Salt Strong Nation stand up! Let me say again I'm glad to be in this club and I appreciate you guys helping my great state address of fisheries issues. We need help not for us aa recreational fishermen today but for our future fishermen.
i am for banning inshore shrimp trawlers.. they need to go .. thats the first step to recovering the NC fishery.. our sounds and estuaries are fish nurseries and those trawlers kill 10s of millions of pounds of nursery fish, they need to go back out into the atlantic ocean and stay there.
Need to ban the long liners in the gulf stream it has taken a toll also! You can/t even catch nice fish hardly any more off shore NC! Drive 40 miles off shore you can catch one snowy grouper 3 tile fish!!! Something has happened just as bad off shore! You catch Mahi some times but nothing like 15 years ago! The charter boats can/t catch nice fish at times so they catch 10 BABY dolphin to fill out the 1500 a day cost!
We need to get rid of gill nets and most of all intercoastal trawling. Its depleting our juvenile fish. No reason why we are still allowing this to continue.
I have been a NC surf fisherman for close ro 60 years. Now it has become almost a waste of time. There are no fish. The only thing you can catch are small sharks. Everything else is all but gone. I am 70 and my annual fishing license is not cheap. In VA I no longer pay for a fishing license at my age. All we in NC need look no further than what happened to oyster fishing in the Chesapeake Bay to see what stupidity and rampant corruption of all the states bordering that body of water did and failed to do to preserve that lucrative fishery. I grieve for what my children and grandchildren will never enjoy like I did when I was young fishing on NC beaches. Our state fishing authorities are simply corrupt and beyond understanding! I commend you for the attention you have created about these very serious problems. Thank you!
I had to see all the destruction done to long island ny fisherman. I was so disappointed with the mismanagement of the fisheries that I moved to north carolina. IT'S WORSE HERE. TAKES ALOT OF MONEY TO STOP THE CORRUPT SYSTEM. SAD SO DAMN SAD.
So spot on, thank you Steve and Joe!! Can't thank you guys enough for putting this out for the world to see!! (Herbie Nelson-North Carolina SS Insider)
I have given up fishing in NC. Go down to SC and you can still catch flounder. Cut off the flounders for commercials and you will see some changes right away.
Can the people of NC do a net ban like we did in 92 in FL? I helped get petitions signed for the amendment. Within a couple years it definitely made a huge difference. Once the gill nets quit taking all the mullet and killing snook, redfish and whatever else, we started catching a lot more fish in Sarasota. I was 18 that year and super happy to vote to ban commercial netting in the state waters. I'd love to see other states do the same thing.
Thank you, Both for bringing light to this subject. I love Flounder fishing. I know were voting (NC) for a new Governor this NOV. Josh Stein and Mark Robinson. Maybe just maybe we could get Mark Robinson in there and He knows about this whole issue. I would love for him just to disband the DMF...
Thank you for bringing awareness to the complete mismanagement of the NC fisheries. As a NC resident all I want is for my kids to grow up catching these fish like I used to. Again, we need to ban gill nets and inshore trawling.
I have reduced my trips to NC because of the lack of Flounder fishing opportunities. It is costing the state $$$. I don't think they understand the recreational fisherman and the $$ it brings to the state. Keep the recreational fishing and reduce the commercial.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but NC is the only state on the East Coast and Gulf that still allows inshore trawling. Marine fisheries are trying to start a harvest count for recreational fishermen. I am all for this, but it would take everyone to join and submit their harvest . It will help show that recreational fishermen are not depleting the flounder or trout for that matter. How do you close flounder season, but leave it open for commercial???? Then you open to inland, and not coastal. Money filling pockets. They need to clean the house on both sides. Thanks, Salt Strong! As a member, I appreciate what y'all do, as well as Mr. Brewster. Also, it will definitely help once our current governor is out!!!!!!!! Tight Lines!
Great podcast, so very sorry the NC Politicians are so corrupt and have allowed this to happen, those politicians need to be put in prison for their actions along with kicking them out of politics forever!
This really sounds like a commercial fisherman caused problem. You're mincing words saying it isn't. Commercial fisherman have destroyed almost every fishery from Cod, swordfish, grouper, red snapper, etc.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO FOLLOW YOUR CHANNEL. NC anglers are really taking it on the chin. Think what this would do to your business if restrictions like this come to your state. Thank you Salt Strong and big thanks to Steve who has dedicated his time to be a voice for NC anglers.
Commercial fishing has been an issue with flounder fishing in North Carolina. At one point the trawl limit in North Carolina was 20,000 pounds ((per day)) in the past. Recently the trawl limit in North Carolina has been 10,000 pounds ((per day)). Tell me again the commercial trawl industry hasn't affected the flounder population in North Carolina. Also search RUclips striper slaughter North Carolina. I was interviewed by local TV talking about this incident circa 2010 an absolute wasteful slaughter by the commercial trawl industry.
North Carolina allows inshore shrimp trawling that produces a massive by-catch of juvenile fish that are shoveled overboard dead. I have been fishing North Carolina for 60 years exactly. Once the NC Fisheries Commissioner was a commercial trawl company owner.
We need to change the distribution network. People in Kansas and Utah don’t need to be receiving saltwater seafood. If a state doesn’t touch the ocean they should not be able to import seafood. If you want seafood , go to the coast. Importing foreign seafood (shrimp, etc.) is not an option. It’s all a withdrawal from the same bank. Limit seafood sales to same state as harvested. Yes, there will be companies closing. But, these will be large nationwide corporations that are fueling this resource abuse. At this rate, imagine what seafood is going to look like in another 50 years. An oyster the size of a quarter will cost $100. Our grandchildren will probably not know what seafood tastes like.
For those of you in NC, please call your representatives. I spoke with Senator Norm Sanderson's aide the other day and she was very willing to listen to what is going on in our fisheries. They won't know if we don't contact them.
Thank you so much for bringing these issues to a greater light and to this platform! I am a local waterman in NC, and our Fisheries Management in the state has become completely out of touch and political. We need scientifically based conservation and management efforts. Thank you again!!!
