SHARK CONSERVATION and Defending our Fishing Rights - South Florida Shark Club | Shark Fishing Forum and History Forum

American Shark Conservancy

william — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:18:07 +0000

9 This is a A very good group of dedicated scientist and individuals involved in satellite tagging hammerhead sharks in Florida to study post fight release survival . "The American Shark Conservancy (ASC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of sharks and rays, increasing awareness and understanding of our oceans, through research and education. The ASC was founded in 2014 by Hannah Medd, a marine biologist with a focus on science-based conservation and communication regarding sharks and rays." There Philosophy "Effective conservation requires research and outreach. Strong science supports sustainable proposals and the public’s voice is required to secure these as policies. The general public is not expected to know or understand the complexities of science and conservation so it is our job to provide correct information to support science literacy to foster a better understanding and appreciation of our natural world. It is not all about the sharks. Although the organization focuses primarily on cartilaginous fishes, we know they are only one piece of the marine ecosystem puzzle. We will always consider the broader context of any task we undertake." PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT and Donate to the organization https://www.americansharkconservancy.org/

Defending Land-Based Shark Fishing Against Unfair Attacks

william — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:33:29 +0000

We respond to the unfair attacks on our sport in different publications collaborated by David Shiffman. Thanks to our dear friend Film maker Robert Ramos and his crew for there dedication and work on behalf of our sport.

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Our sport under attack-Shark researcher lies David Shiffman

william — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 12:48:53 +0000

After careful analysis of recent attacks on Florida land-based shark fishermen in the National Geographic website article written by Rachel Bale with input from shark researcher David Shiffman and in the 'www.theRevelator.org/florida again with input by Mr Shiffman we have prepared a response to clarify our position and to point out all the outright lies in these stories. I will point out top to bottom the malignant nature of these two reports and jump back and forth from one to the other.The Title alone in the Revelator written by John R Platt is slanderous " So we are targeting Endangered Sharks are we ? David Shiffman do you sir know that we put out shark baits and sit and wait for a bite fully unaware of what species of shark will take our line (part of the rush of fishing). We could hook a blacktip shark,a nurse shark ,a mako shark , a hammerhead shark, the list is long of species that frequent Florida's very long coastline so right from the git go this article smelled bad and looks bad on the credibility of a young shark researcher trying to make his mark in his field of work . Then he the title says we are giving each other tips "how to get away with it" get away with what with fishing for sharks and not knowing if a protected species will take a line?? So we are criminals involved in illegal fishing in a conspiracy and in collusion with other fishermen to conduct illegal fishing.....REALLY !! What exactly are we getting away with ? We fish becaus it is our hobby ,our past time with friends and family,we shark fish because in Florida we are surrounded by water and many of us grew close to the water and fishing and diving and boating all became part of who we are in this state surrounded by water. Fishing and hunting is as American as apple pie and our right as stated in the Florida constitution. Next is "Extinction Countdown" really ?? Extinction is a pretty strong word that is a complete lie with any of the sharks we encounter from Florida beaches ,NONE IS ON THE WAY TO EXTINCTION,,,,, but if were true you're gonna blame the land based shark fishermen who release 95 % of all the sharks they catch?? Really? We are catching more sharks per trip than we were in the 1970' ,1980's so where is the real evidence that coastal sharks are diminishing and on the brink of extinction? The impact of worldwide long line fishing fleets cannot be disputed ,but here in America the quotas of sharks long liners have been drastically reduced over the last 25 years and rightfully so at least here in the USA we care about protecting shark stocks and it is evident in the quantity of sharks we catch on a regular basis. It seems that Mr David Shiffman is attacking a ghost shark fishermen that' does not exist ,one who fishes to harm sharks ,to kill sharks to mistreat caught sharks on the shoreline......where is this ghost shark fishermen because almost 100 percent of all land-based shark fisher,men in Florida that we observe in our website and others like it sharks are CAUGHT AND RELEASED. Yes a shark is stressed when it is caught but the same holds true for any fish caught on rod and reel-should fishing be made completely against the law? Maybe that is what David Shiffman and people like him want? Another bit of writing by David Schiffman as it appeared in the Revelator' The South Florida

