04-15-2008, 12:08 AM
Brunswick, Georgia - During a coastwide on-the-water enforcement operation Saturday aimed at collaring recreational fishing violators, state conservation rangers inspected 155 vessels and checked 328 anglers, but wrote just 18 citations and seven written warnings. Five of these where related to violations of fish length limits, with the remainder issued for boating safety and fishing license violations.
For more than two decades, Georgia saltwater fishermen have been required to abide by length limits for species such as red drum and spotted seatrout. While many anglers understand the regulations and comply, a few succumb to the temptation and keep fish that are too short or too long, particularly when legal-size fish are scarce. Operation Short Spot focused on-the-water patrol activities to maximize interaction with inshore saltwater anglers. Seventeen conservation rangers were involved in the operation.
WRD Law Enforcement Region VII supervisor Capt. Stephen Adams commented about Operation Short Spot: "Conservation rangers along the coast have a very diverse mission ranging from boating safety to hunting to saltwater fishing. We wanted to give specific attention to saltwater-fish length limits since they're good numbers of short red drum and trout in our coastal waters at this time of year. Our priority was to educate not just to issue citations. However, as always, each ranger had discretion to issue citations when they encountered a serious violation. It was encouraging to check over 300 saltwater anglers and find so few violations."
September is the traditional kick-off of the autumn fishing season in coastal Georgia. During this month, anglers will often encounter large numbers of yearling red drum, also known as spottail bass or redfish, shorter than the 14-inch minimum length limit. It's also common for anglers to catch spotted seatrout below the 13-inch length limit. Even experienced anglers get frustrated with length limits, and novices don't understand the reasoning behind the regulations. Many believe that keeping a fish that's an inch or two shorter than the legal limit can't really hurt.
Coastal Resources Division assistant director, Spud Woodward explained the importance of length limits: "Length limits are a basic tool of fishery management. They allow a fish the opportunity to reproduce before it's harvested and protect some species from overfishing. Just as important, they help reduce wanton waste by preventing anglers from keeping fish they ultimately discard as being too small for the table. Since all fish don't grow or mature at the same rate, length limits must be customized for each species. Many anglers don't believe fish caught on a hook will survive when released, but studies in Georgia have shown that hook-caught fish, even those that are deep hooked, can survive the experience. When anglers use proper handling techniques and release fish, they're doing their part to ensure the future of saltwater fishing."
Detailed information on saltwater fishing regulations is available at www.gadnr.org under the Coastal Resources link or by directly contacting the DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters at (912) 264-7218. Adhesive rulers for measuring fish and adhesive stickers with saltwater fishing regulations are available upon request.
For more than two decades, Georgia saltwater fishermen have been required to abide by length limits for species such as red drum and spotted seatrout. While many anglers understand the regulations and comply, a few succumb to the temptation and keep fish that are too short or too long, particularly when legal-size fish are scarce. Operation Short Spot focused on-the-water patrol activities to maximize interaction with inshore saltwater anglers. Seventeen conservation rangers were involved in the operation.
WRD Law Enforcement Region VII supervisor Capt. Stephen Adams commented about Operation Short Spot: "Conservation rangers along the coast have a very diverse mission ranging from boating safety to hunting to saltwater fishing. We wanted to give specific attention to saltwater-fish length limits since they're good numbers of short red drum and trout in our coastal waters at this time of year. Our priority was to educate not just to issue citations. However, as always, each ranger had discretion to issue citations when they encountered a serious violation. It was encouraging to check over 300 saltwater anglers and find so few violations."
September is the traditional kick-off of the autumn fishing season in coastal Georgia. During this month, anglers will often encounter large numbers of yearling red drum, also known as spottail bass or redfish, shorter than the 14-inch minimum length limit. It's also common for anglers to catch spotted seatrout below the 13-inch length limit. Even experienced anglers get frustrated with length limits, and novices don't understand the reasoning behind the regulations. Many believe that keeping a fish that's an inch or two shorter than the legal limit can't really hurt.
Coastal Resources Division assistant director, Spud Woodward explained the importance of length limits: "Length limits are a basic tool of fishery management. They allow a fish the opportunity to reproduce before it's harvested and protect some species from overfishing. Just as important, they help reduce wanton waste by preventing anglers from keeping fish they ultimately discard as being too small for the table. Since all fish don't grow or mature at the same rate, length limits must be customized for each species. Many anglers don't believe fish caught on a hook will survive when released, but studies in Georgia have shown that hook-caught fish, even those that are deep hooked, can survive the experience. When anglers use proper handling techniques and release fish, they're doing their part to ensure the future of saltwater fishing."
Detailed information on saltwater fishing regulations is available at www.gadnr.org under the Coastal Resources link or by directly contacting the DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters at (912) 264-7218. Adhesive rulers for measuring fish and adhesive stickers with saltwater fishing regulations are available upon request.