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Muskegon Area Net-Alert 43° 06, (south of harbor) to 43° 20 (south of White Lake) Posting date -04-18-2010
Commercial fishers
have placed a number of trap nets in the Muskegon Net-Alert sector.
Note: Only nets located from Muskegon harbor 43° 06, (south of harbor) to latitude 43°20, (south of White Lake) are included in this net Alert. Additional information for northern nets may be found at: Ludington Area Charter boat Association and Manistee Commercial Nets Note that the net
marking protocol is presently mandated to follow State Rules for State
Licensed fishers and Tribal Rules for Tribal Licensed fishers which
presents differences in the net flag colors and location of the double
flags. Several nets have been placed in the Muskegon sector. These nets are generally well marked. The depths of the nets vary. When fishing normally, the nets' stand approximately 30' up from the bottom. It is possible to fish over the nets depending on the depth of your fishing gear. However staff and buoy lines extend to the surface and may be inclined in the direction of the wind or current. These lines should be carefully avoided. Occasionally, due to accidents, strong winds or currents, the net buoys and flags may not be visible. New net locations
will be added to the Net Alert list as soon as the locations are known
to the committee and are confirmed. Please check the net alert often
for new net locations and for new information about older nets.
All
net related incidents should be reported to the MDNR commercial
fisheries division by calling the RAP line
(800-292-7800). Please record the GPS location,
including latitude and longitude degrees and minutes; the depth, the
time, weather, sea conditions, and the presence and type of any flags,
buoys, floats or other net markings. Note: GPS coordinates vary slightly from instrument to instrument. All net locations should be regarded as approximate, and subject to change. For all nets: Anchors
are normally marked with a staff buoy or jug cluster, and may be located up to several
hundred feet inside or outside of the pot staff. Be very careful to
watch for anchor and pot staffs. In some cases the wing anchors are
also marked with staffs.
You may download a list of net locations suitable for printing and carrying on your vessel from this link: Net locations Reminder: Additional nets may be placed or currently listed nets may be moved without warning, and several days or weeks may elapse before the net alert can be updated. Information about Trap Nets and their markings: Notes: The nets stand approximately 30’ high from the bottom upward. Most nets are now marked with at least five staffs. Normally the staff closest to shore has one flag--, orange. The center lifting buoy has two orange flags. The head anchor and wings are also marked with staff buoys with orange flags. Side anchor are marked with float clusters, or possibly shorter staff buoys. A combination of 11 staff buoys and floats maybe expected around active nets.The float lines may be especially difficult to see in periods of poor visibility or rough water, and the possibility exists that excess float line may be floating loosely near the floats. Depending on the depth of water and other factors, the total length of the net and the lines to its anchors may be as much as 1,500 feet in the direction generally perpendicular to the shore. They may extent up to several hundred feet in the direction parallel to the shore. Wind, waves, fog or darkness may make it difficult to observe the markings. Boaters and fishermen are urged to exercise extreme caution near the nets. Boaters traversing the vicinity would be well advised to travel either well inside or well outside the netted area. The nets are constructed of very heavy netting and may reach from the bottom to near the surface in some cases. If your gear becomes entangled in the net, you are urged to cut it off and contact the fishers to recover it. Should your boat become entangled in the net, please call or radio the Coast Guard immediately.For additional information regarding trap nets pick up a copy of the brochure "Don't Get Trapped" at the Office, or visit the web site: Michigan Sea Grant/net or call: 616/458-6805. Please continue to visit the Fishdock.net website often for updates and additional information Click on the following link for a list of the Muskegon North Sector net coordinates |