Shark Club has

unequaled history in

sport of land-based

shark fishing and

our body of work over

50 years is varied and

documented in pictures

,writings ,newspaper

articles, and accounts of

those who have shared

the passion we have for

this sport . This

documentary will be in

the Miami Film

Festival and may go on

to become

an American

classic. Amazing

work telling our story,

thanks

Robbie." Mr Shiffman it is not illegal to catch a protected species -it is illegal to KILL or TAKE a protected species ,so yes we knowingly 'caught and released' protected species that happened to take one of our baits . Mr Shiffman has made every attempt to discredit what we do,our good intentions practicing a sport that is legal and protected under Florida Constitutional law. Over the years we have worked tirelessly to promote catch and release of sharks but it seems that has no bearing on this research done by David Schiffman he points out that one angler wrote "they have to catch you fishing in state waters ",,,,really? Is catching sharks in state waters illegal,,,,,NO iT IS NOT!! Again killing a protected species is illegal in state water . I imagine that some of this slanderous writing is not completely the fault of David Shiffman because it seems that a shark scholar/researcher would have better sense than to write so many untrue things.Some of the shark bans like the Hammer and Tiger shark ban went into affect on January 1st 2012 and we have not tolerated ON OUR WEBSITE pictures of protected species killed after a ban went into affect.

2016- Protecting Shark Fishing Rights in Martin County Fl

william — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:57:34 +0000

On the eve of the 2016 Blacktip Challenge Shark Tournament Martin County commissioners are enacting new anti land based shark fishing regulations. Time to fight for our rights once again. http://www.wpbf.com/news/county-leaders ... s/37931208 I disagree with "I don't condone or support these tournaments" because these tournaments are part of our history and I for one would hate to see us turn scared because of the unfounded publics fear of sharks, or overzealous commissioners pushing there weight around. We have our rights as free Americans to conduct fishing tournaments regardless of what we are fishing for;the era of Jaws passed 30 years ago.A shark is just another important species that inhabit our coastal beaches and we need to accept there presence there without fear and a public outcry about endangerment.We ALL need to get involved!! Melinda Colon has been very involved around the state getting our rights respected and even getting some of these No Shark Fishing Bans overturned by the courts.Lets all support her efforts and support each other regardless of gender race or creed. I have attended some of these city commission meetings in the past and have joined Zach in protesting such proposed bans.I don't support the changes that Josh Jorgensen has implemented in his Blacktip Challenge Shark Tournament and for personal reasons i don't fish it anymore but I will support Josh to get his and his anglers shark fishing rights protected .Thank you Zach Miller,thank you Melinda Colon and thanks to all others who REALLY GET INVOLVED.

Access Problem for Palm Beach-2015 BlackTip Challenge Media

Fishboy — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 11:17:53 +0000

I am a local who has lived near the south jetty of the Lake Worth (Palm Beach) inlet since 1956. I am a fisherman. The fishermen who camped on the beach last weekend during your tournament and killed a Hammerhead then buried it are responsible for no more camping on the beach. Pretty work....... http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/ ... cry/nj6Fh/

Bull Sharks Sink Shrimp Boat

KentuckyLBZ — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:31:57 +0000

The capt. claims a 14-footer took out their prop, leaving them for dead. A 14 foot bull, ayy? Anyone hear about this? Here's the link: http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/news/ ... =obnetwork My apologies if this has been posted already, but I didn't see it anywhere.

Closing Piers in California due to shark attack

Batrayz — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:11:07 +0000

Well it is finally starting to happen here in California also. After the recent GW attack on a swimmer "because the fish was hooked" Southern California cities are debating closing (2 at this point) piers. After the first attack from a hooked shark this is rediculous!!!! http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-m ... story.html

Hooked Great White bites man fishing from a California pier

BiggTrave — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 15:36:02 +0000

http://abc7.com/news/1-bitten-by-shark- ... ch/158818/ Trying to find more info but dey are sayin a guy hooked a baby great white and the shark bit someone while hooked.

