Oculina Bank Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Terry Howard
Date
2010-07-15
Publication Date
Fall 10-11-2010
Abstract
Oral history interview with recreational fisherman John Conlon. Conlon has been fishing the waters off of Fort Pierce since 1974, both for his own pleasure and part-time as a charter boat captain. He is very familiar with the Oculina Bank, having fished there for twenty years. He had to stop going there in 1994 when the area was closed to grouper and snapper fishing. Despite the closure, the grouper fishery has continued to decline, which Conlon attributes to commercial longlining. In Conlon's opinion, closing the Oculina Bank has proved that closed areas are not an effective fishery management area: the kingfishery has recuperated not by closing an area but by managing the breeding stock. He believes that size limits and closed seasons are the best options. One of his primary concerns is freshwater runoff in the Indian River Lagoon, which is a large spawning area. In this interview, Conlon also describes some of his fishing techniques and practices.
Keywords
Charter boat captains, Interviews, Florida, Fort Pierce, Charter boat fishing, Fisheries, Fishers, Fishery closures, Fishery management, Fishing
Subject: topical
Charter boat fishing; Florida; Fort Pierce; Charter boat captains; Interviews; Fisheries; Fishery closures; Fishers; Fishing
Subject: geographic
Florida, Fort Pierce
Language
English
Type
Sound
Genre
Oral history, Online audio
Format
1 sound file (41 min.) : digital, MP3 file + ;
Holding Location
University of South Florida
Collection
Oculina Bank Oral History Project
Identifier
O6-00028
Recommended Citation
Conlon, John M. (Interviewee), "John Conlon oral history interview" (2010). Oculina Bank Oral History Project. 24.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/oculina_ohp/24
Rights Statement
