get our environment in check we will lose all fish stocks that could support a fishing population.

FWC works on there own to manage anglers. They have no controll over environmental issues. So as the fish stocks decline because of our environment FWC regulates your fishing to keep alive a fish stock. What can we do to help ?

I was out of town...Was the local CCA Chapter present?

Do you have a date for the next meeting? If it is next month, we need to start coordinating our participation now!

no................ if they were they didnt speak .

Update ********

All right all you waders, yakers, air boaters, mullet boat runners, rock jumpers and fishermen and women need to make a showing at this event and let your voices be heard - http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/07/statewide/ ... sched.html

Chalk wrote:Update ********

All right all you waders, yakers, air boaters, mullet boat runners, rock jumpers and fishermen and women need to make a showing at this event and let your voices be heard - http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/07/statewide/ ... sched.html

This is a perfect opportunity for NFGFC and BBFN to be heard.
I'll be there.
Come on guys and gals,meet me at FWC next Tuesday night.

Jumptrout51 wrote:

Chalk wrote:Update ********

All right all you waders, yakers, air boaters, mullet boat runners, rock jumpers and fishermen and women need to make a showing at this event and let your voices be heard - http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/07/statewide/ ... sched.html

This is a perfect opportunity for NFGFC and BBFN to be heard.
I'll be there.
Come on guys and gals,meet me at FWC next Tuesday night.

\
JT, I'm going to try and make as well.

ROCKET
Barhopr

I'll be there

I'll assume the answer is no, but do they webcast the FWC meetings?

News Release
FWC announces rescheduled redfish public workshop

January 3, 2007
CONTACT: Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554

A rescheduled public workshop in Tallahassee regarding red drum (redfish) management in Florida will be Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rescheduled the workshop because inclement weather during the originally scheduled workshop on Nov. 15 hindered public participation.

The FWC has hosted nine public workshops around the state seeking comment on its recent red drum stock assessment, which concluded that while the red drum management goal of 30 percent escapement is being achieved, increasing fishing effort could cause the escapement rate to decline below 30 percent by the next assessment in 2009. Escapement is the percentage of fish that avoid harvest by fishers.

A red drum workgroup recently established by the FWC has developed several management recommendations, including narrowing the current 18-27 inches total length slot limit, applying a possible one-month closure and increasing the management goal to 40 percent escapement. The FWC also seeks comment from interested persons on these recommendations.

Detailed management options and the workgroup recommendations will be presented at the workshop, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Farris Bryant Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room in Tallahassee.

Information regarding the red drum workgroup and other material concerning red drum management in Florida is available online at MyFWC.com/marine/workgroups/index.html#Red_Drum. Contact Lee Schlesinger at (850) 487-0554 for information regarding the upcoming workshop.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshop should advise the agency at least five calendar days before the workshop by contacting Cindy Hoffman at (850) 488-6411. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TTY) or (800) 955-8770 (voice).