CCA E-mail

[BellPepperHead]

[SIZE=2]End bowhunting of Louisiana's last gamefish[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE]
Current Louisiana law grants “gamefish” status to over 10 different species of freshwater fish. However, only one saltwater species enjoys that same status: red drum. In the 1980s, commercial fishermen were decimating redfish stocks trying to meet the insatiable national demand for blackened redfish, a dish made famous by Chef Paul Prudhomme. At that critical time, your CCA Louisiana stepped in to demand protection for this important recreational species. CCA was the driving force behind successful legislation that designated red drum as a gamefish in Louisiana waters.

Gamefish status provides a species with many important protections. First, it prevents the commercial sale of that particular wild species taken from local waters. Although we see redfish on restaurant menus across our state, these fish are either farm raised or wild fish brought into Louisiana from Mexico or Mississippi (where redfish do not enjoy gamefish protection).

Another important protection afforded a gamefish is the allowed “method of take.” It is illegal to harvest gamefish with nets, spear guns, or bow and arrow. Black bass, striped bass, white perch, bream and others are all protected from this method of harvest. But redfish are not! It is currently legal to harvest a redfish with a bow and arrow or spear gun. Louisiana is the only state along the Gulf that allows any gamefish to be harvested with an arrow or spear.

Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, has filed a bill in the Legislature to fix this glitch in our gamefish laws. His bill amends RS 56:320 so that red drum is provided the same protection extended to other species designated as “gamefish.”

CCA Louisiana is not against bow fishing. Amending the current law will still allow bow fishermen to harvest numerous saltwater species in Louisiana’s coastal marshes…..black drum, flounder, and sheepshead…..among others.

REDFISH IS A GAMEFISH IN LOUISIANA! LET’S HELP CHANGE THE LAW TO TREAT THEM THAT WAY!

Sen. Claitor and the members of the Senate and House Natural Resources Committees need to hear from CCA members like you. Please follow the prompts below to send an email of support to Sen. Claitor and members of the committees who will hear the bill.

Thanks for your support of conservation and Louisiana’s iconic gamefish.


What say you guys???

[Loneshark]

I don't understand why they are taking on this battle. They had the gamefish status added to keep Redfish from going extinct due go commercial fishing of the species. Their efforts paid off and we have a great fisherie now. But why ban bowfishing? Bowfishing is not harming red numbers one bit.

[cmdrost]

Its a "gamefish" YOu can still bowfish. Its also an issue of a few bad seeds ruining it for everyone else. Contrary to what you think, there is much abuse within this "sport". Its not like fishing with rod and reel where you can throw back undersized fish. You shoot it, you kill it. Many examples have been found of dead fish floating next day, or many over limits, or undersized.


ETA - Admins....please move this to Conservation Board.

[Fishmaster]

Originally Posted by cmdrost

Its a "gamefish" YOu can still bowfish. Its also an issue of a few bad seeds ruining it for everyone else. Contrary to what you think, there is much abuse within this "sport". Its not like fishing with rod and reel where you can throw back undersized fish. You shoot it, you kill it. Many examples have been found of dead fish floating next day, or many over limits, or undersized.

ETA - Admins....please move this to Conservation Board.

I agree with this, especially around where I fish. 99% of the locals bow fish and they think the run what goes down there, shooting under sized fish and over limits is always common with them. At least if this law is put up it could cut some of this out, also as stated why do you need to shot reds? Plenty of fun shooting sheephead, flounder and drum. Well just my opinion also like cmdrost said catch a under sized red with rod and reel you can throw him back and every one is happy....

[eman]

I have bow fished a few times w/ guides . Never seen an under sized fish shot or any thrown back. . Now maybe ya got outlaws that do this just like you have out laws that keep undersize and over the limit w/ rod and reels.
Just like last time CCA spearheaded something , No biological reason to stop bowfishing for reds . Bow fishermen harvest MAYBE 2% of the redfish that are caught in La, waters.

