A SYMBOLIC BLOCKADE IN DESTIN: Fishermen rally against amberjack lockdown (PHOTOS )

Florida Freedom Newspapers

The Destin fishing fleet formed a "symbolic blockade" in the Destin east pass Saturday in protest of unfair fishing regulations handed down from national Marine Fisheries Service. A rally followed the flotilla on land at the Destin Harbor.

For more photos, click here.

This report comes from Pam Anderson, operations manager at Capt. Anderson Marina:

"I want to take a minute and thank all who took part in or had a part in making the Fishermen's Rallies here on the Gulf Coast a success today. In our area, we would have rather had more private recreational anglers come out with us, but we still had a great turnout.

We had almost 70 percent of the for-hire boats come out in the Panama City area. Between Orange Beach, Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Mexico Beach and Pt. St. Joe, there were more than 250 boats out and more than 250 people out on the bridges waiving their banners. (There are only 1,100+ permitted boats across the entire Gulf coast!) We truly appreciate the support and know it will help us make a difference in the regulations that we need to have changed.

We will continue to forge ahead and work toward getting the proper legislation passed so everyone can either get back to work in the industry, or get out and enjoy the sport of fishing on their own boats.

Keep your legislators' mailboxes busy..."