Cape Man's Dory

[cape man]

We are going to let the deck cure for several more days but plan to try for a bay voyage later this week.

[Fuzz]

About fish and game. Here in Alaska we have done pretty darn good managing as long as the biologist are able to manage for maximum sustained yield. Places like Cook Inlet have been managed for sport use the past 30 years and that has lead to over escapement and river bank erosion. While much of the state has been having record runs in the past ten years Cook Inlet is running about 50%. The other major problem some areas are having is record warm water. At times a few rivers have been so warm the fish die when they get into fresh water.
The boat is looking better than new. I bet it is going to be tough waiting on the paint to fully cure. Be happy if you were here it might never cure. It was 52f for the high

[cape man]

I just read the paper that Loren McClenachan wrote on her dissertation based on photos of hanging fish at the dock in Key West. While her statements may be true, the way she gets there ignores some very important other facts that have shifted what someone will see at the charter fishing docks anywhere in Florida, which doesn't prove that undisturbed reefs have more big fish, her basic premise and conclusion (again, I'm not saying that isn't true, just that her paper has a flaw).

The fact that you don't see big grouper hanging is because two of the main species here, Goliath and Nassau, are both prohibited take. The sharks getting smaller is also due to many of the large species now being fully protected, but also a general consensus in sport fishing to not kill big sharks anymore, unless it is indeed a record (even then the blow back can be tremendous if you post a pic of a big shark). Add to that a huge reduction in the personal bag limits for many species, and you see more and more people willing to bring in smaller fish.

If Goliath Grouper and Greater Hammerheads were legal to fish today, Richard and I could post a picture that would challenge those early photos!

GB thanks for sharing the link. As I said, I'm in aquaculture, so would have missed that paper until you sent it. I am sending it on to several of my colleagues to see if they have an opinion on her statements and conclusions as well.

While I'm rambling, and some of you are expressing interest in fish, here's one of my favorite examples of PCism gone bad brought to mind by part of the above discussion...

The American Fisheries Society is the authority which establishes common names for fish in North America. They are the group that changed the name for Epinephelus itajara from Jewfish to Goliath Grouper in 2001. A few years before they had renamed the Squawfish to Northern Pike Minnow, as the term Squaw is offensive to many native Americans (and rightfully so). No one had really complained about the Jewfish name, but it got the attention of the AFS committee.

What is truly ironic though, is that even though Goliath was indeed a huge man (so the name does fit the biggest grouper), few realized until afterwards they had just named it after a Palestinian warrior champion who was killed by a little Jewish boy.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct- ... story.html

[Jeff]

Beautiful work Cape Man!!! Clara looks fantastic!!! Jeff

[glossieblack]

Looking forward to bay voyage pics.

[icelikkilinc]

Clara looking beatiful.
Also great to read a civilized and informed conversation, thank you guys

[cape man]

Great day.

Just went for a ride. Did beat the water for about 45 minutes trying to get a tarpon to hit the fly, but other than that it was cruising up to the top of the palm river and then lunch on the Hillsborough River. The prop "repair" has given me 200 more rpms so we were turning 6000 and running 29.5 mph. Had a back up at the ramp coming out with guys wanting to know about the build, to the point where some dick head gave me grief for slowing his launch.

[cape man]

Double post

[OrangeQuest]

Boat looked good under the tent but looks even better on the water!!

[Coach]

Looks like you had a great day!