GCC to participate in 4th annual Tripletail Classic

Posted on June 4, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Tripletail Classic logoIn 2020, the Eastern Shore Fly Fishers of Alabama hosted a first of its kind fly fishing only tournament in the Mobile Bay area and surrounding waters. The tournament format was Catch-Tag-Photo-Release (CTPR) targeting the Atlantic Tripletail only. Participants used dart tagging kits and the Fishing Chaos app to log and submit their catches.

The tournament was a joint project with the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab. The purpose was to tag and release a significant quantity of fish for research. The funds raised also went to ESFF and GCRL conservation and educational outreach programs.

Tripletail taggedThe popularity and success of the event has exploded since that first year. In fact, there is a limit for registration of teams participating and that limit is usually reached months before the tournament is held. In 2022, the Eastern Shore club was awarded the Gulf Coast Council’s “Conservation Excellence Award” for their efforts in promoting tripletail research.

The 4th annual Tripletail Classic will take place this year on Saturday, July 29th. Location will once again be the Weeks Bay Reserve Tonsmeire Resource Center in Fairhope, AL. And while registration for the tournament itself is already full, there is much more to this event than the fishing. Sponsors and conservation organizations will also be on hand during the day leading up to the awards banquet that evening.

Tripletail Classic exhibitorsThe FFI Gulf Coast Council will again be participating in the “Conservation Causeway” at the Tripletail Classic. The Causeway was created as an outreach opportunity for organizations from south Alabama and the Gulf region with an environmental stewardship mission to connect with the recreational fishing and boating community in the area. With over 150 folks in attendance, this is a great opportunity to share our involvement in conservation issues.

For more on the Tripletail Classic, go to www.easternshoreflyfishers.com/tripletail-classic.

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Free fishing days coming in June

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Each year, wildlife agencies in each state designate “Free Fishing Days” for the public to fish recreationally in public waters without a fishing license. These events are part of National Fishing and Boating Week, a celebration of the importance of recreational boating and fishing in America, which this year runs June 3rd through 11th.

Free fishing days are a perfect opportunity to try out fishing for the first time. Or, if you’re willing to travel, to partake of fishing in another state without having to purchase a license. Some states may have certain restrictions. For example, you might be able to fish freshwater for free, but still have to buy a saltwater permit or trout permit. So please check before making plans.

Here are the free fishing days in Gulf Coast Council states:
– Alabama, June 10
– Florida, June 3-4 (salt), June 10-11 (fresh)
– Louisiana, June 10-11 (both fresh and salt)
– Mississippi, June 3-4 (both fresh and salt)

Note: Free fishing days are a great opportunity to destination fish for species in the GCC Suncatch Challenge

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Exciting new changes for Suncatch announced

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Catch Cormier

At the recent Gulf Coast Classic in Gulf Shores, Ben Roussel, Director for the Suncatch Challenge program, gave an overview of the program including a few exciting new changes effective as of May 1st.

The Suncatch Challenge was established in 2021 by the FFI Gulf Coast Council to highlight the value of species diversity among sunfish in our geographic area, and the importance of conserving the places they reside and their individual habitats. It mimics the Fly Fishers International Cuttcatch and Basscatch Projects in that it encourages FFI members to document the different species they catch and release, and, in return, receive recognition for those fish.

Participation in Suncatch is easy. First, you need to be an FFI member – and not necessarily a member of the Gulf Coast Council. Second, go fishing! Take a photo of the qualifying fish with either the fly and/or fly tackle. Third, enter the catch info on the online form linked on the Suncatch page.

At the Classic, Ben gave the basics of the program, as well as several exciting new changes that will give fly anglers greater opportunity to receive recognition. He also went through each species, their ranges within GCC boundaries and the types of habitats they prefer.

