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View Full Version : Conch Republic gears up over Florida Bay closure




XNavyNuke
10-09-2013, 11:52 AM
Flats guides plan on-the-water protest against shutdown of Florida Bay (http://www.keysnet.com/2013/10/08/491000/flats-guides-plan-on-the-water.html)


A flotilla of fishing guides converges at Cowpens Cut off Islamorada today to send a message to the federal government: Open Florida Bay.

All 645 square miles of Florida Bay waters within Everglades National Park have been closed to boaters because of the shutdown that started Oct. 1. That closure extends to Upper Keys flats guides who rely on park waters for most of their chartered fishing trips.

"We're trying to hit a nerve with our elected officials to let them know this is a bad thing," said Islamorada guide Randy Towe, who launched the protest effort.

"This park closure is hurting innocent, hard-working people who haven't done anything wrong," said Towe, a 35-year flats guide. "I've already lost a couple of trips. Every day we miss is revenue we'll never see again."

Good!
XNN

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Flag_of_Key_West%2C_Florida.svg/220px-Flag_of_Key_West%2C_Florida.svg.png

phill4paul
10-09-2013, 01:35 PM
I was wondering when the Conch Republic was going to respond. Good on them!

Anti Federalist
10-09-2013, 03:34 PM
"We're trying to hit a nerve with our elected officials to let them know this is a bad thing," said Islamorada guide Randy Towe, who launched the protest effort.

Write some strongly worded letters, Randy.

That always does the trick.

Matt Collins
10-09-2013, 05:48 PM
I miss the Keys... used to vacation there all the time.

XNavyNuke
10-10-2013, 09:10 AM
http://cbsmiami.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/isp01-3.jpg
Obligatory gray patrol boat in the upper center of the photo. Can't have a protest without someone there to arrest you the moment you step out of line. Nice Conch Republic flag flying high on the right side of the pic.

http://www.keysnet.com/2013/10/09/491081/keys-guides-take-government-shutdown.html

But guides who violate the closure could face a trespassing fine of up to $5,000, Bassett said.

Johnson finds irony in that many guides last month took part in the Henry Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Tournament. Proceeds from the September competition benefit the Everglades National Park.

“All this money the fishing community raises for the park, and we can’t even use it,” Johnson said.

XNN

XNavyNuke
10-16-2013, 10:00 AM
After Re-re-reading the NPS agreement with the State of Florida, the Feds have decided to open up some, but not all, of the waters originally closed.

Biscayne Bay fishing not affected by government shutdown-Language in enabling law ties rules to state (http://www.keysnet.com/2013/10/15/491361/biscayne-bay-fishing-not-affected.html)


“It has been determined that Biscayne National Park will remain open to fishing during the government shutdown,” Carlstrom said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Thank goodness they finally "determined" that.


This goes for recreational and charter fishing, said Dan Kimball, superintendent of Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Winning! Must be time to cave in.

XNN