In Florida your better off getting caught with an 8-ball of coke than an undersized snook.....there needs too be steep fines and consequences for commercial anglers violating
Glad to see you on Salt Strong Steven, and glad I'm a SaltStrong member and thank you Joe for having him on the program. Steven is one of the few guys like me willing to speak the truth about what's going on with our fisheries in North Carolina. I have to hold my tongue a lot because of my profession but Brewski has helped to give a voice to all North Carolina fisherman. Keep on keeping on brother!
Steven, the only thing about the video, North Carolina Marine Fisheries was established in 1822 by fishermen to regulate fishermen. 1997 was when the fisheries reform act was created and North Carolina House Bill 1097 was passed and when North Carolina Marine Fisheries began their Fisheries Management Plans. NCWRC has been regulating and managing our inland fisheries since 1947. So in my mind NCWRC has plus or minus 50 years of actually managing our states fisheries.
I live at NC coast and on local fishing forums where issues are discussed, and recreational fishermen are upset with the laws. I saw photos a few years ago along the NC coast that were sickening. Netters culling their catch and couldn't keep stripers because of the season, but hundreds of dead striper floating behind the boat. Just ridiculous!
How about the commercial draggers coming from North Carolina, South Carolina and even Alabama into the continental shelf regions off of NJ, NY and CT during the winter months and sweeping the ocean floors of spawning flounder?
As a teen in the 70s the variety of fish was " cast in and see what we catch this time " lol. The Red Tide of the late 80s didn't help. We regulated ourselves... Old timers taught us to respect the resource.
I lived on the outer banks during the 80's and got to know some "important people"I was told that dare county provided about a third of the states revenue and what ever they wanted they got I now live on the upper Roanoke and caught some of the first stripers to return there in the mid to late 90's knew the director of Marine Fisheries and talked with him all of the time and came to realize that he could only do what he was told to do yes politics control most everything sad As a young boy in the sixties my Dad's best friend was the striper biologists for the Roanoke River spawning area even then I heard discussions revolving around money and politics mostly water quality from the mills here at the time the water was finally fixed and then they moved the hatchery to Wilmington fish return to the water that the were hatched in not where they are released but that's another story long story short there is enough blame to go around and until we get off of our asses and attend the meetings nothing will change I'm afraid REMEMBER THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE participate and be respectful but don't back up make them fix it or vote for a new face
AS a NC resident and Saltwater fisherman for over 50 years, Inshore trawling is a major problem. No other state from Maine to Texas allows. We learned in school in that in colonial times, NC was called the "Rip Van Winkle state as it seemed 20 years behind the neighboring states. Well not much has changed and In NC government, many things are at LEAST 20 years behind our neighbors. Many areas more! Fisheries management is at least 50 years behind if not more!
The problem is thre big companies, the big boats. What they do to the sound and off shore during the winter is brutal. I watch it happen every year. The bycatch is stupid. They kill them all. Smaller commercial fisherman in winter kill twice the limit of speckled trout all winter long. That’s not cool at all.
By the way with drum, here in nc and va we have drum, big drum, no bull reds… 48in plus drum are bigger than any stupid baseball bat “bull red” in Florida or wherever those people fish
Bout time this movement gets going. If we don't keep it up nothing will change. Until they change the allocations for commercial vs rec (sad as hell), there won't be any change. Follow fishing with brewski
Extremely interesting episode. I found interesting that the Federal Regulations are better for the Red Fish than State Regulations are for everything else. 🤔
NC is a corrupt state. High income taxes and high property taxes. I plan to move to Tennesse or Georgia once I've been in my house 2 years to avoid taxes on the sale of my previous house.
The sad truth, at least in Florida, is that after the 1995 Net Ban, the judges felt sorry for the commercial fisherman. Were they in the judges pockets over time, what do you think? Anyway, I have heard way too many stories about $100 fines for the Florida poachers, and again, it's just pennies regarding the cost of doing business. Also, after 31 years as an inshore fishing guide, what's left in and around Tampa Bay are remnants of a fishery, a true fucking if there ever was one. And what's the bottom line; $$ and greed, as usual.
Stupid I can't take my kid flounder fishing, but the boats can get unlimited amount for money. Looks like fish farming could be a thing in the future. Fact is you can't keep taking without giving stuff time to grow and replenish itself. We have hunting seasons and limits so we never run out of game and the future hunters will be good. There needs to be seasons on the sounds and oceans for commercial fishers. I am not against boats, but we have to let then replenish them selves.
I'd like to point put what anyone who's ever gotten a speeding ticket or any other fine knows. The fine is usually small. The court costs are the meat of the ticket. Court costs are over $200 and you have to pay that. Just pointing this out because it comes across somewhat dishonest to suggest this guy was only paying $35
Sorry, but Steve is a bit naive if he thinks “equity” and “removing politics” is the thing that is going to solve fisheries management in NC. What’s going to solve it is recreational fishermen using their economic clout to push harder and play a more bare-knuckled game than the commercials. Jerry Schill invokes Jesus while proclaiming the right of commercials to control the resource. Recreation guys need to invoke mammon. The boat manufacturers don’t want to help them? Boycott Grady White and the rest. The inshore guides don’t want to fight for their clients? Boycott them. The tackle shops don’t want to fight for them? Boycott them. Crabs, shrimp and oysters account for the majority of the commercial catch value in the state. Most of the individual fin fish value is less than $500,000. That’s three Grady Whites. The rec guys simply aren’t willing to fight fire with fire, and are intimidated by the commercials.
I have lived on the coast here in NC since 1983. I have watched our stock being depleted year after year. Political corruption runs rampant here. Gill nets and running shrimp trawls in nursery waters should be banned, and EVERYONE knows this but the dirty political machine will never let this happen. What's happening here is disgusting! Thanks for all you do Ski, Semper Fi!!!
Pound and gill nets criss cross the Pamlico sound so bad you can hardly drive a boat!There is no limit are enforcement on flounder Gigging! It has been going on for 50 years! It has finally caught up with Basnight!
