Not True: "Texas Wade Paddle & Pole is trying to shut down all shallow flats in Texas."
This is not true. We are only advocating the management of a few sensitive flats, marshes and estuaries that are currently suffering from excessive motorized traffic and habitat destruction. We understand that boaters may occasionally need to run their boat against a lee shoreline to escape severe weather, and we also understand that the Laguna Madre is basically one large flat that where courtesy and common sense are the most logical forms of management.

Not True: "Low Impact Fishing Areas (LIFA’s) would be for kayaks only."
A LIFA would be open to wading, paddling, poling and drift fishing. Electric trolling motors would also be allowed. Basically, anyone could fish a LIFA as long as they are not running a fuel-burning motor through the area. An area that may be a good candidate for LIFA designation might benefit from the addition of motorized ingress and egress running lanes to facilitate reasonable and timely access. The suitability of running lanes in a LIFA should be based upon the size, geography, and specific logistics of the given area.

Misconception: "I can run my boat shallow without cutting prop scars."
For the sake of argument, let's consider a flat that is one foot deep, and your plan is to run that flat and then shut down and fish when you locate a school. Yes, the design of your boat might allow you to cross that flat without causing significant damage. But, when you try to get back on plane after stopping to fish, there is no way you can avoid cutting prop scars. Aerial photographs of our shallow flats show plenty of crossing scars, but more prevalent are the donut scars left by people trying to jump their boats out of places they should have never been.

Misconception: "Airboats and jetdrives don't disturb fish or destroy habitat."
All fuel-burning motors that run across shallow flats are disturbing to fish. Trout, redfish, and other predatory species have incredibly sensitive lateral lines that they use to detect and seek the vibrations of small baitfish and prey items within their environment. If they can sense an escaping shrimp in eight-inches of water, then they can certainly feel the vibration of a massive engine under full power. Anyone that has spent time wading, paddling, or poling our shallow flats will attest that fish are indeed spooked by motorized craft. Of course fish also react to waders, paddlers, polers, and trolling motors, but to a much lesser degree. Our goal is not to eliminate all disturbance, but to lower the scale of disturbance and prevent irresponsible motorized users from inhibiting the success and enjoyment of everyone else's fishing experience. With respect to habitat destruction: jetdrive engines get their power from a blast of air/water that moves the boat forward. If jetdrives are run too shallow this blast-effect will uproot seagrass and displace bottom substrate.

Not True: "This is an elitist group that is selfishly trying to secure private fishing areas for themselves."
Quite the opposite. The only users we are seeking to restrict are the irresponsible motorized users who feel that the design of their craft gives them the right to run across shallow flats to ths detriment of others in that area. Our flats and bays are crowded, and that’s not likely to change. TWPP is promoting low-impact methods which allow everyone to equitably and responsibly share a finite public resource. If we succeed in establishing a system of Low Impact Fishing Areas, then everyone will be able to fish those areas, as long as they adhere to a basic code of ethics and responsibility.

Not True: "This is the first step to completely closing areas to fishing."
The members of TWPP are fishermen. The majority of us own boats, as well. We did not form this initiative to provide an open door for animal rights groups and anti-fishing interests. The purpose of TWPP is to make sure that all areas of the Texas coast remain open to fishing. As anglers, if we don’t do a better job of managing our shallow flats, then they could eventually be managed by interests/organizations that ARE opposed to fishing.

Are you fishing for the resource, or fishing against it?