No Motor Zone
Last week while kayak fishing the Key Largo area in search of bonefish, I started to think about the nirvana that is the No Motor Zone. Florida has many of these designated areas but it was my first time fishing in one. Being able to paddle around and not have to worry about motor boats getting too close is a real pleasure. Why would this be such a hard sell for other parts of the country? I see projects all over to promote eco-friendly and non-polluting activities; things like bike lanes and paths are being built to encourage people to not drive their car. Wouldn’t places that only offered access to kayaks and canoes get more people on the water who might otherwise be power boating? Florida’s No Motor Zone areas offer some great fishing to paddlers but weren’t created to be a safe heaven for kayaks but to prevent damage to the shallow flats and sea grass from engine props. Whatever the reason it has happened, it’s something that we, as kayakers should work to expand. Currently in the Everglades, the largest area to be a designated as a No Motor Zone is being proposed. This an example of what, we as a kayak fisherman don’t want, miles of flats that are too far to access and you must be taxied in by motor boat or other means. As a person who also fishes frequently from a power boats, the last thing I want to see is any regulation that would effectively take such a large area away from any fisherman, these are places, that are for the most part, will never be seen by anybody else but anglers pursuing trophy fish and a ban would only take a great resource and make it non existent. The research on the how banning boats (in the shallow water) would help the sea grass is inconclusive at best. We should think as fisherman first and kayakers second on an issue like this. I think taking small zones near kayak launches and making them kayak or canoe only is a wonderful idea and we should do our part to be heard or at least plant the seed. If done right it is a win win for all involved.
Joe Cambria
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