Thread: Petition to restrict gillnetting near Gulf State Park pier

There is 44 miles of coast line in Alabama. As far as I know there's only 1 pier in Alabama on the Gulf coast. The only other pier is on Dauphin Island and it's on dry land. Last year my family traveled the 144 miles to fish about 6 times. We went home empty handed. I have every reason to believe that commercial gillnetting was responsible for the lack of Spanish. I would like to think that if a petition from Recreational fisherman to the conservation department to ban gillnetting within 1 mile of the pier would serve to enhance the fishing opportunities. I encourage everyone to chime in. Respectful.

Sign the Cleland clan up!

Start it, I'll sign it.

While one of those internet petitions might help, it will be hard to enlist enough signatures unless the regulars on the pier get behind it and the State allows a little solicitation of signatures on the pier. The tackle/bait stores could be a big help.

I've been thinking along these lines myself, but I think a letter writing campaign would be more effective. We would need to make up a form letter or declaration for people to mail to their representatives in Montgomery. The fish houses are pretty good at garnering $upport in the Mobile & surrounding areas and Reps for the rest of the state go along because they don't see any reason to do otherwise.

To overcome the fish houses influence letters to Reps and Senators across the state are what is needed to let these people know that local voters care about what is happening at the pier. That's just the way politic$ works. If a Rep in the Tennessee Valley (for example) does not hear from local voters he is going to swap favors and go along with the fish house Reps.

I do still think the Minton nearshore reefs should be included, especially the West reef which is only 2.5 miles south of the pier. The protected zone could stretch from a buffer around the pier to a buffer around the reef zone.

I'm going to be down over the weekend. I'll print something up.

Here is what 4 miles wide looks like.

Originally Posted by ChileRelleno

Start it, I'll sign it.

Same here.

Think I'll call my cousin Albert lipsconbe, and see if he can help. He's a former Baldwin county Senator and commissioner. Can't hurt.

I am in, just advise where to sign, and/or send a letter.

Originally Posted by Pop Jiggity

Same here.

Ditto! Me too.