Here are the primary changes:

  • the list of qualifying species has increased from 16 to 19, including addition of white crappie and black crappie
  • there are now three (3) levels of recognition: Suncatch Fanatic (8 species), Suncatch Expert (12 species) and Suncatch Master (16 species)
  • photos can now be uploaded as part of the online form, making it easier to submit entries

Suncatch award recipients are recognized here on the GCC website, in the Suncatch Facebook group, and receive a recognition award at the appropriate level.

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GCC discusses red drum changes with LDWF biologists

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Catch Cormier

This week, the FFI Gulf Coast Council held a phone conference with marine biologists from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, with regards to the current stock assessment of red drum in Louisiana. Discussed in detail were potential management proposals that the GCC might be willing to endorse.

Before continuing, if you are not familiar with this issue – and even if you are – we strongly recommend you listen to Episode 2 from The Redfish Podcast. Captains Ty Hibbs, Shane Mayfield and Dave Best do an excellent job of explaining the problem and solution alternatives.

Also, Tony Friedrich – VP and Policy Director of the American Saltwater Guides Association – has this video similiarly explaining the problem and potential management solutions.

The baseline of discussion was that GCC would demand at LEAST A MINIMUM of 40 percent reduction in harvest, and the elimination of the one oversized slot. If you listen to the podcast or watch Tony’s video, you’ll understand why the 35% baseline reduction is wholly inadequate. A 40% reduction cuts the recovery time almost in half compared to the baseline reduction. Proposals for a 50% reduction were also discussed, and we could certainly support that.  However, we do need to endorse a proposal that has a very good chance of passing both the Wildlife Commission and Legislative Oversight Committee.

Here are some takeaways from this week’s meeting:

1. While there’s no consensus on any particular management solution, there is stronger support for a lower-size slot limit, e.g., 17-25 over 19-27 inches. Apparently many anglers prefer the “good eating sized” redfish to keep.

2. Anything less than 3 fish per day has very little chance of passing the Commission. However, just a two inch tightening of the slot could allow the creel to be 3 or 4 fish per day and meet our 40% reduction requirement. So it’s a balancing act.

3. I questioned why there was no proposal for having a one-fish-per-year oversized tag like Texas and Virginia have. Apparently there are legal obstacles.

4. Eliminating the guide’s catch. Even if applied to the conventional tackle guides who do this, would only result in a 1 percent reduction. Not enough to affect the SPR or recruitment, but we could still support this.

5. In our presentation on Conservation Topics in the Gulf Coast Council, we point out the red drum regulations for the 11 other states that manage this species. Three states have intense redfish stocking programs. The biologists and I agree this is NOT a solution at this time.

The GCC Board will have a couple meetings over the next few weeks to discuss options for an endorsed management plan for red drum. We’ll be discussing this issue with our conservation partners and hopefully come in with a united plan.

Charts: (l) Juvenile Escapement  (r) Spawning Potential Ratio

 

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LA conservationists to once again tackle menhaden issue

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Locations of menhaden vessel harvests 2022

For the third time in three years, conservation groups in Louisiana will attempt to establish a coastwide buffer zone for commercial harvest of menhaden (pogies). Rep. Joe Orgeron has filed HB 576 for the 2023 legislative session which, if passed, would establish a state waters catch limit and a coastwide buffer zone of 1/2 mile. In other words, no harvest of menhaden could take place within a half-mile of the state-defined shoreline. In addition, the buffer zone would be pushed to 1 mile out from August 1st to October 31st to provide protection for spawning red drum.

As we’ve previously documented, large-scale harvesting in the billions of pounds is currently taking place within close distance – sometimes yards – of the shoreline.  The nearshore area is where large numbers of red drum, speckled trout, spanish mackerel and numerous other species gather to spawn, and in the process, require pogies as vital nutrition for their spawning biomass. In addition to removing this vital food source, there have been many documented cases of bycatch of thousands of mature redfish.

Louisiana is the ONLY coastal state that does not have a harvest exclusion zone or a harvest limit. Among Gulf states, Texas has a one-half mile buffer and very strict limits in total harvest, Mississippi and Alabama have a one-mile buffer, and Florida does not allow any harvest in state waters.