How do you say there's no enforcement on flounder gigging? I've been doing it for 40 years and never had a ticket but I've been checked at night, on the water and pulled over by Marine Fisheries and never got so much as a warning because I'm an ethical and moral fisherman that abides by the rules and thanks to NCDMF I can"t fish for the species that I've been going after since I was a 3 month old baby in the back of a flounder gigging boat. I have a commercial license and have supplemented my primary income with it in years past and now thanks to NCDMF I have 3 boats sitting unused in my driveway and only a 2 week season at best. I only take enough to feed my family and last year at best I made my fuel money back after taking approximately 4 trips during the two week season (all trip tickets reported to NCDMF) that I was able to even go. Like I said earlier when somebody ran down flounder gigging, it's the most primitive, most selective, least by-catch form of fishing we have in this state and to group me in with a trawler/gill netter just because the type of gear I use is asinine. I can count my by catch over the years on my hands, can you?
Here’s my question: Who is responsible for issuing regulations to commercial fishing? Why are commercial fisherman allowed to fish inshore up to 3 miles off the coast?I answered my own question. Nc marine fisheries are in control of salt water species. Marine fisheries are a sub unit of environmental quality. The governor appoints the secretary to the environmental quality division and the secretary appoints the director for marine fisheries. The governor appoints the the commission members (3 from commercial (3) from recreational (1) scientist(2) at large appointist (whatever that is) I suppose these members vote on changes to the system.
I just started watching this but I swear this also applies to freshwater in Western NC as well. I moved here from Texas in 2020 and I swear these fisheries in the highland reservoirs are not managed properly.
I was blown away listening to Steve explain how all these intertwining agencies and parties have put y'all in this position. We hope bringing more attention to it helps put a spotlight on the problem so people can start working on solutions!
I agree. Just my opinion so far, but something is definitely not right. I even told my friend I wonder if someone is just pocketing all the money and not stocking the fisheries properly or managing them at all.
I live in NC everything is about money if love is everything then God will provide but human get to greeting, when human get greeting God take all. Our time in this world is about to stop. Have faith in Jesus.
We native NClinans have known this for decades…most of us have been up in arms and writing to our law makers with no reply…I’m 56 and can remember hundred plus flounder days….sadly most were put in the box…
Recently visited Fayetteville and Wilmington. Didn't even bother given the regulations and limits and rigmarole for an out-of-stater to get licensed. I did order a fish sandwich in Wilmington one day...
It's so telling when someone who enjoys fishing doesn't even bother when visiting. It makes you wonder how much revenue they're losing from the recreational sector.
I live in Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay and I have been catching a lot of small flounder. In July I probably caught over 50, maybe 60. Only 2 were big enough to keep. The minimum size is 17 and 1/2", so a legal fish is a nice one. They raised the limit from 16 on the first of July. There are tons of babies around, it's easy to catch 10 or 12 in a morning. But keepers are pretty rare. At least we can keep them if they're big enough. My friends here usually go to the Outer Banks every summer to fish for flounder. They're not going this year in protest of the flounder regulations.
@@vant2236 oh that's the problem. I haven't been to the wrecks. Sounds sketchy on my kayak. But I will take your advice and look for more spots. If the weather is decent I'll try VA Beach this weekend.
This sounds just like a CCA talking points. There's more red drum than mullets and we still have a one fish limit. All because of groups like CCA! I talked to marine fisheries and their is no such thing as a 30$ fine and he said that this was B.S .
Hb1169 bill in Missouri was a bill of consent if mrna or the jab was in our meat,it was denied, they don't want us to know ,I provide for my family what ever it takes,tight lines bro,
@@Saltstrong thank you for the informative video. It will take numbers to enact change. With Citizens United and economic incentives of those with disposable income; it will take a ground swell of engagement to protect what belongs to us all.
@@Saltstrong Sadly, seems one must decide to “play the game” seek infusions of cash for media ads and start the race to spend the most, which could be fraught with negative repercussions. Or continue to demand change outside that system. I imagine it must be tragic to be at NC wildlife fishery have a mandate to protect the fishery but also have the education and knowledge to understand the resource is being destroyed and have no power to change it.
i live in swansboro north carolina and live on the water and fish atleast a couple times a week im catching flounder like pinfish on bottom rigs they are a straight trash fish if we cant keep em. i go trout fishing and catch more flounder than any other fish
Nobody talks about pollution all the development its always the commercial fisherman i have been commercial fishing since I was 16 and im 50 there's no shortage of flounder it's just a bunch of pencil pushers causing the problems
The real issue is American food supply. I was watching fishmonger on outdoor channel. The shrimper said they are putting shrimp on the doc for $1 a lb. $4 gal for gas and can’t compete with imported seafood. Then they interviewed a spear fisherman and he said the restrictions are on the must abundant fish he sees. It doesn’t make sense. The shrimper said there used to be 100 boats in their port and now they have 6 boats and only 4 capt. When the fisherman can’t make a living they sell the boats and no more us caught fish. Have to see the bigger picture. Noah wwas a conspiracy theorist…..til it started raining. Fishing is dying everywhere as an industry.