[cmdrost]

CCA not spearheading this.....You honestly think they'd waste their time with this if it wasn't a concern???

[eman]

Originally Posted by cmdrost

CCA not spearheading this.....You honestly think they'd waste their time with this if it wasn't a concern???

Yes i do.
and from the emails i got and from a post from david creason they are spearheading this along w/ the sen and jenkins.
And it's only a concern from a certain few folks.
Just like the reduction from 25 trout to 15 trout was over in big lake.
CCA said that they polled the membership and that the majority said reduce. when in fact they only polled members in the L.C. area.
Again ,Just like the reduction ,They have NO biological evidence to support their claims that bow fishing is hurting the red fish and / or that gamefish status means that red fish should not be harvested w/ a bow.
Jenkins claim that bow fishing reds is like shining deer is a big smelly pile of B.S. they do not freeze under the light . In fact the run from it.
Don't believe me ? google bowfishing red fish and watch. or even better do like i told jenkins. Go on a bowfishing trip for yourself.
No one will ever convince me that a sport (bowfishing) that takes less than 2% of the reds harvested every year in louisiana is hurting the overall population .
If the air boats are the problem then they need to police the airboats .
If outlaws are the problem then LDWF needs to hammer them.
But for me to go out in a boat w a few lights and shoot 5 legal reds is no different than anybody else catching them on a rod and reel.
I was a member of CCA at one time and they in my opinion need to leave the fishermen alone and start spending their time worrieing about costal errosion as in a short time we won't need them as we won't have the marsh and fish to worry about.

[Ray]

When I got the email, I was kinda pizzed, until I read the whole thing.
For years, I bow hunted Garfish, nothing else. From the looks of the email header,
I thought they were going to try to stop bow hunting fish. Garfish are a dime a
dozen in South La.
What needs to be done if it doesn't pass, is start writing tickets for bow fishermen
who kill undersized fish. If they are not sure of the size, then don't shoot it.
Start writing up the guides who let them shoot undersized fish, or release legal fish
that have been shot.
I know it is hard to check on everyone who is fishing, but if no one gets punished,
what is to stop them from doing it over and over.

[eman]

Ray,
On the guided trips i have been on i have never seen an undersize fish shot . the capt. or a deckhand will make the call of shoot or not if the shooter is not experianced in judging fish.
i admit there may be unethical guides out there just like there are in rod an reel fishing. They need to be weeded out.
But to ban it is just like saying ,OK since joe blow got caught keeping undersize fish No one can keep fish.

[meaux fishing]

if you do not support the ban go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/b...ishingstopcca/
after you submit your name it says to donate money but dont do it the money is for the site. your signature is already logged

[Jo-boater]

Originally Posted by Ray

When I got the email, I was kinda pizzed, until I read the whole thing.
For years, I bow hunted Garfish, nothing else. From the looks of the email header,
I thought they were going to try to stop bow hunting fish. Garfish are a dime a
dozen in South La.
What needs to be done if it doesn't pass, is start writing tickets for bow fishermen
who kill undersized fish. If they are not sure of the size, then don't shoot it.
Start writing up the guides who let them shoot undersized fish, or release legal fish
that have been shot.
I know it is hard to check on everyone who is fishing, but if no one gets punished,
what is to stop them from doing it over and over.

I believe you hit the nail on the head. If everyone stays within their limits that we are supposed to be able to keep, then it shouldn't matter how we get the fish. It is hard to regulate, but the goofballs that are shooting the undersized fish and throwing them away to die are still going to shoot them when they are out bowfishing other species. They are the ones that need to be penalized, not the guy who is legally taking his game.

[Mediumheavyaction6'6]

I would like to see this banned under the premise of more fishermen should catch and release and bow fishing doesn't allow for that. That being said there are very few fishermen that actually catch and release redfish when caught on a rod and reel. So, it seems that my reason for the outlawing is moot.

