My brothers in arms-

This will be remembered as a milestone in FRA history.

The preferred alternative for gag is the three month closure, one gag three aggregate.

It is not the final rule.

Here we go, so stay with me:

Yesterday we presented the most united (and LARGEST) front the Council has ever seen. And they heard us.

The comments today were that every single sector said the same thing and the tackle shop people, the electronics guys, charter captains and event the commercial sector backed the rec sector claims of reduced effort.

Kay Williams even commented that she was comfortable with the effort reduction being real due to the public input.

Our testimony got the AJ set at one fish, 30 inches, no closed season.

The gag alternative is going out for public input before the Council votes for final ruling. That could be in June.

THIS WAS ONLY ROUND TWO. THE FRA HAS WON BOTH ROUNDS. (ROUND ONE WAS GETTING THE GAG ASSESSMENT RE-REVIEWED).

The effort reduction and the 24 inch size limit will be looked at next week, I assure you. I will be requesting state intervention on Monday and will be traveling to the FWC meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.


FUEL FOR THE FRA- ANSWERING THE BELL ON ROUND THREE

Yesterday and today brought the FRA positive exposure to the industry and painted the picture of how it could be if the current rules are enacted.

I met Dogfish Tackle owner Richard Martin and Dave Mays, DF Mgr. who contacted all the tackle manufacturers and told them to support the FRA now now or see Dogfish’s offshore reel and tackle sales fall 75%. He told them there is NO excuse for not supporting the FRA. He tells me that money, not reels, is forthcoming. Soon.
Members are signing up at near-record rates.

It gets better…..

Eric Bachnic of Mirro-Lure had a nice conversation with me today, telling me he would be getting us some cash and getting on the phone with others to do the same. I told him we need 15 K for a scientist. He said no problem.

I am sorry for the lack of update, but they cut the internet at the hotel right at the end of the meeting and I have been on the phone all day.

The Viking Fleet gave us an offshore middle grounds trip…

The whole BOAT. All revenue goes to the FRA.

This will raise over $10K, I am guessing.

It gets better. Dave Moore, former BUC and partner of Salt Rock Grill, expressed his gratitude and said $ are forthcoming. I will be spending the next day working my ass off, and then I will belong to Tina for the weekend, except for the half hour on the REEL ANIMALS FISHING SHOW on Sunday. No FRA related phone calls this weekend please.

We are now, in my opinion, respected across all sectors of the fishery. CCA had nothing but compliments for us this morning.

The Council members had nothing but compliments this morning, and a few asked me to thank all of you for staying on point and making the input so interesting.

Thank you all for turning out. You are the reason that so many came out. The FRA’s time has come. We are now a national force in fisheries management and we have demonstrated our broad support in a way that no other group ever has.

We will bring sound science to the gag grouper issue and we will prevail. I predict we will keep our five gags.

I predicted in the past that we would win the red grouper lawsuit. I knew I was right then,,,,, I'm pretty sure that I am right now.

United, we kick ass.



More tomorrow.

Thanks again. You are the reason we are so successful.



Denny

Thanks Denny for the hard work and long hours.

Great News Denny. I told A.J. what Kay W. said at the meeting today . I was not sure if i was heaing her right until you just posted. I thought you were busy with the E.D guy when she said that. I almost passed out. Her and Crabtree went back and forth on many issues and economic concerns.They seemed paniced not to make another knee jerk decision. I think we really got through to them yesterday. Sandy and i, are working on ideas for some fundrasiers. Have someone onboard to make us some nice high quality banners. KICK ASS JOB BROTHER!!!!!!!.

Thanks Denny!

Keep up the good work!

Thank you and all who turned out ! :smthumbup:

WOW!! that is pretty much all I can say. That would ROCK if we could get our own scientist and such to blow their data out of the water. If I was not leaving the country next week I would be so ready to do some fish counting.

That is pretty incredible news, Denny!! Sounds like that meeting was a real turning point!:smthumbup::smthumbup::yay::yay:

Awesome Denny!:smthumbup:

Thank you Denny and everyone that helped get the message out. This is a perfect example of what we can do as a unified front working together. I am excited about what the future will bring.

Denny, that's awesome. Glad they are taking all the efforts of everyone that came to the meeting into consideration. You seriously are "The Man". Thanks again.
-Jordan

We're behind you Denny, all the way, 100%. We're just glad we could do our small part. All of us coming out to one meeting isn't much compared to the efforts you put up.
Keep us informed and let us know what we can/need to do and when.

Thank you!

