seagrass s.o.s. in cockroach bay
MariellaIf a National Park was being devastated by 15,000 tire tracks slashing up an ecologically valuable area, we’d put a stop to it. So what are we going to do about our own Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve? Its shallow seagrass meadows are being chewed UP by motor boats which have caused an estimated 15,000 propeller scars. And every day irresponsible boaters do more damage to the magical mud flats and seagrass beds which are crucial to the health of Tampa Bay.
I’ve already posted details about this issue and since then Saturday’s Trib explained it well. (See also the Times.)
Now I just want to remind everyone of the public meeting this week:
- Thursday, May 31, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
South Shore Regional Library
15816 Beth Shields Way
Ruskin, FL 33573
This is our chance to discuss and help shape the draft seagrass management plan for Tampa Bay. Proposals include a new “pole & troll zone” and stronger enforcement of current speed zones and other laws.
While everyone can see we have a serious problem, not everyone agrees on the solution. If you care about Cockroach Bay I hope I see you at this meeting so we can work something out to protect this precious piece of Tampa Bay. If you can’t make the meeting, you can send your comments to Barbara Motte, at the Environmental Protection Commission.
A vocal few are opposed to any new regulations in Cockroach Bay, so if the public doesn’t back a plan for better management, nothing will change, and the destruction will continue until this critical marine habitat is obliterated.
Tags: environment, fishin', sports
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May 29th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
We can’t come …. but we support all efforts to protect these areas!!!
May 30th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
What do Nascar, Bass Fishing Tournaments and our Tampa Bay fishery have in common?
(see answer below)
My #1 suggestion: Ban the professional redfish tournaments in Florida or lose your redfish!
Pissed-off fish (if you can find them) really don’t eat well. Just ask most of the real, fly fishing
guides in this area who pole for a living. Bait fishing rules, and even that’s getting harder!
If you think you can fish our flats the way tournament bass fishermen do, then sorry, you’re part of the problem! If you think you can run tournaments on our Florida fisheries, the way Nascar does, then again,
you’re part of the problem!
My fishing buddies and I are seeing way too many of these tournament boats running inside
the No-Motor Zones, sometimes more than 1/2 way in. Then it’s wide-ass-open trolling motors
the rest of the way. Good luck again! It’s starting to look like the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series in Boca Grande. If you don’t know how it’s changed their fishery, then history and it’s repeating mistakes are probably in your future.
Listen, this isn’t Louisiana area. We don’t have thousands of acres of marsh lands for the fish to spread out in.
We have roughly 398 square miles (at high tide) in Tampa Bay. If you subtract all the developed coastline from that number, there just isn’t enough redfish real-estate to go around.
What I don’t understand is why most of the anglers aren’t up in arms over these problems. Maybe
everyone isn’t aware of what’s creating such tough fishing in different areas. Here’s how I see it.
By the time you weekend fisherman hit the flats, the flats have been abused by all the overly-aggressive, pre-fishing tournament anglers and uneducated, sea-grass-mowing boat operators. I used to think one or two on a weekend in a no-motor zone was a real threat. Now it’s 4 out of 5 or more! No kidding.
On the weekends it’s a free-for-all. It’s not just tournament fishermen, it’s the majority of anglers out there now. More combustion engines in the no-motor zones than trolling motors. Why do I mention trolling motors. Ok, here’s a little secret. If you stand on a poling platform and watch the redfish (if you can find them), you’ll see them move off as the unsuspecting, trolling-motor operator approaches. Most of the time he’s completely unaware that there were ever any redfish in the area. Like I said, Good luck! You’re going to need it! Especially when he then asks you, “Seen any redfish”?
Maybe it’s that there’s absolutely no protection or enforcement. I guess if there were never any policemen or law enforcement around in town, running lights, robbing banks and shooting people would be the norm and more common place. Gee, I wonder, isn’t that what we see on television daily now? Anybody notice that there’s been no-motor signs removed from the poles around the northeast corner surrounding Tarpon Key? The boats running in there also come from that direction. Coincidence? They don’t normally fall off in succession or get knocked off that high up off the water.
Better open it up for discussions before it’s too late guys and gals!
Also, I agree - turn Cockroach Bay and that whole area into an Aquatic Preserve (with Pole and Troll) and protect it with enforcement or lose it too! Pretty worthless fishing we have now for Florida’s largest estuary. Some people will disagree, especially after getting lucky one out of ten days. But then again, what are they comparing it too? What it used to be like back when they first moved here from the midwest? History again guys, should have taught us something.
My $ .02 worth and good luck, you’ll need it.
Also, I agree with the limited Little Cockroach bay proposal to get data first on a possible Pole & Troll designation. I personally don’t agree that it should be out the 6 foot contour line though. If that were the case, people will be in danger due to the bad sea conditions that far out. Find a compromise.
p.s. Answer to the above question is: IT’S STARTING TO LOOK THE SAME!
Stay tuned for the next problem: “Is Mexico Really Killing Our Tarpon?”
Captain Russ Shirley
Captain Russ Shirley is a full time, Tampa Bay area fishing guide, fishing fly and light tackle on Florida’s West Coast. As owner of Salty Fly Charters (now celebrating its 14th year), he is a native Floridian and has fished Tampa Bay area waters since the age of four.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Fred Jacobsen posted this on my other Cockroach Bay post, and I thought I ought to bump it up here where people can see it:
Fred said:
“Gus Muench has some interesting things to say on the subject of protecting the Little Manatee River environment in this YouTube video:”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU29ReMuMJY