Releases – July 19, 2012
Fishermen, seafood dealers, federal commercial and for-hire (charter and headboat operators), and all interested persons are invited to attend a series of meetings conducted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from August 6-16, 2012.
Public hearings, workshops, and informal input sessions will be held as part of the meeting series. Issues to be discussed include: modifications to commercial and for-hire permits and reporting requirements; protocol for closing federal waters in conjunction with state waters to help protect over-wintering shrimp; modifications to federal seafood dealer permits and reporting requirements; and management measures affecting king mackerel, spanish mackerel, and cobia;
Sale of bag limit king and Spanish mackerel; Tournament sale of king mackerel; Sale of cobia; Elimination of latent effort in the mackerel fisheries, and more…
The Council is seeking input on the occurrence of speckled hind and warsaw grouper and the use of marine protected areas to reduce bycatch. The meeting schedule is as follows: August 6 – Richmond Hill, GA; August 7 – Jacksonville, FL; August 8 – Cocoa Beach, FL; August 9 – Key Largo, FL; August 14 – North Charleston, SC; and August 16 – New Bern, NC.
Additional details are available from the Council’s website at www.safmc.net or by contacting the Council office at (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) SAFMC-10.
The Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee to the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources will meet at 10:00 a.m. July 24. The meeting will be held at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City.
For more information, contact Plan Coordinator Jimmy Johnson at (252) 948-3952 or Jimmy.Johnson@ncdenr.gov or Anne Deaton, with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, at (910) 796-7215 or Anne.Deaton@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Craven County are holding a public meeting to gather input on the proposed renovation of the Boating Access Area at Cow Pen Landing Road.
The public also can comment on the potential management agreements with the county for the Cow Pen Landing site and the Spring Garden Boating Access Area.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., July 24, on the second floor of the Craven County Administration Building, 406 Craven St., New Bern.
For more information, contact Eddie Games of Craven County at (252) 636-6606, or egames@cravencountync.gov or Tom Covington of the Wildlife Resources Commission at (919) 707-0154, or tom.covington@ncwildlife.org.
The Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 6:00 p.m., July 25 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
For more information, contact division Fishery Management Plan Coordinator Catherine Blum (252) 808-8014 or Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov. You may also contact the Marine Fisheries Commission office at (252)-808-8023.
The Finfish Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 11:00 a.m., July 25 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
If you have any questions, please contact David Taylor at (252) 808-8074 or David.L.Taylor@ncdenr.gov. You may also contact the Marine Fisheries Commission office at (252) 808-8022.
The Sea Turtle Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 6:00 p.m., July 26 at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City.
If you have any questions, please contact Chris Batsavage at (252) 808-8009 or Chris.Batsavage@ncdenr.gov. You may also contact the Marine Fisheries Commission office at (252) 808-8022.
The Seacoast Anglers Association meets the third Monday of every month at the VFW Post 10804 Rte. 57 & Rte. 9, Little River, SC. Social hour starts at 5:30 pm, and the meeting starts at 6:30 pm.
Come and enjoy meeting other local fishermen and women. Guest speakers inform the club about what is happening in the world of fishing and on how and where to fish in inshore and offshore waters.
The club’s activities include Hook A Kid on Fishing, monthly in-house tournaments, line recycling, and the promotion of boating safety programs. You can visit the club’s website at www.seacoastanglersassociation.com.
The global sportfishing industry recently converged on the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, for the world’s largest sportfishing trade show. Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry’s trade association, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, – in its 55th year as the industry’s trade show – is the catalyst that drives the recreational fishing industry year-round. Thousands of industry representatives from the global sportfishing industry are in Orlando to see the latest innovations in gear, accessories, and apparel.
The single most important feature for ICAST exhibitors and attendees alike is the New Product Showcase. The New Product Showcase embodies the sportfishing industry’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and rewards that ingenuity through the “Best of Show” new product awards competition.
This year, the New Product Showcase, the tradeshow’s flagship event, was as competitive as ever. Sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, nearly half of the exhibiting companies entered over 700 tackle products and accessories into the New Product Showcase.
Making up a special section of ICAST’s 300,000-square-foot show floor, the New Product Showcase provides special visibility for the industry’s latest innovations in gear, apparel, and accessories.
This year the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12, by Hobie Cat, was voted by buyers and media as the best product in both the Boat category and the overall “Best of Show.”
This year’s New Product Showcase winner’s also included first-time ICAST exhibitor SeaQualizer. Two returning ICAST exhibitors were also first-time winners. They are Luna Sea and Magnetic Marine. Eight 2011 showcase winners also won Best of Show honors in 2012: Hobie Cat, JL Marine Systems, Inc., Pure Fishing, Johnson Outdoors, Costa, G. Loomis, 3D Picture Store, and Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation.
2012 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners: Best of Show – Apparel – Columbia Sportswear, Airgill Chill Zero Long Sleeve Shirt; Best of Show – Boat – Hobie Cat, Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12; Best of Show – Boating Accessory – JL Marine Systems, Inc. – Power-Pole Drift Paddle; Best of Show – Combo – Pure Fishing, Inc., Penn Battle Combo; Best of Show – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors, Humminbird 360 Imaging; Best of Show – Eyewear – Costa, Costa 580 P Sunsrise Lenses, Best of Show – Fishing Accessory – American Premier Corporation, The Ultimate Line Winding System; Best of Show – FishSmart Tackle – The SeaQuilizer; Best of Show – Fly Fishing Accessory – Luna Sea, LLC – Master Guide Fly Rod “Cush It”; Best of Show – Fly Fishing Reel – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle – Wright & McGill Sabalos Saltwater Fly Reel; Best of Show – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis – NRX Fly Rod; Best of Show – Giftware – 3D Picture Store, Inc. – Jigsaw; Best of Show – Kids’ Tackle – Pure Fishing, Inc. – Shakespeare Hide-A-Hook Bobber Kit; Best of Show – Hard Lure – Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation – Live Target Frog Popper; Best of Show – Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt LP – Bento Baits; Best of Show – Saltwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc. – Penn Spinfisher V; Best of Show – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods – Legend Inshore; Best of Show – Tackle Management – Magnetic Marine Products, Inc. – Gear Grabbar Lure Hangar Kit; Best of Show Terminal Tackle – Pure Fishing, Inc. – Berkley Gulp! Jig Heads.
ICAST 2013 will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, July 10-12, 2013.
For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org.
