Your View of Florida. Tell Us.

bryguy

As a life long NC saltwater fisherman, i can tell you that the concerns and issues you guys have in Florida are the same as what we experience in NC.  As to the NC inshore fisheries, yes the red drum is doing ok, but the other species are in dire straits due to poor water quality and commercial overfishing.  Flounder are a shell of what they once were, speckled trout are struggling and the spot and yellow finned croaker are non existent now.  The trawlers here kill billions of juvenile fish of all species and destroy large swaths of bottom.  add to that a growing population of folks close to the coast and on the major drainages and the increase in  pollutants and you have the inshore fishery struggling to stay viable here.  The offshore fishing is a tiny bit better, but the limits on bottom fish are ridiculous and strict and make head boat fishing here not worth what it costs to head out.   the pelagic fishing looks ok here, but even the Mahi and tuna fishing are not what they once were. 

I have spent a good amount of time in Florida fishing and to me, it seems like you guys have a much better handle on things then NC does in regards to fisheries management.  Honestly, more and more people are wanting to move to the coast and that places more and more stress on an already fragile ecosystem.  Until we address to influx of people to these areas it is going to keep on getting worse everywhere.  

FloridaOD

Florida has a Slum Heart 

Denise

I’ve been blessed to see fish and see the best of south west Florida it’s all
over but the crying imho 

Mackeral Snatcher

Hey Denise, how ya been?

FS Blair

bryguy said:

As a life long NC saltwater fisherman, i can tell you that the concerns and issues you guys have in Florida are the same as what we experience in NC.  As to the NC inshore fisheries, yes the red drum is doing ok, but the other species are in dire straits due to poor water quality and commercial overfishing.  Flounder are a shell of what they once were, speckled trout are struggling and the spot and yellow finned croaker are non existent now.  The trawlers here kill billions of juvenile fish of all species and destroy large swaths of bottom.  add to that a growing population of folks close to the coast and on the major drainages and the increase in  pollutants and you have the inshore fishery struggling to stay viable here.  The offshore fishing is a tiny bit better, but the limits on bottom fish are ridiculous and strict and make head boat fishing here not worth what it costs to head out.   the pelagic fishing looks ok here, but even the Mahi and tuna fishing are not what they once were. 

I have spent a good amount of time in Florida fishing and to me, it seems like you guys have a much better handle on things then NC does in regards to fisheries management.  Honestly, more and more people are wanting to move to the coast and that places more and more stress on an already fragile ecosystem.  Until we address to influx of people to these areas it is going to keep on getting worse everywhere.  

In the last 30-years we've made some good decisions to help our fish stocks.  NC could follow thru with possibly the largest and the one with the most impact, was banning large gill and entanglement nets within state waters.  Gamefish status for reds in '88 was important.  And we had some other wins.  But, there's still a lot to do.  Water quality, much of it due to the growing populations, but also un-regulated ag, still is impactful and we need to address it. 

Terry Ravenscraft

Xaf said:

If Florida wants to return to what it was initially known for,  land rich in hunting and fishing opportunities, it needs to take drastic measures. Florida needs to become a leader in conservation and enforcement.  Without an exerted effort Florida's lakes, rivers and beaches will become cesspools with rundown condos lined up one after another.   There will be no fish and no fishing industry.  We will be known for theme parks and cruise terminals to other destinations.  

No way back to eden .😢

theU

Tried my luck surf fishing for snook at Waltin Rocks on 23rd. WOW,  went over the dunes and it looked like Shrek's toilet. First the Indian River is distroyed and now the Ocean. Enough already, So depressing!

MRichardson

FloridaOD said:

Florida has a Slum Heart 

It really does.  It always has.  This is from the "Florida Man" meme, and perfectly embodies what the State of FL would look like in human form:



To expect much more than more of the same (at an ever-accelerating pace) is silly.  

FloridaOD

Increasingly...... media events profiling “ Global Warming”, Sea Level Rise have been met with chant over “ Global Swarming”....... over population, “ Growth”, Florida’s Growth Management Et al and media managers generally taken aback 😮 

harbison

"over population"  and rowing by 1,000 new residents a day. 
“ Growth”, Florida’s Growth Management...  is centered around $$$! 

CaptJ

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Vote for those with our best interest at heart rather than an ideology. Show up at meetings, voice your opinions - be heard!

Mackeral Snatcher

Been there, done that.

Doesn't work.

ANUMBER1

Mackeral Snatcher said:

Been there, done that.

Doesn't work.

funny, I feel the same way

Mackeral Snatcher

Sucks that it works that way for us and you.

