Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - The Problem of Pot Buoys in Surf Fishing Areas

DZ · 05-03-2005, 07:07 AM

Overview of last nights meeting:
Council member George Allen introduced the issue and then let me speak my part. I gave the council an overview of the issue - surf fishing areas innundated with pot bouys where very few buoys existed in the past essentially closing them off to surf fishing. I went into possible reasons, one reason could be the emerging popularity of "fish pots" but said I couldn't differentiate between lobster and fish pot buoys. I told the council we were not looking to regulate (at this point) the pot setting but looking to broker some kind of agreement with local lobstermen/fish potters on where they set pots so there is no conflict. As luck would have it two of the local potters were at the meeting - I kind of expected they might be because I passed the word to a few local lobsterman I know that we wanted some pots moved off the cliff walk, I guess word passed around the docks pretty fast. Well, word got out to these guys. Well they said the normal commercial spiel, trying to make a living, can't set out where the trawls are, the lobsters are close, my dad was a lobsterman and always set his pots there, etc.
Rather than dispute everything he said I gave him my phone number and told him I wanted to talk about the areas in question and see if we can get him to move certain pots. He told me he would call me soon.
The council also said they would help broker an agreement and get all the sides together.
I also mentioned other areas where there are pot conflicts such as Narragansett and Watch Hill - these areas will have to come up when surf fishermen that fish those places send a letter to the council.
At this point I'm waiting for the local lobsterman to contact me - I'll keep everyone advised. If he doesn't want to come to an agreement we'll push the issue and try and regulate the fishery out of the problem areas.

Thank you to RIRockhound and Crafty Angler for being there!
DZ

05-03-2005, 07:07 AM	#7
DZ Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 2,574	Overview of last nights meeting: Council member George Allen introduced the issue and then let me speak my part. I gave the council an overview of the issue - surf fishing areas innundated with pot bouys where very few buoys existed in the past essentially closing them off to surf fishing. I went into possible reasons, one reason could be the emerging popularity of "fish pots" but said I couldn't differentiate between lobster and fish pot buoys. I told the council we were not looking to regulate (at this point) the pot setting but looking to broker some kind of agreement with local lobstermen/fish potters on where they set pots so there is no conflict. As luck would have it two of the local potters were at the meeting - I kind of expected they might be because I passed the word to a few local lobsterman I know that we wanted some pots moved off the cliff walk, I guess word passed around the docks pretty fast. Well, word got out to these guys. Well they said the normal commercial spiel, trying to make a living, can't set out where the trawls are, the lobsters are close, my dad was a lobsterman and always set his pots there, etc. Rather than dispute everything he said I gave him my phone number and told him I wanted to talk about the areas in question and see if we can get him to move certain pots. He told me he would call me soon. The council also said they would help broker an agreement and get all the sides together. I also mentioned other areas where there are pot conflicts such as Narragansett and Watch Hill - these areas will have to come up when surf fishermen that fish those places send a letter to the council. At this point I'm waiting for the local lobsterman to contact me - I'll keep everyone advised. If he doesn't want to come to an agreement we'll push the issue and try and regulate the fishery out of the problem areas. Thank you to RIRockhound and Crafty Angler for being there! DZ
	DZ Recreational Surfcaster "Limit Your Kill - Don't Kill Your Limit" Bi + Ne = SB 2 If you haven't heard of the Snowstorm Blitz of 1987 - you someday will.