Exactly. Government regulations. The cost of diesel fuel. The cost of insurance. All of these things keep going higher and higher. I’m in Charleston. I remember when I was a kid in the 70s McClellanville, Murrells Inlet, Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Edisto Beach, Beaufort, Fripp Island, Rockville, hundreds of shrimp boats. Now there’s maybe a dozen. Probably less than that. And they could survive all of the things I listed above if they were competing against each other on a level playing field. But what they can’t compete against are these ridiculously cheap shrimp that come in from Asia. I’m a capitalist pig. I don’t like tariffs and regulations, etc. But I also recognize if you’re playing a game and you’re the only one following the rules you’re going to get your ass kicked! I know so many people that don’t want to vote for Trump because they say well he’s not really a capitalist because he wants tariffs and tariffs aren’t capitalism. My response is, OK. So let’s don’t have any tariffs. Let’s don’t have any protectionist policies. Now, to be clear, absolutely no price fixing. Nothing that would regulate or have the government involved in setting the price. But protective policies, tariffs, requiring companies that want to import shrimp in this particular example to America That they have to follow the same environmental policies or whatever etc. etc. I would absolutely vote for that. Because your leveling to playing field where other people are cheating. Now I need to be careful because I don’t want to sound communist or socialist or any type of equality and our equity nonsense. We’re not talking about that. They will always be people that are better and I’m all for competition. But I’m not for people cheating. And these other countries that have super cheap labor and don’t have anywhere near the regulations we have and no quality control and they don’t have to meet the same environmental standards, and we could have a conversation about whether that’s too excessive here, but we have them and that’s that, so you have an extremely fragile situation where only one side is playing by the rules plus they have a lot of disadvantages because of their own government because let’s be honest. Our government is not a friend to small business whether it’s the local level or the national level, so yeah, we need to level that playing field. So I’m absolutely with Trump on this. Until other countries stop charging tariffs on our goods and doing other things to put our businesses and people at a disadvantage then we’re gonna have to do the same thing to them to make it fair for our people. Because our people need to come first. America first! People say that makes the prices higher. OK. Fine. But it’s also better for the economy. It’s also better for the states economy. It creates good jobs and a stable family environment for everyone. Everyone benefits. Also, if they are shrimp cost the same as our shrimp People start buying our shrimp again because the quality is 10 times better. Those cheap shrimp you buy in Costco taste like crap. There have been bumper stickers along coastal South Carolina for decades. Friends don’t let friends buy imported shrimp. Victor David Hansen was on Mike Rowe’s podcast the other day and he talked about how back in the 1980s the raisin industry in California got decimated because of incredibly cheap but inferior quality raisins were brought in from other countries. The California raisins were better, but they couldn’t compete on price because of these very same reasons. But had, the government put tariffs on the imported raisins so that the price would be the same as the California raisins all those family Farms would still be in business today and the local and national economy would be better and people would be getting a better product. So yes. I believe in free market enterprise. I’m a capitalist pig. But when you’re the only one playing by the rules, you’re gonna get your ass kicked. And sometimes the people that care about your team need to step in and do something to level the playing field. it is still a competition. And the team with the better product will win. But at least now you’re not being forced to play with one hand Todd behind your back by the people that are supposed to be supporting you.
@@nedhill1242 why is china using oil and increasing coal 95% every year and not part of any eco accords and largest polluters on the planet and us is ending oil. All the food processing plant fires. Only 4 major meat peocessors nation wide. Planned collapse 5th column
There is no truth in this video. The notion that there are no flounder is a lie. All I catch is flouder! Nice job, not blaming commercials, and then blaming commercial 🙄 I caught 41 flouder in one day this past weekend, and everyone I know is catching them like this.
Pamlico sound is full of flounder. Albemarle sound, full of flounder. Core sound, full of flounder. If you fish bottom you’re catching flounder. I’ve caught more flounder in the ocean seabass fishing the past two years then I ever have. Believe half of what you hear and all of what you see. They also tell you there aren’t any red snapper either but when you’re grouper fishing that’s ALL you catch!
The correct word is extirpate. Extinction means wiped out completely. The fluke species you're talking about still exist. Their numbers are low in NC but they do exist.
I have been a flounder gigger for over 40 years and can count my by catch on one hand, Can you do that @busterrowland574? It's the most selective and lowest form of by catch fishing that there is let alone it's the most primitive form of fishing in this state.
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Appreciate all the attention being brought to this issue we have been dealing with
You're welcome! We hope that it helps motivate real solutions!
Great to see our state and its issues on Salt Strong!!
Glad to help shed some light on the issues. Hopefully, this helps spark some real conversation that will lead to common sense solutions!
Salt Strong Nation stand up! Let me say again I'm glad to be in this club and I appreciate you guys helping my great state address of fisheries issues. We need help not for us aa recreational fishermen today but for our future fishermen.
@@Saltstrong - We will take all the assistance you can provide. Thanks Joe!
Lived and fished in NC all my life. He is 100% correct on inshore trawling I have been on one a few times and the loss in bycatch is sickening.
There is definitely tension between NC Wildlife and Marine Fisheries. 1 flounder per day for 4 days is ridiculous.
Great insights as always and strong, clear message. Stop inshore trawling. Make MFC accountable (gone). Equity for all anglers.
i am for banning inshore shrimp trawlers.. they need to go .. thats the first step to recovering the NC fishery.. our sounds and estuaries are fish nurseries and those trawlers kill 10s of millions of pounds of nursery fish, they need to go back out into the atlantic ocean and stay there.
Seeing shots of the trawling bycatch is depressing, for sure.
Need to ban the long liners in the gulf stream it has taken a toll also! You can/t even catch nice fish hardly any more off shore NC! Drive 40 miles off shore you can catch one snowy grouper 3 tile fish!!! Something has happened just as bad off shore! You catch Mahi some times but nothing like 15 years ago! The charter boats can/t catch nice fish at times so they catch 10 BABY dolphin to fill out the 1500 a day cost!
We in NC are so pissed about this. Getting the word out helps our cause. Maybe our lawmakers will take notice.
Paul, your lawmakers are in it, up to their necks.
@@walterclark854 I know, some are. I think publicity and pressure will help . We will have a new governor soon.
@paulmoss7940 I've sent our future, new governor, a letter...
Glad we can help!
We need to get rid of gill nets and most of all intercoastal trawling. Its depleting our juvenile fish. No reason why we are still allowing this to continue.
For sure!
I have been a NC surf fisherman for close ro 60 years. Now it has become almost a waste of time. There are no fish. The only thing you can catch are small sharks. Everything else is all but gone. I am 70 and my annual fishing license is not cheap. In VA I no longer pay for a fishing license at my age. All we in NC need look no further than what happened to oyster fishing in the Chesapeake Bay to see what stupidity and rampant corruption of all the states bordering that body of water did and failed to do to preserve that lucrative fishery. I grieve for what my children and grandchildren will never enjoy like I did when I was young fishing on NC beaches. Our state fishing authorities are simply corrupt and beyond understanding! I commend you for the attention you have created about these very serious problems. Thank you!
I had to see all the destruction done to long island ny fisherman. I was so disappointed with the mismanagement of the fisheries that I moved to north carolina. IT'S WORSE HERE. TAKES ALOT OF MONEY TO STOP THE CORRUPT SYSTEM. SAD SO DAMN SAD.
So spot on, thank you Steve and Joe!! Can't thank you guys enough for putting this out for the world to see!! (Herbie Nelson-North Carolina SS Insider)
I stopped wasting my time inshore and near shore fishing in NC.
