Standing Watch

Photo taken by Steve Wood.

 By Captain Jim Kalvin:

Lots of stuff going on around the State that boaters and fishermen need to pay attention to. For starters, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is in the middle of taking public comment regarding Goliath Grouper. Meetings coming up are posted below:

  • Oct. 9: Jacksonville, Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd.
  • Oct. 10: Titusville, American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, 6350 Horizon Drive.
  • Oct. 11: Stuart, Flagler Place, 201 SW Flagler Ave.
  • Oct. 12: Davie, Old Davie School Historical Museum, 6650 Griffin Road.
  • Oct. 16: Pinellas Park, Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure, 9501 U.S. Highway 19 N.
  • Oct. 17: Port Charlotte, The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St.
  • Oct. 18: Naples, Collier County Public Library – South Regional, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway.

Share your input and learn more about the current status of goliath grouper by attending one of these workshops (scheduled 5 to 8 p.m. local time):

If you cannot attend an in-person meeting, submit comments online by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments. Staff is working on a virtual workshop that should be available online in the near future. Additional details and updates to these meetings will be posted at MyFWC.com/Fishing (click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Rulemaking” and “Workshops.”)

Please make plans to attend and offer your local expertise. As local anglers know, Goliath grouper numbers have been increasing for decades, and they now dominate inshore and off-shore habitat. A limited recreational take with an assigned slot limit may be just what is needed.

On the subject of “Derelict Vessels”, the recent legislation gives FFWCC officers more authority to deal with abandoned boats that are a threat to the environment or a hazard to navigation. That’s the good news. In one recent case, however, a “Good Samaritan” who assisted with corralling a “DV” which had broken anchor in a storm, and had washed up on the side of a waterfront restaurant, has been told that now ONLY the FFWCC has any authority in dealing with these boats.

This “Good Samaritan” had time, monies, and labor over a period of two months maintaining this vessel with no input or support from Law Enforcement. No owner was identifiable (though two previous owners were on record), and LE did not return phone calls. The vessel documentation had been expired for over 3 years, so the “Good Samaritan” filed a lien against the vessel.

Once the FWC was able to locate an “owner” however, the vessel was released to them, and the “Good Samaritan” was told that his lien was not legal. There was no effort on behalf of LE to forward charges from the “Good Samaritan” to the “owner” who had neglected this vessel for more than 6 months. So… now what?

The GS was told, “..next time, call us when a vessel breaks loose – that’s our job…”

Actually, he had. Several times – to numerous offices – without a single call back. And the assistance in question was rendered only after approval from the municipal Harbormaster, who had his hands full himself with the current storm event. The GS is a licensed 100 Ton Master, and a licensed Marine Contractor. Suffice it to say that channels and procedures had been followed, and only necessary work was executed in the interests of public safety and mitigating property damage.

However, he is out of pocket thousands of dollars, and has been told to “stand down”.

We will track this story as it develops. Needless to say, that the Good Samaritan has no intention of canceling his lien against the vessel. Hopefully, better communication and clarification of new legislation may be the result of this incident.

Follow Standing Watch on FB, and join us! Contact Capt. Jim at 239-280-6054, or at james.kalvin61@gmail.com. We can arrange public speakers for your group on a variety of boating topics.