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Save our waters from being saved

By: Denny O¹Hern

Ignoring the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act and two National Research Council reviews in the past decade, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) continues to generate and use fatally-flawed recreational data to close healthy fisheries. These unwarranted closures will cost tens of thousands of

jobs and tens of billions of dollars in economic impact (Red Snapper,Red Grouper, Gag Grouper, Striped Bass, and Greater Amberjack).

NMFS ignores the loss of jobs and the negative economic and social impacts, in defiance of National Standard 8. NMFS also ignores the people who actually fish, unless those people agree with NMFS.Ignoring or minimizing non-NMFS scientists that disagree with NMFS is a specialty of the current administrators.Fishing is our heritage and our right; a thread that runs through our communities. We also have a right sound management of our resources.

Sound management does not include closure of healthy resources based on fatally flawed data. Defiance of the law and Congress seem to be regular occurrences at the NMFS. Congress must bring its defiant employees under control. We need relief from the job loss and economic adversity caused by draconian acts of defiance.

Legislators have the opportunity to right a wrong and save jobs.That seems better than writing a check to create jobs. You can preserve your right to fish with the help of your congressmen. They will listen to you if you speak up.

Learn how at

www.joinFRA.org.

When Florida¹s four million saltwater anglers speak out, our right to fish will be preserved.

A STAFF REPORT

It’s time to think warm thoughts and help Spring out a little. By now everyone is tired of battling those winter winds and heavy seas. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and April is going shorten the trip.

The offshore bottom fishing did start heating up last month, a sure sign that the change is coming although it’s a little late. Extended-range trips are producing nice, mixed bags of gags, reds, scamps, snappers and just enough big “rustys” (giant gag grouper) to keep the excitement level up on every drop. Monster live baits are the key to the bigger fish but frozen sardines and Boston mackerels have been working great for anything under 20-pounds. If you’re looking for a challenge, large (three to eight ounce) flair-hair jigs have been producing some nice grouper as well. Best bet is to start looking 80-feet and out.

If it’s scamp you’re after, live cigar minnows and small grunts or pins fished several cranks off the bottom attract the largest of these tasty groupers. While utilizing a lighter leader could provoke more scamp bites, it might not be wise to lighten up your leader too much – Unless you don’t mind getting popped off by a monster black that was waiting and watching for just the right, tasty little morsel to come dangling over his head. Catching scamps is cool, but getting freight-trained in front of your buddies and shutting off the bite is very un-cool.

Snapper fishing is pretty good south and deep but it’s still might be a little early for the big mangos to move on to the pothole bottom areas. If you’re looking for mangos, springs and big ledges are your best bet.

And while you’re there, you might as well pick a fight with some amberjacks. Most springs and wrecks are holding jacks right now. Light sinkers, long leaders and large, bouncy, live baits (blue runners, pinfish, grunts, etc.) will keep the rods bent all day. Diamond, slab and big bucktail jigs will do in a pinch, especially if you find some hungry amberjacks bunched near the surface. A large surface-chugging lure worked in the same situation can also have explosive results.

The blackfin tuna thing is hit or miss for now but keep our eyes open. Keep an eye out for the shrimpers to start showing. Be sure to grab some sardines when you see them as it could a short run.

Keep an eye on the loop current. It’s about time for it to send sailfish, wahoo, tuna and dolphin our way. Good luck and stay safe.