I don’t know why anyone in NC would buy a 20’ bay boat today. If I move to the coast, I will spend the money for a 27’ to get away from the DMF mess.
Wildlife commission is usless
Time to contact your congressman and senator?
I have given up fishing in NC. Go down to SC and you can still catch flounder. Cut off the flounders for commercials and you will see some changes right away.
Can the people of NC do a net ban like we did in 92 in FL? I helped get petitions signed for the amendment. Within a couple years it definitely made a huge difference. Once the gill nets quit taking all the mullet and killing snook, redfish and whatever else, we started catching a lot more fish in Sarasota. I was 18 that year and super happy to vote to ban commercial netting in the state waters. I'd love to see other states do the same thing.
Great idea! The more people that take action, the louder the group's voice is!
Thank you, Both for bringing light to this subject. I love Flounder fishing. I know were voting (NC) for a new Governor this NOV. Josh Stein and Mark Robinson. Maybe just maybe we could get Mark Robinson in there and He knows about this whole issue. I would love for him just to disband the DMF...
You're very welcome! Hopefully, we're able to help magnify knowledgeable voices and get some real change in the works.
I've always played by the rules. This year, you can call me a criminal.
100% political
Thank you for bringing awareness to the complete mismanagement of the NC fisheries. As a NC resident all I want is for my kids to grow up catching these fish like I used to. Again, we need to ban gill nets and inshore trawling.
You're very welcome! Hopefully, we can all team up to make our voice heard and get some common-sense regulations in the works!
I have reduced my trips to NC because of the lack of Flounder fishing opportunities. It is costing the state $$$. I don't think they understand the recreational fisherman and the $$ it brings to the state. Keep the recreational fishing and reduce the commercial.
Appreciate Salt Strong covering this issue. Feels like we’re on our own in NC… maybe someone can make compromise to satisfy both parties one day
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but NC is the only state on the East Coast and Gulf that still allows inshore trawling. Marine fisheries are trying to start a harvest count for recreational fishermen. I am all for this, but it would take everyone to join and submit their harvest . It will help show that recreational fishermen are not depleting the flounder or trout for that matter. How do you close flounder season, but leave it open for commercial???? Then you open to inland, and not coastal. Money filling pockets. They need to clean the house on both sides. Thanks, Salt Strong! As a member, I appreciate what y'all do, as well as Mr. Brewster. Also, it will definitely help once our current governor is out!!!!!!!! Tight Lines!
@@ledforthehead23 wrong s.c Georgia Alabama Texas Louisiana all allow it
Great podcast, so very sorry the NC Politicians are so corrupt and have allowed this to happen, those politicians need to be put in prison for their actions along with kicking them out of politics forever!
This really sounds like a commercial fisherman caused problem. You're mincing words saying it isn't. Commercial fisherman have destroyed almost every fishery from Cod, swordfish, grouper, red snapper, etc.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO FOLLOW YOUR CHANNEL. NC anglers are really taking it on the chin. Think what this would do to your business if restrictions like this come to your state. Thank you Salt Strong and big thanks to Steve who has dedicated his time to be a voice for NC anglers.
Commercial fishing has been an issue with flounder fishing in North Carolina. At one point the trawl limit in North Carolina was 20,000 pounds ((per day)) in the past. Recently the trawl limit in North Carolina has been 10,000 pounds ((per day)). Tell me again the commercial trawl industry hasn't affected the flounder population in North Carolina. Also search RUclips striper slaughter North Carolina. I was interviewed by local TV talking about this incident circa 2010 an absolute wasteful slaughter by the commercial trawl industry.
North Carolina allows inshore shrimp trawling that produces a massive by-catch of juvenile fish that are shoveled overboard dead. I have been fishing North Carolina for 60 years exactly. Once the NC Fisheries Commissioner was a commercial trawl company owner.
I have caught Flounder all year in the Wilmington to Little River area. Tons of flounder. But commercial fishing is king.. Money hungry politicians.
Hopefully, we can come together and make sure our voices are heard among the regulators and at the ballot boxes!
the love of money is the root of all evil. I love my state, greatest state in the union, but we have a pretty damn corrupt state
We need to change the distribution network. People in Kansas and Utah don’t need to be receiving saltwater seafood. If a state doesn’t touch the ocean they should not be able to import seafood. If you want seafood , go to the coast. Importing foreign seafood (shrimp, etc.) is not an option. It’s all a withdrawal from the same bank. Limit seafood sales to same state as harvested. Yes, there will be companies closing. But, these will be large nationwide corporations that are fueling this resource abuse.
At this rate, imagine what seafood is going to look like in another 50 years. An oyster the size of a quarter will cost $100. Our grandchildren will probably not know what seafood tastes like.
Has somebody that used to love the net fish I quit 8 years ago for the fact that I want to see more fish out there
It's crazy how the intersection of government and big business destroys everything it touches
For those of you in NC, please call your representatives. I spoke with Senator Norm Sanderson's aide the other day and she was very willing to listen to what is going on in our fisheries. They won't know if we don't contact them.
Been there done that…don’t hold your breath on anything other than lip service….
Thank you so much for bringing these issues to a greater light and to this platform! I am a local waterman in NC, and our Fisheries Management in the state has become completely out of touch and political. We need scientifically based conservation and management efforts. Thank you again!!!
You're very welcome-glad we can help!
As a NC resident of Pender county I think Wild Life should control coastal too.
In Florida your better off getting caught with an 8-ball of coke than an undersized snook.....there needs too be steep fines and consequences for commercial anglers violating
all my fishing trips are now just a few more hours away, S.C. does it right and the fishery there is awesome
I just purchased my lifetime license so I could do more coastal fishing only to be told that I can’t keep a flounder! 🤬
Glad to see you on Salt Strong Steven, and glad I'm a SaltStrong member and thank you Joe for having him on the program. Steven is one of the few guys like me willing to speak the truth about what's going on with our fisheries in North Carolina. I have to hold my tongue a lot because of my profession but Brewski has helped to give a voice to all North Carolina fisherman. Keep on keeping on brother!
