'I call 'em educated idiots': Fishermen speak out as they gear up for floating protest (UPDATED with PHOTOS)

From beep-beeps to long blasts from tractor-trailer rigs, support sounded loud and long for area fishermen as they stood in protest of the recent fish closures Monday at the corner of U.S. 98 and Perry Avenue in Fort Walton Beach.

In mid-August, the National Marine Fisheries Service closed down the red snapper fishery, then a couple of weeks ago they took away the greater amberjack with a week left in the Fishing Rodeo - Destin's longest running fishing tournament.

“The amberjack is what tore me up,” said the 96-year-old Capt. Reddin “Salty” Brunson, who was sporting a protest sign attached to his walker.

“I'm out here criticizing the 'do-gooder,' ” who thinks they are helping the fishery with the closures, Brunson said. “I call 'em educated idiots. They ought to listen to someone who's been fishing for more than 80 years.”

About 100 strong at times, the protesters were standing along the roadway known as a hotspot for panhandlers.

They carried signs to make people aware that the fish closures are cutting into their livelihoods.

“I make my living on the water,” said fisherman Dan Maier. “I'm just out here to make people aware that people are out there trying to make a living.”

Maier was carrying a sign that read, “Honk if you support your local fishermen.”

Capt. Kenny Aziz who does charters on Choctawhatchee Bay said, “It's terrible what they're trying to do to this fishery.”

Aziz said he has fished out of Destin for about 30 years.

“This is a good turnout … and we're getting a lot of support from people passing by,” Aziz said.

Destin, which is known as the World's Luckiest Fishing Village, Aziz said, “won't be so lucky if we can't go out and catch fish no more.”

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FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE PROTEST, CLICK HERE.

Florida Freedom Newspaper reporter Tom McLaughin was also on the scene. Here is his report.

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The reasoning behind the Marine Fisheries' closure of the signature red snapper in August was that they are overfished. As for the greater amberjack, the allotted number for the year had been caught, regulators said.

“Flawed data,” is the problem said Rodeo weighmaster and fisherman Bruce Cheves. “They've admitted it's flawed. We need to get that straight.

“It's affecting what I've done for a living for more than half my life,” Cheves said.

“They're regulating things they don't know about,“ said Capt. Steve Land of the Sportsman II.

The dozens of fishermen, family and friends stood along the roadway with signs in tow for more than two hours.

This Saturday at 10 a.m., there will be a floating protest called “Rally for Recreational Anglers.”

This is for all recreational fishermen, private and charter boats. Fishermen again are asked to come with signs on the boats and fill the area from Destin bridge to the pass.

The flotilla will be followed by a rally at noon at the Destin Fishing Co-op located at Fishing Fleet Marina.
Later in the day at a City Council meeting, Mayor Craig Barker urged Destinites to turn out.  He said if you don't have a boat to gather on the Marler Bridge.

“It's ironic that Saturday morning we're celebrating our history and heritage and it's our history and heritage that's being threatened,” he said.