New rules, no-fishing zone for Biscayne National Park

Having Miami as a next-door neighbor has taken a severe toll on the 270-square-mile Biscayne National Park over the last three decades. Over-fishing has slammed stocks — more than 70 percent of 17 species are down — while anchors, traps lines and heavy boat traffic have crushed corals and raked seagrass meadows. More than 11,000 prop scars mar flats. Only six percent of its reefs remain.

The National Park Service will unveil a new general management plan intended to start reversing the decline with a suite of new rules for visitors that will, for the first time, include a controversial “no-fishing” marine reserve.

LINK (via: The Miami Herlad)

Needless to say the Keep America Fishing wing of the American Sportfishing Association is not happy about the proposed no fishing marine reserve.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article23137869.html#storylink=cpy

SURFACE TENSION: Biscayne Bonefish

Part 1 highlights the unique Bonefish fishery just outside the metropolitan city of downtown Miami, FL - Biscayne Bay.

SOTM Entry: Florida Permit

North Andros guide, lodge owner, conservationist extraordinaire and master caster Prescott Smith on a busman's holiday to SoFla picked off this permit just outside of Biscayne Bay. Just goes to show that pedigree (Crazie Charlie's son) and talent can move from one side of the Florida straits to the other and from the back of the boat to the front.  Submitted by man on the pole and Chum loyalist -Chris Miller.