Long Range Fish Report
From Sportfishing
From Sportfishing
Fish Report for 2-11-2008
New gag grouper restrictions heading for Gulf fishermen
2-11-2008
January 2008
As one of Florida's recreational fishermen, you should know about new restrictions that the National Marine Fisheries Service is likely to pass into law before the end of this month. The final decisions on the following proposed rule changes will be decided this month at the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council in St Petersburg on January 18-21.
Here are options under consideration as of today:
Decrease the daily bag limit per person, per day. The preferred option right now is 1 gag per day!
Extending the closed season on gags from 30 days. Possibly as long as 6 months.
Amberjack size limits are going up but will still be one per person.
"Islands in the Stream" -The elimination of fishing in the Florida Middlegrounds. The people who brought you the Dry Tortugas marine sanctuary have set their sights firmly upon the 348 square mile area known as the Florida Middlegrounds, and several other famous offshore fishing areas. The environmental anti-fishing lobby has given the idea their full support and the proposal is gaining momentum. Billy Causey, the concepts' principal architect, is scheduled to give a presentation to support his plan at the GMFMC in St Petersburg. No final decisions on this at this time but this is a chance to demonstrate public opinion to the Gulf Council.
If you are a grouper fisherman, even just once a year, this will affect you. The meeting is THIS WEEK and its rotating location format has placed it in our own backyards this time. This is the grande finale on grouper in the Gulf my friends. A one gag bag limit will kill the charter industry, deep recreational fishing, offshore boat sales, head boats, and a whole lot of associated industries. With enough turnout and outcry there is a chance we may convince them to give us a bag limit of 2 or, on the outside chance, 3. There will be no more hearings about grouper. The next thing you will hear is that you can only keep one gag and the decision has already been made.
For detailed info on the whole issue, what you can do, and where you can write, and directions to the meeting, please read this link: www.thefra.org/FISSUES.htm.
Please forward this message to any friends that enjoy grouper fishing.
Ed Walker
As one of Florida's recreational fishermen, you should know about new restrictions that the National Marine Fisheries Service is likely to pass into law before the end of this month. The final decisions on the following proposed rule changes will be decided this month at the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council in St Petersburg on January 18-21.
Here are options under consideration as of today:
Decrease the daily bag limit per person, per day. The preferred option right now is 1 gag per day!
Extending the closed season on gags from 30 days. Possibly as long as 6 months.
Amberjack size limits are going up but will still be one per person.
"Islands in the Stream" -The elimination of fishing in the Florida Middlegrounds. The people who brought you the Dry Tortugas marine sanctuary have set their sights firmly upon the 348 square mile area known as the Florida Middlegrounds, and several other famous offshore fishing areas. The environmental anti-fishing lobby has given the idea their full support and the proposal is gaining momentum. Billy Causey, the concepts' principal architect, is scheduled to give a presentation to support his plan at the GMFMC in St Petersburg. No final decisions on this at this time but this is a chance to demonstrate public opinion to the Gulf Council.
If you are a grouper fisherman, even just once a year, this will affect you. The meeting is THIS WEEK and its rotating location format has placed it in our own backyards this time. This is the grande finale on grouper in the Gulf my friends. A one gag bag limit will kill the charter industry, deep recreational fishing, offshore boat sales, head boats, and a whole lot of associated industries. With enough turnout and outcry there is a chance we may convince them to give us a bag limit of 2 or, on the outside chance, 3. There will be no more hearings about grouper. The next thing you will hear is that you can only keep one gag and the decision has already been made.
For detailed info on the whole issue, what you can do, and where you can write, and directions to the meeting, please read this link: www.thefra.org/FISSUES.htm.
Please forward this message to any friends that enjoy grouper fishing.
Ed Walker
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2-11-2008The grouper forum where Dr. Roy Crabtree will be presenting information on grouper status, science, and management proposals will be held on February 26th at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. The Forum is a four hour show that everyone needs to attend, so you can hear their plan and also to let them know how you feel about it. Sign up now and plan to attend. This is a good opportunity to get massive media exposure...... Read More
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