Shark-free marinas--good or bad?

[Bear13]

Wasn't singling out any one tournment, many reference Monster Sharks as it is a catchy phrase.

However, to the point of your post to that tourney. A Monster Shark tourney that considers a 200# Mako o 250 Thresher or Porbeagle as points is no Monster Skark tourney. Just another shark tourney with a catchy name. Sorry, but that's how I feel. You want to call someting Monster sharkin keep it real, like 4-500 or better. Aything else killed and your out!

I do repsect that they only allow one shark to be killed and not picking on any one schedule. This one does seem the best of the ones I have read about.

Just venting as I have seen too many a shark in the dumpster. I do kill one every now and then but encourage release on all private and charter trips.

[algdog]

this could be similar to what has happened here in NJ with the land preservation deals, I have a buddy who's wife works for a land conservancy, ie anti hunter group. they get in contact with towns and offer to front some money to purchase land with the town to preserve open space, they are a non for profit. so all donations are tax deductible.
once they have a deal with the town they orchestrate in all the no hunting or fishing rules that go along with the money."take only photos"

now if they do this at the marina level, they will create fish free marina's with public funds and push us all out of the boating business. that ends fishing also. California is a great spot to
try this as most wackos per square miles for sure

[TeamLithics]

I'm not a shark guy, but how can a marina dictate what legal fish you can or cannot bring to the marina? WTF?

[HawaiianMarlin]

Will never work. If it does work in some Marinas, then guess what you wont be seeing any fishermen in them at all. Most of the sharks that WE good fishermen kill is great eating. Most people out there think that we just kill everything in the ocean just for the HELL of it. Here in Hawaii we catch many different kinds of Sharks. Most of them are not good eating at all. So we take photo's and let them go. Theirs only two types of sharks out there that are great eating anyway.

[gulfstream2gulfcoast]

Will this really have any effect on shark populations?

What people fail to realize is it isn't the recreational guys or charter guys killing the majority of these sharks. It is simply over fishing by commercial fleets. I am not trying to blame the commercial guys they need to make a living, however NMFS needs to reform not only commercial shark fishing quotas and limits, but each species of targeted fish. It is just the same exploitation of resources that human kind is so fond of. In the research that I have been doing lately at USF the numbers really are there and numerous species of game fish truly are at risk...

[capt. jakeg]

absolutely stupid idea. I guess in Cali they might have enough tree huggers around to have a marina that could be supported by non fishermen and eco friendly boats, but on the east coast we have enough people telling us what we can and cant bring back already and any marina that even attempted this would fall flat on their face. The price of maintaining docks and paying the taxes on waterfront property doesnt leave a whole lot of money for the marina. Marinas make their money selling fuel.Sailboats dont use fuel. Fishermen do. Liberal BRILLIANCE in its full glory here.

[Trident]

In my minds perfect world we could take some from So. africa and relocate them to the beaches of So. Cal. so the lefty loones couldn't play in the water

[sharky68]

Captain Wade Osborne has been fishing Tampa Bay and the Pinellas Suncoast for over 30 years. He also hosts "Afishionado Radio" airing Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. (EDT) on Tampa Bay’s AM 1340 WTAN, Dade City’s AM 1350 WDCF and streaming at www.afishionadoradio.com.


The Shark-Free Marina Initiative has my full support.

Why? Because during the last few months Florida has experienced numerous highly publicized shark kills. Some for world record status, others for bragging rights. Then the lifeless carcass, many pregnant females are dumped back to sea.

The commercial fishing industry takes the biggest toll on the shark populations and there’s little that can be done in the short term to stop it, but we must press lawmakers for more legislation. This huge waste of a precious resource is having a detrimental effect on the Maine ecosystem and the negative effects are beginning to take hold on the marine environment.
With this I mind, I’ve often wondered what I and other concerned citizens can do to protect these large apex predators. Changing state and federal laws takes years, and more protection is something that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile by supporting The Shark-Free Marina Initiative all of us can start to make a positive impact now.

Here’s how you can get involved. If you keep your boat at a municipal or private marina, ask if they would like make their facility a shark free kill zone by supporting The Shark-Free Marina Initiative. Lecturers can mention the initiative during appearances at fishing clubs and events. And most importantly we can all make shark anglers aware of the value in releasing their catch live and well.

Please join me and show your support for The Shark-Free Marina Initiative.

For charter information call 813-286-3474 or visit www.afishionado.com.