togmaster wrote:
One thing you must know in FL it is now against the law to take a Tarpoon out of the water for a picture !!!
So I wish i could have show you the good shots but the Fl DEc might not like that so we revied and released all the fish below
Just that last statement of showing the good shots with raise an eyebrow or 2.
No truer words spoken. Not the DEC down here called FFWC ( Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission). Believe me these people take it very serious. They have people who just moniter websites for such actions.
Lots of guides gave come close to losing there licence for just the same thing when either posting it on web site down here or there own homepage.
Not only tarpon but they are really looking for Goliath Grouper Pictures also with a vengance as they are still considered endangered.
Not to long ago a Capt/Guide posted pictures Here on N/E as well as any other fishing site in order to gain business. Long story short he had his CG licence suspened for 6 months which automatically eliminates the guide permit and once that's gone you lose everything else that goes along with it. He also lost a lot of sponcerships such as boat he was on (Lake and Bay $$$$$), Avet Reels, Gami Hooks and any others.
The DEC is a walk in the park compared to the FFWC, there like ants at a picnic, all over the place. Marked and unmarked boats with officers in civialian clothes.
Unlike the North East were basicly there is a 6 month season for the average Joe blow fishing down here is one of the main reason for the toursit trade. They do take it seriously.
I have even heard of people fishing from out of town off a pier being checked for a fishing licence.
They all work hand in hand also. Local PD, Sheriffs office, FWWC, and even the CG which I have peronally seen this while coming back from offshore form the CG. Got boarded, did an equipment check as well looking for bag limits of grouper etc.And they went through the whole boat.
Some may say it's overkill with that type of enforcment but in reality they are protecting not only the fish but the toursit trade which = big bucks.
Like anything else money talks.
Now here is a real kicker, if offshore bottom fishing you need a
APPROVED deflating kit (90 bucks) and hook degouger, not the type you see in NY with a little jay hook on the end but one that is about 18 inches long with the circle/loop at the end, another 40 bucks. Also all Charter boats
MUST have this on board and the use of only circle hooks are permitted for bottom fishing.
Guess who makes the kit and degouger, "Guy Harvey" and advertises it all over the TV sports fishing shows.
So don't feel bad with the regs you have Big Brother is watching down here also.
This post edited by baywatch 12:11 PM 04/03/2008
