Grouper Bag Limit meetings

[Grauer]

[QUOTE=RichTaylor]It was recently announced that there will be 4 public comment hearings on this. The locations for the hearings will be Key west,Fort Myers, Saint Petersburg, and Destin.
We will need to make our voices heard. QUOTE]

This is all depending on the dates, I should be able to attend 3 out of 4 of these meetings. I will to go to the Ft Myers Meeting and will have room for 3 others to join me. I live in North Saint Petersburg and a four door civic. I will also go to the one in Key West.
The one in KW may seem to be a hard one, but there is a fast cat ferry that leaves from Ft. Myers to KW (3hours) . If anyone else wants to go to the we should start to organize. I may even be able to make the Destin meeting .... as soon i as figure out where destin is.

Chris

[Nsearch]

Chris....of course I'll be at the St. Pete mtg and I'd jump in with ya for the Ft. Myers mtg, but Key West may be a little tough for me to swing. All depends on the dates I guess. You've got my cell.

Bryan

[Divin' fool]

I'm in Orlando...I plan to attend the St. Pete meeting. If anyone wants to carpool PM me.

[PatMyGreen]

I can make Destin pretty easy. Its 30 mins West of Panama City Beach.

[chasintail]

I can make Destin depending on the date.I can take 3 with me.Leaving the Biloxi MS area.


Disclaimer
I can not be responsible for anything that happens at Hooters after the meeting.

[Wayward Son]

Destin is possible. We needs dates.

[sharpshooter]

See you guys at the St. Pete meeting. Just give me the date and time. :D

[Dive4Blood]

I'll be at the St Petersburg and Ft Myers meetings , and will see about Destin baring any major scheduling conflicts.

This is the real deal. It's all well and fine to waste time on this site BS'ing about global warming, smoking pot, religion, some chick in a bikini getting a diploma, and other nonsensical crap, but the attendance (or lack thereof) at these meetings will be the true measure of the value of Spearboard. Don't check to see if you have time to go, MAKE TIME TO GO! These proposals are outrageous in the context of current commercial regulations, and we need to make damn sure that the powers that be, and every non-fishing citizen not educated in the matter know the real truth.

There is going to be alot of businesses hurt by this if we stand idly by. We are on standing the edge of the slippery slope, and peering over into non-spearfishing oblivion........

[junior]

What's going on over at the FS forum? Are they equally riled up? I'll definately be at the St. Pete meeting and perhaps Ft. Myers.

[Nsearch]

What's going on over at the FS forum?

Last time I checked they were all patiently waiting for Tommy Butler to post some pictures of a 25# gag :D

[Divin' fool]

Well said... this may be the one time that it really counts.

IMHO if everyone brought one or two more people.... we might just make an impact. Heck.... get some of your buddies to join you and offer free beer after the meeting:D

[Double Down]

I'm in for St Pete for sure, maybe Key West. Need dates.

[Dive4Blood]

I got these public hearing dates from the Florida Sportsman site:

Mon Jun 27 - Key West
Tues Jun 28 - Naples
Wednesday Jun 29 - Madeira Beach
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Start making plans now to attend at least one of these meetings. If you spearfish in the Gulf of Mexico your presence is MANDATORY!!!

[normanhghntr]

Ill rally the troups for the key west meeting, and try for naples :D

[junior]

Why is it so difficult for us to get some air time with this subject? Someone, somewhere, somehow has got to know someone that could actually finally tell a story about fishing in Florida that does not paint commercial fisherman as some sort of dying breed of do-gooders that need to be saved by handing the keys to the gulf to them and allowing them to longline in the intercoastal, Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River:rolleyes:

[Tom Keels]

They will listen to individuals, but only if the individual makes a valid, concise, and articlulate argument. What we don't need is every joe six pack spouting curses through a slow southern drawl. Realize I'm not stereotyping, just relaying info from what I saw at the Destin meetings a few years back.

I will give pointers to anyone attending the hearings. You have to fill out a card with your name and contact info if you intend to speak. The cards go into a box and are drawn out one at a time for folks to come up and speak. You are normally given about 2 minutes to make a point. I encourage everyone to fill out a card even if you don't want to speak. If you have a representive from a local fishing club, org, etc. have them prepare the statements and if they run out of time to complete them if your name is called you can give your time to another person to speak.

Go in large groups and if possible, where like shirts, hats, etc to identify yourself with a particular group. Last time CCA gave out red hats to all the recs and it really makes a visual statement to the council.

Do not raise your voice, or personally attack anyone on the council or the council themselves. You may question the motives of the council, but not attack their integrity in the open forum. Present your arguments as opinion from a group, backed up with facts when at all possible.

Be prepared to answer questions from council members who are both for or opposed to your stance. If you do not think quickly on your feet or cannot get an answer ready in your alloted time, then ask to respond later using donated time from another speaker.

Dress appropriately.

Whatever you do, do not use the argument that you will quit fishing altogether if this ammendment passes. THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO!!!

Like I said these are just suggestions based on my observations from previous public hearings.

[richhermes]

I'm in for the Mad Beach meeting.

[Grauer]

Definatley wont be able to make the KW. But still would like to go to the naples and Mad Beach. If you are interested in going to the Naples and want to ride with please send me a PM. I leave from N St. Pete

Chris

[f94gator]

I'm in for Mad Beach, too.

[Spearchucker]

Me Too

[Jaizzen]

I will attend a few. When and where.