Florida Fishermen Protected from Harrassment Statute 379.105

william — Thu, 29 May 2014 09:48:41 +0000

Police officers around the state of Florida should become aware of this law before they come out to harass shark fishermen are legally fishing and enjoyoo=ing the great Florida outdoors.We suggest that ALL LAND-BASED FLORIDA SHARK FISHERMEN learn these numbers by heart so you can defend yourself when WRONGFULLY thrown off a beach for practicing your sport.They can and will be sued. Florida West's Florida Statutes Annotated. Title XXVIII. Natural Resources; Conservation, Reclamation, and Use (Chapters 369-380). Chapter 379. Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Part I. General Provisions. Statute Details Printable Version Citation: FL ST § 379.105 Citation: West's F. S. A. § 379.105 Last Checked by Web Center Staff: 11/2013 Summary: This law represents the state's hunter harassment provision. Under the law, a person may not intentionally, within a publicly or privately owned wildlife management or fish management area or on any state-owned water body, interfere with or attempt to prevent the lawful taking of fish, game, or non game animals by another or attempt to disturb wildlife or fish to prevent their lawful taking. Any person who violates this section commits a Level Two violation. Statute in Full: (1) A person may not intentionally, within a publicly or privately owned wildlife management or fish management area or on any state-owned water body: (a) Interfere with or attempt to prevent the lawful taking of fish, game, or nongame animals by another. (b) Attempt to disturb fish, game, or nongame animals or attempt to affect their behavior with the intent to prevent their lawful taking by another. (2) Any person who violates this section commits a Level Two violation under s. 379.401. CREDIT(S) Laws 1990, c. 90-170, § 2. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 2006-304, § 27, eff. July 1, 2006. Renumbered from 372.705 and amended by Laws 2008, c. 2008-247, § 9, eff. July 1, 2008.

SHOREBOUND ANGLERS ALLIANCE TAKES ON Delray Beach(May 2014)

william — Thu, 29 May 2014 09:28:26 +0000

We fight alone sometimes,we fight in the shadows ,but we fight for what is RIGHT!! http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-0 ... ammerheads ps...........More of Florida's land-based shark fishermen need to get involved.Don't fuss when your rights are taken away. Delray Beach considers new shark-fishing ban Danger to swimmers, sharks cited Delray Beach is considering banning shark-fishing from shore within 300 feet of its public beach, a move intended to protect both sharks and swimmers. In this file photo, a hammerhead shark, makes it way through the water off the South Florida Coast. Delray Beach is considering banning shark-fishing from shore within 300… (Neil Hammerschlag, Sun…) May 28, 2014|By David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel They stand on the beach at night and reel in 10-foot great hammerheads and other big sharks. Now these anglers may find their activities sharply restricted in Delray Beach, the scene of several spectacular YouTube videos of the big predators being hauled ashore and then released. The City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposal to ban shore-based shark fishing within 300 feet of its public beach and within 300 feet of Atlantic Dunes Park. Mayor Cary Glickstein said the ban would protect swimmers from encounters with large predators that wouldn't normally come close to shore. Unlike anglers who cast their lines by hand, the shark catchers use kayaks to set baited hooks much farther from shore, in the deeper water inhabited by large sharks. "It's a public safety issue and also concern for the sharks," he said. "Most fishermen are fishing with small bait and as far out as they can cast. When you're taking half an amberjack and paddling out 200 yards, you're not looking for yellowtail snapper. There's also concern for the sharks themselves. A lot of species are endangered. There's been a lot of press lately about very large sharks being caught from shore." But supporters of shore-based shark fishing say the activity poses no threat to swimmers and that restrictions threaten a fundamental part of Florida's heritage. "We see big sharks swimming close to the beach all the time," Adam Fisk, 22, a Delray Beach resident who has been catching sharks from shore for more than two years. "We're not attracting them to the beach. They're there. When we do it, the people aren't swimming. We do it at night." Setting up at sunset, he has caught tiger sharks, great hammerheads, bull sharks and other species, using hunks of amberjack or barracuda on hooks. He says he always releases them alive. "There's no point in bringing them back home," he said. "They don't taste good. I would never kill them." But some sharks caught from shore, such as the great hammerhead, are classified as endangered globally and are protected under state law. While this can allow catch-and-release fishing, experts say many sharks that swim away after their release die later from the ordeal. "We have a problem with hammerheads because they are so sensitive," said Sonja Fordham, president of Shark Advocates International. "If they get stressed too much, they're likely to die." The City Commission actually banned shore-based shark fishing along the entire beach in 2009. But the ban was rarely enforced, and then it came under a legal challenge because Florida law reserves the authority to regulate saltwater fishing to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Blaine Dickenson, a Boca Raton lawyer and fisherman, sent a letter to Delray Beach last summer on behalf of Shorebound Anglers Alliance Inc., threatening to sue the city if it didn't repeal the ordinance. "Fishing happens to be one of my favorite pastimes, and it's statutorily recognized as an important part of our economy, our heritage," said Dickenson, who is handling the matter for free. "Some of these folks seem to think they're the only ones entitled to the beach. Florida is changing, for better and for worse. But I do not want people to lose sight of our heritage, and I don't want people to trample it."