Steven, the only thing about the video, North Carolina Marine Fisheries was established in 1822 by fishermen to regulate fishermen. 1997 was when the fisheries reform act was created and North Carolina House Bill 1097 was passed and when North Carolina Marine Fisheries began their Fisheries Management Plans. NCWRC has been regulating and managing our inland fisheries since 1947. So in my mind NCWRC has plus or minus 50 years of actually managing our states fisheries.
How about returning all the money in the indowment fund to everyone and we'll go to another state and fish
Sounds like some cowards need to be moved out of the management entities, and some grassroots action in the legislature.
I live in NC and can't believe that the majority of fine people in NC allow this BS to continue.
Hopefully, we can come together and make sure our voices are heard among the regulators and at the ballot boxes!
The answer is to quit voting for the same old thing over and over expecting different results
YES YES YES It's abt time we discussed this!
Hopefully, we're able to unite and help instigate some common-sense regulations!
I live at NC coast and on local fishing forums where issues are discussed, and recreational fishermen are upset with the laws.
I saw photos a few years ago along the NC coast that were sickening. Netters culling their catch and couldn't keep stripers because of the season, but hundreds of dead striper floating behind the boat. Just ridiculous!
It's crazy, for sure. Hopefully, we can all come together and help trigger some common-sense regulations!
How about the commercial draggers coming from North Carolina, South Carolina and even Alabama into the continental shelf regions off of NJ, NY and CT during the winter months and sweeping the ocean floors of spawning flounder?
As a teen in the 70s the variety of fish was " cast in and see what we catch this time " lol. The Red Tide of the late 80s didn't help. We regulated ourselves... Old timers taught us to respect the resource.
Great video and information. I see you Brewski.
Thank you to Salt Strong for bringing on Steve Brewster, I've watched his video's, he does a lot of hard work on his video's.
I lived on the outer banks during the 80's and got to know some "important people"I was told that dare county provided about a third of the states revenue and what ever they wanted they got
I now live on the upper Roanoke and caught some of the first stripers to return there in the mid to late 90's knew the director of Marine Fisheries and talked with him all of the time and came to realize that he could only do what he was told to do yes politics control most everything sad
As a young boy in the sixties my Dad's best friend was the striper biologists for the Roanoke River spawning area even then I heard discussions revolving around money and politics mostly water quality from the mills here at the time
the water was finally fixed and then they moved the hatchery to Wilmington fish return to the water that the were hatched in not where they are released but that's another story
long story short there is enough blame to go around and until we get off of our asses and attend the meetings nothing will change I'm afraid
REMEMBER THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE
participate and be respectful but don't back up make them fix it or vote for a new face
Thank you for this.
Steve is the best , thanks for all the hard work you do .
AS a NC resident and Saltwater fisherman for over 50 years, Inshore trawling is a major problem. No other state from Maine to Texas allows. We learned in school in that in colonial times, NC was called the "Rip Van Winkle state as it seemed 20 years behind the neighboring states. Well not much has changed and In NC government, many things are at LEAST 20 years behind our neighbors. Many areas more! Fisheries management is at least 50 years behind if not more!
that not true they are trawling inshore all the way to maine for the last 100 years.
@@robertdougherty1923 The video says not allowed in all 50 states or MExico!
The problem is thre big companies, the big boats. What they do to the sound and off shore during the winter is brutal. I watch it happen every year. The bycatch is stupid. They kill them all. Smaller commercial fisherman in winter kill twice the limit of speckled trout all winter long. That’s not cool at all.
By the way with drum, here in nc and va we have drum, big drum, no bull reds… 48in plus drum are bigger than any stupid baseball bat “bull red” in Florida or wherever those people fish
Yep seen them clothes off the front of the creek and messed up the fish in several years
Bout time this movement gets going. If we don't keep it up nothing will change. Until they change the allocations for commercial vs rec (sad as hell), there won't be any change. Follow fishing with brewski
I have seen commercial fishermen “blowing” the trout into their nets with their prop wash, in the back of the creeks (where it’s narrow).
Extremely interesting episode. I found interesting that the Federal Regulations are better for the Red Fish than State Regulations are for everything else. 🤔
NC is a corrupt state. High income taxes and high property taxes. I plan to move to Tennesse or Georgia once I've been in my house 2 years to avoid taxes on the sale of my previous house.
So interesting and love hearing from NC to learn this state.
The sad truth, at least in Florida, is that after the 1995 Net Ban, the judges felt sorry for the commercial fisherman. Were they in the judges pockets over time, what do you think? Anyway, I have heard way too many stories about $100 fines for the Florida poachers, and again, it's just pennies regarding the cost of doing business.
Also, after 31 years as an inshore fishing guide, what's left in and around Tampa Bay are remnants of a fishery, a true fucking if there ever was one. And what's the bottom line; $$ and greed, as usual.
We don't hear much about the commercial violations in Florida, but FWC doesn't play around on the recreational side.
With ffs, commercial fisherman are no doubt catching more than they used to while the surf fisherman aren't allowed to keep flounder. Total bs
Stupid I can't take my kid flounder fishing, but the boats can get unlimited amount for money. Looks like fish farming could be a thing in the future. Fact is you can't keep taking without giving stuff time to grow and replenish itself. We have hunting seasons and limits so we never run out of game and the future hunters will be good. There needs to be seasons on the sounds and oceans for commercial fishers. I am not against boats, but we have to let then replenish them selves.
I'd like to point put what anyone who's ever gotten a speeding ticket or any other fine knows. The fine is usually small. The court costs are the meat of the ticket. Court costs are over $200 and you have to pay that.
Just pointing this out because it comes across somewhat dishonest to suggest this guy was only paying $35
Sorry, but Steve is a bit naive if he thinks “equity” and “removing politics” is the thing that is going to solve fisheries management in NC. What’s going to solve it is recreational fishermen using their economic clout to push harder and play a more bare-knuckled game than the commercials. Jerry Schill invokes Jesus while proclaiming the right of commercials to control the resource. Recreation guys need to invoke mammon. The boat manufacturers don’t want to help them? Boycott Grady White and the rest. The inshore guides don’t want to fight for their clients? Boycott them. The tackle shops don’t want to fight for them? Boycott them. Crabs, shrimp and oysters account for the majority of the commercial catch value in the state. Most of the individual fin fish value is less than $500,000. That’s three Grady Whites. The rec guys simply aren’t willing to fight fire with fire, and are intimidated by the commercials.