[meaux fishing]

i dont bowfish but i dont support anybody taking away a freedom with no corresponding evidence to show there is a reason for doing so...

[Mediumheavyaction6'6]

man left to his free will, will decimate this planet and all of its resources. I think fishing and bow fishing are privileges not rights. I am not looking to argue I just thought I would give my opinion since I like to hear myself type.

[Loneshark]

I'm with Eman on this. I have never bowfished in my life but don't see why the ban is necessary. It is not like they are throwing dynamite in the water and killing everything in the pond. They can narrrow their kill to what ever they are shooting at and from the post the can distinguish size pretty easily. I don't find that too hard to imagine because I can tell a 13 inch speck from a 12 inch speck by just glancing at it when they are being flipped in the boat. I think the premis that it should be banned just because it has a gamefish status is way off base. As I said earlier they classified Redfish as "gamefish" to end the commercial fishing of the species (first paragraph of their letter in the original post) not to keep them from being taken by bow. As for as "Outlaws" they fish with rods and reels also. And lastly to mediumheavy. They are regulated and can only bag 5.

[Salty]

Originally Posted by Loneshark

I'm with Eman on this. I have never bowfished in my life but don't see why the ban is necessary. It is not like they are throwing dynamite in the water and killing everything in the pond. They can narrrow their kill to what ever they are shooting at and from the post the can distinguish size pretty easily. I don't find that too hard to imagine because I can tell a 13 inch speck from a 12 inch speck by just glancing at it when they are being flipped in the boat. I think the premis that it should be banned just because it has a gamefish status is way off base. As I said earlier they classified Redfish as "gamefish" to end the commercial fishing of the species (first paragraph of their letter in the original post) not to keep them from being taken by bow. As for as "Outlaws" they fish with rods and reels also. And lastly to mediumheavy. They are regulated and can only bag 5.

GREAT! Can you distinguish a 16" redfish from a 15" one while you're makin' up your mind whether to shoot it...or not?

[eman]

No salty , I have not bow fished enough to tell 15" fro 16", That's why i don't shoot if it's close. But It's NOTHING like shooting a deer in a spot light! Deer freeze when blinded by a spot light offering a stationary target.
Red fish run from the lights and the boat.

[Salty]

Originally Posted by eman

No salty , I have not bow fished enough to tell 15" fro 16", That's why i don't shoot if it's close. But It's NOTHING like shooting a deer in a spot light! Deer freeze when blinded by a spot light offering a stationary target.
Red fish run from the lights and the boat.

Bob, since I've never bowfished and never plan to, I'm neither fer nor agin it as a 'sport'. As long as it stays within the laws.....I say enjoy it. However, once that juvenile red is shot.....there's no bringin' it back, unlike catchin' it with a rod 'n' reel.

As far as distinguishin' the size of a fish within an inch.....I doubt even a seasoned veteran could do it within the time that he is allowed to make a shot. My only concern would be......how often is he off, say 1/2"? You have a dead 15 1/2" red that you cant "legally" keep.

[cmdrost]

eman....you are correct....CCA did only poll LC charles area members. Why would they poll people in New Orleans about trout limits in LC?

CCA hears about new bills daily from Legislators. CCA resently was asked to help stop a bill being introduced to allow gill nets again. Think that was a good one??? You can b**ch about CCA all you want, but they do more good than bad.

[Loneshark]

Originally Posted by cmdrost

eman....you are correct....CCA did only poll LC charles area members. Why would they poll people in New Orleans about trout limits in LC?

CCA hears about new bills daily from Legislators. CCA resently was asked to help stop a bill being introduced to allow gill nets again. Think that was a good one??? You can b**ch about CCA all you want, but they do more good than bad.

No one said CCA has not, and will not, do a great amount of good for our sport.

But I WILL NOT agree with every decision they make just because they did something in the past.