Artificial reefs....

[JimmyC.]

Alright guy's, heres one to start our own wildfires. What does everybody think of the CCA and TPWD , letting us build our own artificial reefs in the parts of the bay'sthat do not have very much cover . The reason , too many boats , too much open water , and too much pressure for what structure we have. The CCA (in my opinion) has the political power now, to persuade the powers that be , to aquire some good clean material (mountains of oyster shells at smith point, clean concrete , etc.) Does anybody else feel this?
Let the debate begin.

[WestEndAngler]

Alright guy's, heres one to start our own wildfires. What does everybody think of the CCA and TPWD , letting us build our own artificial reefs in the parts of the bay'sthat do not have very much cover . The reason , too many boats , too much open water , and too much pressure for what structure we have. The CCA (in my opinion) has the political power now, to persuade the powers that be , to aquire some good clean material (mountains of oyster shells at smith point, clean concrete , etc.) Does anybody else feel this?
Let the debate begin.

This would be something to post to the Galveston Bay Foundation. We have done the reef ball projects, sea grass planting & beach cleanups.

[JimmyC.]

Well sir, it's not that i'm not giving everyone their due credit for all the good , hard work and time doing it, but, legislation has allowed all the crabtraps, there are very few recepicles for the towboaters and seamen to put their trash and all that, but i know galveston bay tends to be a little bit of a desert, as far as structure is concerned,we could use some more reefs in it, and it is just an idea that maybe we could do for ourselves.

[Robalo]

Louisiana FWD plants "seed" oyster reefs all over the place-you'd think some oyster fishers would do that also (I know they do some in East bay) to encourage reef growth/oyster beds. Maybe take some shells and plant em in certain areas on the sly yourself and make your own little reef? Only need a few buckets and shovel. I generally fish reefs and west bay has quite a few, so material is there for the picking and could start unknown reefs-I like it-I think it's perfectly legal????

[JimmyC.]

I guess imana have to. The enviro's won't even let you use oyster shells for road base, for those of us that still have rough roads. That's why i perfer that the CCA and the Govment , and their Bosses ( us ) would stir this up.

[JT]

I think you should cut a deal w/ Robalo on all the empty beer cans at his house. You could build one helll of a reef if you can figure out how to tie them all together. The fish would have structure and Robalo would have extra change to go buy more beer! just a thought and my 2 cents.

[Swells]

For oyster reefing, one does need a TPWD permit although I don't know what is involved with that. To mess with eel grass and similar stuff you have to be real careful and talk with the GLO - you might have to grow sea grass from babies in grow-out ponds or something. To make a real reef, the Army Corps of Engineers might want to talk to you.

But can it be done? Hail yes! It takes years and lots of Robalo's beer. If somebody want to do construction like dredging a new channel, often you can get them to pay for "mitigation" and you can get reefs for free. Robalo will like that because it's easier on the beer tab.

Sponsor? I'd get a county or local government behind ya, even a state agency too. They have grants for this kind of thing. The CCA and all them groups like to take claim for lots of jobs but actually do little of the actual work other than maybe cutting a small check. No way I'm down on groups like the CCA but in my experience, it takes a lot of people like you and me to git-r-done.

[Robalo]

Rudy Grigar always tossed his beer cans overboard-said they build reefs!! (I aint not condoning this)

[JimmyC.]

Now guy's , we cant use beer cans , they cut thru waders and that is'nt nice ,besides the move around when the tide changes.
No , really, i thought this might be something to consider, and thanks for the responce.