We really did have a heck of a solid crowd there and the FRA scored some well deserved cred from a wide range of individuals. Membership is rapidly increasing.
Some of my charter fishing friends that had never been to one of these meetings were in awe of how many spearfishermen there were and how passionate, and informed they are about the issues. Damn straight! All the clubs were represented and for once, united.
I think the business owners were an important addition the mix and I was glad to see them. They dropped some hard stats on exactly how this affects them and it is that something I dont remember having too much of before.
Only brother Ray could have kept the entire room entertained with his comments on an issue that wasnt even on the agenda, score points from the Counil members for it, then get a huge applause when he was finshed.
Dont give up an gags just yet. I believe a small change for the better is not out of the question.
In the meantime Im going to help organize the Viking FRA fishing trip out of Tarpon springs. Im open to suggestions on how to make it a really unique get-together/fund raiser. All the $ from your fare goes to the FRA so get on the boat. Id love to show up the FS gang! SFP fishing team in da house! Id love to make it spear vs rods but I doubt that would be possible from an insurance standpoint. That would be awesome though. 1 stop rods, next stop divers. Media coverage will likely be substantial. I bet Billy Nobles would bring his TV show out and id definitley write it up in for the Times.

Great Job!

"Id love to show up the FS gang! SFP fishing team in da house! Id love to make it spear vs rods but I doubt that would be possible from an insurance standpoint. That would be awesome though. 1 stop rods, next stop divers. Would make a nice story." Ed Walker

That is an awesome idea!

Thanks Denny for all your efforts. :toast:

Thanks, Denny.:thumbup:

Wow, some good news for sure. Way to go Denny. Your tireless efforts are paying off.

Denny My Brutha,
I saw the 1 gag 3mo. closure posted and about had another heart attack!...I find comfort and have an immeasurable amount of respect for you and your efforts as well as my spearo brethren.
Now reading your post brings a tear to my eye knowing that "Our Family" has risen to one of our greatest challeges and punched the bully in the eye......

To quote Plato "Only the dead have seen the end of war"
We obviously are not dead or willing to lay down and let OUR RIGHTS robbed from us. Thank You my Brutha...

Awesome Denny!!! Thanks for everything, man!!!!!!!!

Great job Denny and all.!


Dago.

Denny,

Thanks again for all your tireless efforts. You F'in ROCK!:toast:

I spoke to a friend of mine in Crystal River this morning, we need to be sure that everyone knows that this ruling has not been voted on yet, only the preferred alternative. News stations are reporting that it is a done deal and that the changes go into effect immediately. We don't want anyone giving up on this.

Denny,
Thanks a million!!!!! Now that the tackle shops are up in arms hopefully we can get them to push their customers to join the FRA and support $$$ for the cause. If we can get as many h and Ler's to show up at the next meeting as there were spearo's I think the council would crap themselves. Look at how surprised they were when just we showed up.


I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. THE SAME GOES FOR ALL OF MY OTHER FELLOW SPEAROS THAT MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD!!!

Mark

when and where is the next meeting? i'd like to get those days off.

The next gag meeting will be a public input forum. This one will be held at night.

What's up between now and then?
The State of Florida will be called to weigh in on behalf of the BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY,
Our Senators and Congressmen from Florida and ALL of the GREAT GULF STATES will be called upon to demand that common sense prevail and that real effort data is considered, along with the destructively negative BILLION DOLLAR impact on the STATE of FLORIDA.
New scientific review is forthcoming. SOON.

NEXT ROUND OF HEARINGS.
This is a process. We have weighed in early, not late, in the process. Common sense and reality will prevail, IF we continue to voice our opinion. You will have two more shots at giving public input on gag and red grouper:
A round of night time public input hearings with one council member present, then another full Council meeting where they will consider final action, if any is needed.

The FRA will be making an official request that all of the Florida Council members be present for public input at each of the three meetings in the state.
There will be scientific information available prior to the next round of public hearings.
Some of the figures that NMFS creates look like they are made to order for what the boss wants. We'll get some independent opinion soon.

We will be requesting that all tackle companies make themselves heard.
They think that the American Sportfishing Association is representing them in the Gulf. They need to think again. ASA has never been here for us. Not once.
I hear that the trackle manufacturers are geting the dire economic predictions resulting from this wrongful grouper shutdown.

The FRA will be looking for people who will be attending the Miami Boat Show.
We have a plan to let the affected industry people know who is fighting for their very economic survival.

Remember, y'all-
IT AINT OVER UNTIL WE SAY IT'S OVER!

Denny, Thank you sooo much for all your hard work.
Your doing a kick ass job protecting and standing up for our rights of our sport!!!

Denny and F.R.A. members, We need to fire up some Pep rallys/ Fundraisers in differnt parts of the state and let the media outlets know about the dire straits, ahead if these motions/Amendments go through. Have Ben videotape the events, possibly play it back in front of the Council/NMFS ect. Have differnt members organize their sector/area of the state. Maybe start a thread for input and time frames. Start in St pete and work our way around the state. Try and flush out the H-n-L/ F.S. guys, wherever their hiding theses days and get them involved. During the grouper closure would be ideal. I have a hookup for bumper stickers and Tee's. Gets exposure and raises a little bit of coin. Any ideas from you guys out there.

Denny - thanks for your relentless effort to ensure our voices are heard