Stop going down there giving your money to them.and they will get the message
I have lived on the coast here in NC since 1983. I have watched our stock being depleted year after year. Political corruption runs rampant here. Gill nets and running shrimp trawls in nursery waters should be banned, and EVERYONE knows this but the dirty political machine will never let this happen. What's happening here is disgusting! Thanks for all you do Ski, Semper Fi!!!
Pound and gill nets criss cross the Pamlico sound so bad you can hardly drive a boat!There is no limit are enforcement on flounder Gigging! It has been going on for 50 years! It has finally caught up with Basnight!
How do you say there's no enforcement on flounder gigging? I've been doing it for 40 years and never had a ticket but I've been checked at night, on the water and pulled over by Marine Fisheries and never got so much as a warning because I'm an ethical and moral fisherman that abides by the rules and thanks to NCDMF I can"t fish for the species that I've been going after since I was a 3 month old baby in the back of a flounder gigging boat. I have a commercial license and have supplemented my primary income with it in years past and now thanks to NCDMF I have 3 boats sitting unused in my driveway and only a 2 week season at best. I only take enough to feed my family and last year at best I made my fuel money back after taking approximately 4 trips during the two week season (all trip tickets reported to NCDMF) that I was able to even go. Like I said earlier when somebody ran down flounder gigging, it's the most primitive, most selective, least by-catch form of fishing we have in this state and to group me in with a trawler/gill netter just because the type of gear I use is asinine. I can count my by catch over the years on my hands, can you?
Here’s my question: Who is responsible for issuing regulations to commercial fishing? Why are commercial fisherman allowed to fish inshore up to 3 miles off the coast?I answered my own question. Nc marine fisheries are in control of salt water species. Marine fisheries are a sub unit of environmental quality. The governor appoints the secretary to the environmental quality division and the secretary appoints the director for marine fisheries. The governor appoints the the commission members (3 from commercial (3) from recreational (1) scientist(2) at large appointist (whatever that is) I suppose these members vote on changes to the system.
Cooper is WOKE ....
It is very disturbing to hear all of the issues that are driving the destruction of fishing stocks.
I was just fishing the pamlico this weeekend and the wildlife patrol stopped me... smh no more flounder fishing for a while.
Commercial fishing destorys the fisheries
I just started watching this but I swear this also applies to freshwater in Western NC as well. I moved here from Texas in 2020 and I swear these fisheries in the highland reservoirs are not managed properly.
I was blown away listening to Steve explain how all these intertwining agencies and parties have put y'all in this position. We hope bringing more attention to it helps put a spotlight on the problem so people can start working on solutions!
I agree. Just my opinion so far, but something is definitely not right. I even told my friend I wonder if someone is just pocketing all the money and not stocking the fisheries properly or managing them at all.
The big Manhadden ships in the winter are taking it's toll also!
John don't get me wrong but we haven't had menhaden boats in our waters since I was a little kid almost 40 years ago.
I live in NC everything is about money if love is everything then God will provide but human get to greeting, when human get greeting God take all. Our time in this world is about to stop. Have faith in Jesus.
This is just a great example of how capitalism works if you don't regulate it.
We native NClinans have known this for decades…most of us have been up in arms and writing to our law makers with no reply…I’m 56 and can remember hundred plus flounder days….sadly most were put in the box…
I think it's league to fish in a mud hole in a dirt road in the green swamp
It's absolutely disgusting that there's no accountability for this issue.
For sure!
Recently visited Fayetteville and Wilmington. Didn't even bother given the regulations and limits and rigmarole for an out-of-stater to get licensed. I did order a fish sandwich in Wilmington one day...
It's so telling when someone who enjoys fishing doesn't even bother when visiting. It makes you wonder how much revenue they're losing from the recreational sector.
I live in Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay and I have been catching a lot of small flounder. In July I probably caught over 50, maybe 60. Only 2 were big enough to keep. The minimum size is 17 and 1/2", so a legal fish is a nice one. They raised the limit from 16 on the first of July. There are tons of babies around, it's easy to catch 10 or 12 in a morning. But keepers are pretty rare. At least we can keep them if they're big enough. My friends here usually go to the Outer Banks every summer to fish for flounder. They're not going this year in protest of the flounder regulations.
Hopefully that will result in larger numbers of keepers in the next year or two.
@@Saltstrong I hope so. It sucks catching 50-60 babies for a couple keepers
You might want to find some new fishing spots, this has been a banging summer for flounder in the mouth of the bay and offshore wrecks
@@vant2236 oh that's the problem. I haven't been to the wrecks. Sounds sketchy on my kayak. But I will take your advice and look for more spots. If the weather is decent I'll try VA Beach this weekend.
This sounds just like a CCA talking points. There's more red drum than mullets and we still have a one fish limit. All because of groups like CCA! I talked to marine fisheries and their is no such thing as a 30$ fine and he said that this was B.S .
Guess who they vote for down east and why?
Hb1169 bill in Missouri was a bill of consent if mrna or the jab was in our meat,it was denied, they don't want us to know ,I provide for my family what ever it takes,tight lines bro,
If anyone eats shrimp and complains about a trawler, you're a hypocrite.
Citizen United
Hopefully, we can come together and make sure our voices are heard among the regulators and at the ballot boxes!
@@Saltstrong thank you for the informative video. It will take numbers to enact change. With Citizens United and economic incentives of those with disposable income; it will take a ground swell of engagement to protect what belongs to us all.
@@Saltstrong Sadly, seems one must decide to “play the game” seek infusions of cash for media ads and start the race to spend the most, which could be fraught with negative repercussions. Or continue to demand change outside that system. I imagine it must be tragic to be at NC wildlife fishery have a mandate to protect the fishery but also have the education and knowledge to understand the resource is being destroyed and have no power to change it.
i live in swansboro north carolina and live on the water and fish atleast a couple times a week im catching flounder like pinfish on bottom rigs they are a straight trash fish if we cant keep em. i go trout fishing and catch more flounder than any other fish
Sounds like there are a lot of people having a similar experience as you. They need better data (and better decision-making).