Previous bills had plenty of support in both the House and Senate, but ran into strong opposition in the Senate Natural Resources Committee, where a trio of legislators – including the Committee Chairman – were able to stifle the bill so it never got to the Governor’s desk prior to the end of the session. With this being an election year, and an overwhelming public support for some moderate restrictions, there is hope among conservationists that the third time might be the charm.

The FFI Gulf Coast Council joins CCA Louisiana, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and numerous other organizations in support of HB576. We strongly encourage our members and everyone else in the fly fishing community to contact their legislators and ask for their approval of HB576.

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Classic registration goes public, adds new Facebook group

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Yesterday public registration for our inaugural Gulf Coast Classic – set for May 5th and 6th in Gulf Shores, Alabama – went live.  Folks can register by going to the Classic website at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com and clicking on the “Register for the Classic” buttons, or going to the Admission page. Cost is $20 for the entire weekend, and free to all under 18.   Registration also enters you (free) into the Mixed Bag Challenge which kicks off on sunrise Thursday and ends on noon Sunday.

Up until now, registration was limited to contributors such as volunteers, demonstration fly tiers, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, etc..   This was so these folks could get first opportunity to signup for workshops as well as reserve the low cost dormitory rooms on the campus of the Gulf State Learning Campus.

As of now, all workshops and available dorm rooms are open to anyone who registers – until they book out.

Tickets for Saturday evening’s Fly Fishing Film Tour can also be purchased by clicking on the right side button on the website at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.  If you haven’t heard by now, in addtion to being treated to some great fly fishing films,  F3T attendees will have a shot at numerous door prizes including the new Sage R8 Salt fly rod – worth over $1,000!

Another announcement regarding the Classic… a new Facebook group (forum) has been created.  The FFI Gulf Coast Classic Group Share is for potential attendees and others to ask questions, share info, or even discuss fly patterns or strategies for the Mixed Bag.  Here is the link:  www.facebook.com/groups/gccclassic .

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Alabama adds four new reefs to Mobile Bay

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Catch Cormier

What do you do with shoreline protection structure no longer needed? If it’s hard structure like concrete or wire cages, then one application is reefs. Oysters, barnacles, and many other crustaceans find this stuff to be great real estate… a good place to start a new home!

The Nature Conservancy teamed up with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mobile County, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the University of South Alabama and Alabama Gulf Seafood to repurpose material from a shoreline protection project to create four new reefs in Mobile Bay. Funds were obtained from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The cages used for shoreline protection had taken a beating and were no longer useful purpose. By relocating them to deeper areas – where they sit on the bottom – they serve as great habitat for oysters and other crustaceans. Which in turn, creates a hard-bottom reef attacting various species of fish.

The next phase of the project involved relocating concrete dome habitats. The structures were covered in mussels and oysters and will be used for an artifical reef near Dog River.

In addition to the four new reefs under construction, the Alabama Wildlife Federation purchased another $250,000 worth of rocks to use for two of the new reefs to enhance their oyster productivity.

It’s expected that within one year after completion, the reefs will begin to reach their full potential.   Click on the image above to see the location of the new reefs.

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Gulf Coast Classic website now up

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Catch Cormier

2023 Gulf Coast Classic
Friday-Saturday, May 5-6, 2023
Gulf State Park – Learning Campus
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Website:  www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

Our inaugural Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival now has its own website.  Cohosted by Tail Magazine, this will be the largest fly fishing event on the Gulf Coast.  On the website are complete details about the event including:  admissions, schedule, sponsors, exhibitors, workshops, demonstration fly tiers, speakers and instructors, the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) taking place Saturday evening, the Classic Mixed Bag fishing contest, a map of the Learning Campus, and much more!

There are special opportunities for volunteers, demo fly tiers, speakers and instructors. Registration will be live shortly and details for those interested in making our event a success will be detailed in emails to GCC members and others who have contacted us with interest.

Again, bookmark the Classic site at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com and visit often as updates will be posted routinely.

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