Northwest Florida fisherman are outraged over last month's National Marine Fisheries Services decision to close Amberjack seasons, with almost no warning.
Today fishermen and their supporters gathered in Ft. Walton Beach to show their displeasure.
They say the federal agency is lying about their fish quotas for Amberjack and Red Snapper.
The fishing industry puts Destin on the map as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village",
but some believe that's not the case lately.
Two weeks ago, the National Marine Fisheries announced fishermen had reached the yearly quota of Amberjack, and could no longer catch the fish.
The fisherman say they say aren't arguing about the quota system,
but they are accusing the fisheries service of forging numbers and records in order to close Amberjack and Red Snapper seasons early.
Bruce Cheves is the Weigh-Master for the Destin Fishing Rodeo and says that is what this fight is all about.
"It's a two word protest, flawed data, and they admit it.”
Many others agree with Cheves and say the system is corrupt.
Ft. Walton Beach Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Garvie is baffled by all of this.
“ I can't understand how a bureaucrat can make a decision to cut back on our industry in this area."
Fisherman say the closure will have a domino effect on other businesses.
Greg Marler is a local charter boat captain and says he’s seen the impact it’s had first hand.
"It's not only the fisherman, it's the restaurants, bars, motels, right on down the line. It's going to end up effecting the whole state of Florida…not to mention the other communities that are fishing along the Gulf Coast, Texas, Louisiana, everybody.”
Protesters say they chose this location because it's a well known homeless hangout. They say if closures continue, they too, will be out on the streets.
"People are losing their boats, their homes, their trucks, they're losing what we've worked so hard to do all our lives” claims Cheves.
Marler agrees.
"We said if they don't let us start catching some fish they're going to put us out of jobs and we're going to be standing on the corner with the homeless people holding signs."
Jim Westbrook owns two of the largest charter fishing boats in Destin. He has had to lay off all of his nineteen employees because he simply can’t make ends meet anymore.
"We're unable to pay the bills and make a living... This is unfair!"
But they're not going to back down from their way of life without a fight.
Westbrook even makes a biblical reference to the fishing trade.
"Christ said go out and fish and feed the masses."
And Cheves thinks he couldn’t be more right.
"Give us a chance to do what we do, this is what we do"
The National Marine Fisheries Service were not available for comment today.