ANUMBER1

Mackeral Snatcher said:

Sucks that it works that way for us and you.

yes it does and speaks volumes about the process and about a huge divide that could probably bridged a bit.

FloridaOD

I received a coveted Conservation Award and pretty much stopped all Conservation advocacy efforts for a time. What a futile Loop.

FloridaOD

One Governor’s view. Proven futile.

ANUMBER1

Good guy right there, so was McKay.

Mackeral Snatcher

"Walkin Lawton"

ANUMBER1

I voted for him and Mckay..

Didn't care about crossing party lines, just thought that both were good for Florida.

reelfire

You all talk about water quality meanwhile you have no yearly emmisions testing on cars and trucks in this state. Start there. Had same algae problems in NY bays. Hurricane opened up an old inlet that had been filled. The bay is coming back. n inlet should be cut south of parking field 5 in Canaveral Seashore. Flush mid mosquito lagoon twice a day.

FloridaOD

Nrah

My concern is Cormorants. While listed as a "protected species" by antiquated federal edict, this species is neither rare, no endangered. The Cormorant is destroying habitat, endangering wading bird species, and due to it's unchecked proliferation, systematically wiping out saltwater and freshwater fish populations, throughout the state. 

This species of bird single-handedly wiped out the tourism fishing industry, in the Great Lakes, and now it's firmly entrenched in Florida, devouring one third of it's weight a day, in fish and crustaceans.

Cormorants need to be de-listed, labeled the pest species they are, and actively hunted, in order to control their population. These ugly and voracious eaters are the avian equivalent of the cockroach. 
 

gogittum

That's about how I think of Doves and Pigeons.

Nrah

Well, yes, except Cormorants are systematically stripping the state of Florida of all the fish. Doves and Pigeons don't do that.

conchydong

I’d comment but there are certain words that you can’t use here regarding cormorants.

ANUMBER1

gogittum said:

That's about how I think of Doves and Pigeons.

that's how I feel about yankees.

Nrah

ANUMBER1, you should feel a little pride, inasmuch as, despite all the nastily smug natives, like yourself, many of us "yankees", born by accident of chance, in the North, CHOOSE to live here, in Florida, anyway. Not Georgia, Alabama, Carolina, Louisiana, or Virginia, but here. 

Conchydong, 2 words you WON'T hear about Cormorants is "rare", or "endangered" like many of the wading bird species the Cormorant is extincting, with their constant depredation of fish, crustaceans, and wildlife areas.

Consider, that once the fish are gone, sportfishing will decline radically, and this will also have a drastic effect upon the boating industry.. 

ANUMBER1

Nrah said:

ANUMBER1, you should feel a little pride, inasmuch as, despite all the nastily smug natives, like yourself, many of us "yankees", born by accident of chance, in the North, CHOOSE to live here, in Florida, anyway. Not Georgia, Alabama, Carolina, Louisiana, or Virginia, but here. 

Conchydong, 2 words you WON'T hear about Cormorants is "rare", or "endangered" like many of the wading bird species the Cormorant is extincting, with their constant depredation of fish, crustaceans, and wildlife areas.

Consider, that once the fish are gone, sportfishing will decline radically, and this will also have a drastic effect upon the boating industry.. 

I could give a sh** less about sporties, I kinda like the Cormorants, they got pretty green eyes..

doesn't surprise me that a sportie such as yourself would advocate for the slaughter of an endangered species that gets in the way of your fun..

Mind if I share your opinions with some green enviromental groups, I won't give themyou personal info like name/address, I promise..

Nrah

The Cormorant  is neither rare, nor endangered. I guess you must also like cockroaches, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes, OH, are they "endangered", too?

While you are busy, exposing me, to your ecological activists, perhaps you could also take a moment, to find out, why are these "green environmental groups" allowing ACTUAL rare and endangered species of wading birds to be driven to extinction, by Cormorants? Are your green friends not in the least concerned, with what Cormorants are doing to fish populations ? 

ANUMBER1, if you could care less about "sporties", what are you doing, on a "sporties" forum?

IF you actually knew anything about environmental activity, in this state, you might know that I am very active, in conservation, and preservation of the natural environment. Thanks to me, hundreds of acres of woodland and wetland are being preserved, and protected, in order to foster the support of our wildlife.

But, in nature, BALANCE IS IMPORTANT, and Cormorants are not only thriving, but running amok, and ruining ecosystems and fish populations. 

So, do you REALLY care about the environment, or are you just refusing to shed many generations of misplaced anger and resentment?