Nobody talks about pollution all the development its always the commercial fisherman i have been commercial fishing since I was 16 and im 50 there's no shortage of flounder it's just a bunch of pencil pushers causing the problems
NC inshore fishing sucks
The real issue is American food supply. I was watching fishmonger on outdoor channel. The shrimper said they are putting shrimp on the doc for $1 a lb. $4 gal for gas and can’t compete with imported seafood. Then they interviewed a spear fisherman and he said the restrictions are on the must abundant fish he sees. It doesn’t make sense. The shrimper said there used to be 100 boats in their port and now they have 6 boats and only 4 capt. When the fisherman can’t make a living they sell the boats and no more us caught fish. Have to see the bigger picture. Noah wwas a conspiracy theorist…..til it started raining. Fishing is dying everywhere as an industry.
Exactly. Government regulations. The cost of diesel fuel. The cost of insurance. All of these things keep going higher and higher. I’m in Charleston. I remember when I was a kid in the 70s McClellanville, Murrells Inlet, Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Edisto Beach, Beaufort, Fripp Island, Rockville, hundreds of shrimp boats. Now there’s maybe a dozen. Probably less than that. And they could survive all of the things I listed above if they were competing against each other on a level playing field. But what they can’t compete against are these ridiculously cheap shrimp that come in from Asia.
I’m a capitalist pig. I don’t like tariffs and regulations, etc. But I also recognize if you’re playing a game and you’re the only one following the rules you’re going to get your ass kicked!
I know so many people that don’t want to vote for Trump because they say well he’s not really a capitalist because he wants tariffs and tariffs aren’t capitalism.
My response is, OK. So let’s don’t have any tariffs. Let’s don’t have any protectionist policies. Now, to be clear, absolutely no price fixing. Nothing that would regulate or have the government involved in setting the price. But protective policies, tariffs, requiring companies that want to import shrimp in this particular example to America That they have to follow the same environmental policies or whatever etc. etc. I would absolutely vote for that. Because your leveling to playing field where other people are cheating.
Now I need to be careful because I don’t want to sound communist or socialist or any type of equality and our equity nonsense. We’re not talking about that. They will always be people that are better and I’m all for competition. But I’m not for people cheating. And these other countries that have super cheap labor and don’t have anywhere near the regulations we have and no quality control and they don’t have to meet the same environmental standards, and we could have a conversation about whether that’s too excessive here, but we have them and that’s that, so you have an extremely fragile situation where only one side is playing by the rules plus they have a lot of disadvantages because of their own government because let’s be honest. Our government is not a friend to small business whether it’s the local level or the national level, so yeah, we need to level that playing field.
So I’m absolutely with Trump on this. Until other countries stop charging tariffs on our goods and doing other things to put our businesses and people at a disadvantage then we’re gonna have to do the same thing to them to make it fair for our people. Because our people need to come first. America first!
People say that makes the prices higher. OK. Fine. But it’s also better for the economy. It’s also better for the states economy. It creates good jobs and a stable family environment for everyone. Everyone benefits. Also, if they are shrimp cost the same as our shrimp People start buying our shrimp again because the quality is 10 times better. Those cheap shrimp you buy in Costco taste like crap. There have been bumper stickers along coastal South Carolina for decades. Friends don’t let friends buy imported shrimp.
Victor David Hansen was on Mike Rowe’s podcast the other day and he talked about how back in the 1980s the raisin industry in California got decimated because of incredibly cheap but inferior quality raisins were brought in from other countries. The California raisins were better, but they couldn’t compete on price because of these very same reasons. But had, the government put tariffs on the imported raisins so that the price would be the same as the California raisins all those family Farms would still be in business today and the local and national economy would be better and people would be getting a better product.
So yes. I believe in free market enterprise. I’m a capitalist pig. But when you’re the only one playing by the rules, you’re gonna get your ass kicked. And sometimes the people that care about your team need to step in and do something to level the playing field. it is still a competition. And the team with the better product will win. But at least now you’re not being forced to play with one hand Todd behind your back by the people that are supposed to be supporting you.
@@nedhill1242 why is china using oil and increasing coal 95% every year and not part of any eco accords and largest polluters on the planet and us is ending oil. All the food processing plant fires. Only 4 major meat peocessors nation wide. Planned collapse 5th column
these people need to go the only state on the east coast that allows inshore trawling
Can anyone set a gill net or only commercial
There is no truth in this video. The notion that there are no flounder is a lie. All I catch is flouder! Nice job, not blaming commercials, and then blaming commercial 🙄 I caught 41 flouder in one day this past weekend, and everyone I know is catching them like this.
Are you in NC ? If so- what part ? I ask because that's not what I experience on the Pamlico. Any additional details would be appreciated.
its not the commercial fishingas a whole.. .. its commercial shrimp trawlers specifically .. that is the primary culprit killing our fishery.
Pamlico sound is full of flounder. Albemarle sound, full of flounder. Core sound, full of flounder. If you fish bottom you’re catching flounder. I’ve caught more flounder in the ocean seabass fishing the past two years then I ever have. Believe half of what you hear and all of what you see. They also tell you there aren’t any red snapper either but when you’re grouper fishing that’s ALL you catch!
It’s actually the those coming through with nets the size of football fields for miles.
No it's commercial fishing. Not every individual, but it's absolutely the industry as a whole.
The correct word is extirpate. Extinction means wiped out completely. The fluke species you're talking about still exist. Their numbers are low in NC but they do exist.
Thanks for the clarifications!
Flounder are like cockroaches in the wrightsville beach area
1:36
It’s a joke if I go trout fishing I can’t keep the keeper flounder off my hook. More flounder in the inlet than in past 10 years in nc
Everyone points fingers. Most of you know nothing about fishing for a living. But you know what's best .
What’s best is banning inshore netting
Flounder giggers are destroying the flounder fishery
You are a joke
We have the lowest bycatch of any fishery in this state. You might want to correct that Buster.
I have been a flounder gigger for over 40 years and can count my by catch on one hand, Can you do that @busterrowland574? It's the most selective and lowest form of by catch fishing that there is let alone it's the most primitive form of fishing in this state.