Mammoth Cave National Park officials are reminding anglers that "limb lines" are not allowed in the park/NPS photo of the Green River at Turnhole Bend
Editor's note: The following is an unedited release from the National Park Service.
Fishing with limb lines in Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is not allowed. Unattended limb lines are hazardous to visitors and wildlife.
“With river use on the rise, we are becoming more vigilant in limb line enforcement,” said Superintendent Sarah Craighead. “The level of Green River fluctuates and when it falls, we often find limb line hooks hanging above the water. On monofilament line, the hooks are practically invisible. This is a safety hazard to anyone traveling on the river.”
Exposed monofilament line is also a hazard to wildlife.
“We have had two instances where staff found dead wildlife in the river, entangled in monofilament line,” added Superintendent Craighead. “One was a turtle, and the other a bald eagle. An eagle nest above Green River has produced several young over the last four years.”
The fishing regulations set forth in 36 CFR prohibit the use of unattended lines. Mammoth Cave National Park has a special regulation to allow trotlines, which are submerged below the surface of the river and must also be regularly attended.
“What we are finding is lines hanging above the river that are not labeled or dated,” said Chief Ranger Lora Peppers. “Rangers have cut abandoned limb lines, as many as 100 in a day, as they patrol Green and Nolin River.”
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