Netters Face New Felony Net Law
Under law just enacted, imprisonment, major fines could await Big Bend commercial fishermen.

Three Big Bend commercial fishermen face a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges for possession of two monofilament gill nets tied together, totaling 4,587 square feet, an illegal seine net with mesh larger than 2-inch stretch and a pair of undersize redfish.

Officer Billy Kemp intercepted a 20-foot mullet skiff at the mouth of the Aucillla River. Aboard were Jim Nichols from Crawfordville, Roger Nichols, Sopchoppy, and George Fragakis, Lamont.

“They had 98 mullet and two undersize red drum. The nets were wet and had grass in them,” said Kemp. “It was pretty obvious they had just been used.”

Along with lesser charges, each man faces a felony charge of possession of a monofilament gill net on Florida waters, which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a $5,000 fine and seizure of illegal nets and fish.

Peter’s Got It Wright
International skipper speaks out against cast gill nets.

Globe-trotting billfisher Capt. Peter B. Wright sounds off against entangling cast gill nets in a magazine column titled “I’ve Been Had, and I’m Mad.” He also describes differences between cast gill nets and conventional cast nets (see “On the Conservation Front” FS April ’04 issue).

Wright says, “At best, these nets are within the letter of the law, but they certainly stomp all over the spirit of it.” Strong words from Capt. Wright in the September Marlin magazine.

Florida fishery managers seem to have turned their heads away on cast gill net problems. Besides gilling fish (didn’t we vote this gear out?), these nets often hang on the bottom. Divers have documented and removed these “ghost” nets clinging to protected reefs within the boundaries of the St. Lucie Inlet Preserve Park. The resource damage continues.

Wright penned, “These few, outlaw commercial gill netters must be stopped.”.

Jacksonville Kingfish
Fairly modest kings win some big bucks in Jacksonville.

The world’s biggest kingfish tournament ended last weekend in Jacksonville, and a young gun named Paul Dozier came out on top. Fishing aboard Inside Chance, Dozier reportedly ran north to Gray’s Reef in Georgia to find his 46-pound kingfish. Just one of his prizes was a 23-foot Contender 23T boat, with a Yamaha HPDI 300 engine and Loadmaster trailer.

With high quality prizes (at least five boats awarded) and a media blitz of live coverage, it’s easy to see why this tournament has approximately 1,000 boats entered, year after year.

Among the crowd of boats prowling the coast for at least 100 miles north and south, was a second place fish that weighed 45.4 pounds, caught by Russell Stewart on Seafood Kitchen. His prize was a 23-foot Baja 23TE with a Mercury 225 EFI engine and Loadmaster trailer.

Third place went to Rusty Kennedy on High Hook, with a 44.3-pound fish. His prize was a Key West 186CC with Mercury 225 engine and Loadmaster trailer.

On the two-fish aggregate side of the tournament, there were also some nifty prizes. Just catching a high 30-pounder on both days was worth some big bucks. First place went to Trip Fletcher on the No Limit, with two fish weighing 75.9 pounds. He walked off with a 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab pickup truck, prizes totaling $30,000.

Second place aggregate went to Matt Pittman on Blue Thunder, with 68 pounds of fish. He won a Key West 1720CC boat with a Mercury 90 engine and Loadmaster trailer.

ICAST, Now You Cast
Meet the Best of Show winners from the world’s biggest fishing tackle trade show.

The annual International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, or ICAST, showcased the latest and greatest fishing gear this summer. Nearly 400 exhibitors rented floor space at the Las Vegas Convention Center July 14-16, and displayed their wares for the perusal of retailers and media. Each year, a separate section is devoted to new products—and of those, a select few garner special awards based on innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality. There were 11 categories, judged by buyers and media representatives.

Overall Best of Show: Shimano Chronarch B Series Reel (Aluminum baitcaster designed for saltwater flats, with 6.2:1 retrieve, High Efficiency gearing and rust-resistant ball bearings)
Rod: Airrus Tradition Series (Convertible fly/spin rod)
Reel: Shimano Chronarch B
Terminal Tackle: VMC David Fritts Scorpion Treble Hooks (Custom-designed bass crankbait hook)
Line: Vanish Transition (Hi-vis out of water, low-vis under)
Hard Lure: Bikini Solaris Fatshad (Water-activated, rechargeable, lighted lure)
Soft Lure: Pace LA Slider
Tackle Management: Shimano Bagio Fishing Traveler Case
Kid’s Tackle: Target Fisherman (Spring-loaded “pole” that shoots your lure)
Boating Accessory: Bassmaster LMS 480 Electronic Sonar
Fishing Accessory: Hawg Pockets lure guard (Wraps around rod and lure to prevent snagging in transport)
Clothing/Giftware: Fishworks Clipperton Walk Shorts (Double-snap, zipper fly, 6 pockets)