Jason

[Blind Squirrel]

I like the dates. The interim rules is to go into effect on July 1, so June 27, 28 and 29 they hold hearings. That'll give them a lot of time to mull over the public comment. Please insert a giant note of sarcasm.

[Denny]

The regs will actually not be published until after the next Council meeting. They will not take effect until September.
Not that any of this information makes any of this more acceptable.

[nyTroX]

I can make the Madiera beach meeting..
KW no chance
Naples possibly

[webers2]

Consider brininging your boat with you on your trailer. Lots of boats parked on trailers clogging up the parking lots and coming into town will likely get a good bit of media attention.

[mcjaret]

Trying to clear my calendar, and will make all I possible can.

[Denny]

This is going to be huge. The Madeira Beach meeting should be attended by everyone within 100 miles. We will make our voices heard. Dress decent and be prepared. There will be reporters from all forms of media.
I'll post the exact times and dates of the meetings, as well as where the pre-meeting information sessions will be held.

[chasintail]

Dates on the Destin meeting please!

[Kahuna]

I said in an earlier post that I would try to contact the media.

What I have tried to do:

1. Terry Tomlin called me back last night and said he would not write anything else concerning the new regs " until they were passed". The next time he wants to use me to write an article the answer will be no.

2. Frank Sargent has not returned my emails or phone calls as of today. Maybe he is doing something I don't know about. Anybody been to his fishing show at the fairgrounds?

3. Capt Mel did email me back. You can read his email on this forum. He INVITED us to call in and discuss or concerns.

The reason I am taking this road is because I believe the average weekender has no idea what is going on. Go to your local marina or boat ramp this weekend and talk to the guys who are going offshore and ask them what they think of the new regs and how they were justified and you will probably get a 75% deer in the headlights response.
They don't know that a regulation is coming down that means that they can't grouper fish for 3 or 4 months of the year and their limit is being cut back while the commerical guys get all they want based on BS data.

My idea is to better educate the public on what is being done. The more people the better.

Capt Mel's station claims 12,000 listeners. If we can call in and intelligently state our case and get 1% to get invloved that would be an addtional 120 pissed off people at the meeting. We know we are talking to deaf ears but as the numbers grow their ears will learn how to hear again.

Please post your opinion.

[junior]

That response from people in positions of influence is disappointing. I hope it is not what we should expect in terms of assistance.

[RichT]

Got word today that some big name media figures are coming on board against these outrageous new proposals.

Also, I received this response from the American sportfishing Association which is the trade association for most all the big name boat and tackle manufacturers.


Capt. Taylor
Thank you for your alert on the Red Grouper situation. Gordon Robertson asked me to reply for him as I am responsible for saltwater issues here at ASA.
We are also following the red grouper issue in the Gulf, as are CCA and other groups. So far, the issue has been brought up only verbally, and that has raised such a stir that nothing has been finalized. It seems to be a little changed each time we hear it. We understand that the Gulf Council has agreed to include hearings on this proposal/issue at several June meetings. They are June 15th, Orange Beach AL; June 16th Destin; June 27 Key West; June 28 Naples; and June 29 in Tampa/St. Pete.

We will continue to follow this closely and are urging all of our members to follow this and encourage participation at the hearings.

Carol A. Forthman

Director of Ocean Resource Policy

American Sportfishing Association

225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

P: 703-519-9691x244

F: 703-519-1872

e-mail: cforthman@asafishing.org

[Marcus]

In the matter of making a visual representation at the meeting, what about getting the word out to everyone to wear a ball cap to the meeting, backwards perhaps?

[Mutt]

Flash Point Local ABC w/ Brendon Mclaughlin (sp)

Charlie Crist, Fla's Attorney General is Obviously on the Side of the People on our issue here. Charlie Stated This morning....on Flash Point that "I introduced A Bill to Ban Commercial Fishing in Florida...It was the Will of the People (over 70% voted) and it was Defeated by the Strong Commercial Fishing Lobby"...Obviously, he is Tuned into this Fight....May not be a bad idea to Get Charlie Crist, George Bush, etc everyone knows that george senior is an Avid Recreation Fisherman here in Florida. I suppose we need to bring out the Big Guns Jeb Bush, and George Senior in on this. Charlie is tied to the hip w/ the Bush's. Obviously he is tuned into this Issue. Charlie could be the Advocate that The People need here...again..This time Crist has more Power to work with this time around! He could be this issues Biggest Power Broker. I believe that it Time to contact Charlie and Jeb in whatever form or fashion it takes. Letters, meetings, etc. Obviously, Charlie will be more immediate avail. Someone, obviously already has his ear on this, as I believe he strategically, but very briefly, mentioned this this morning. I think this an obvious follow up w/ Local ABC's Brendon Mcglaughlin. This fight need not be over, by any means :D

[Ed Walker]

I think future govenor Charlie Christ could be helpful. He has somewhat of an understanding of the people of Florida and the ramrodding they get from the commercials. Ive had him on the boat several times for fisheries issues articles, had lunch a few times, and have a good friend who is pretty tight with him. He was all for he net ban and personally participated in a recent late nite gill net sting with the local marine enforcement authorites. Dont count on him lining up to kiss the longliners ass like the other lemmings. If he got a few intelligent emails about the red grouper BS I think it could be very helpful.
PS: Im living here in Englewood for the next few months (tarpon season) and I think I can rendezvous with the SB platoon at the Ft. Myers meeting.