Have you heard????

DuctTapeKing · Post by **DuctTapeKing** » June 15th, 2005, 3:29 pm

I know there was some talk about this happening a few months ago on this form but for anyone who hasn't read the Democrat today it looks like we will have new grouper regulations. From 5 per person down to possibly 2...with only one being a red grouper. And they are also thinking about closing the season for four months. If you want to know more read about it in the Democrat. The people who decide these things are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss this. I'm all for limits to keep breeding stocks up, but I think there are many more grouper being hauled in by commercial fisherman than rec's. Soon the grouper will go the way of the RED DRUM, a one person limit, and no commercial.

Post by **mjsigns** » June 15th, 2005, 5:08 pm

Grouper limits get public hearing

What: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council public hearing.

When: 6 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave., in Destin. (850) 654-5184

Post by **mjsigns** » June 16th, 2005, 7:04 am

Fishermen fighting fetters

Thu, Jun. 16, 2005

chugbug · Post by **chugbug** » June 16th, 2005, 8:02 am

"Recreational anglers caught 1.35 million pounds of red grouper in 2003. In 2004, the catch more than doubled to 3.1 million pounds, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service."

"But recreational anglers continued fishing. They do not have reporting requirements as commercial fishermen do and therefore don't have a quota."

These two statements are straight from the article. How do they know the recs caught 3.1 million pounds if there are no reporting requirements? Last time I was out (Monday) we caught 3 red grouper for every gag.

Post by **Tom Keels** » June 16th, 2005, 8:08 am

chugbug wrote:"Recreational anglers caught 1.35 million pounds of red grouper in 2003. In 2004, the catch more than doubled to 3.1 million pounds, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service."

"But recreational anglers continued fishing. They do not have reporting requirements as commercial fishermen do and therefore don't have a quota."

These two statements are straight from the article. How do they know the recs caught 3.1 million pounds if there are no reporting requirements? Last time I was out (Monday) we caught 3 red grouper for every gag.

They make random boat ramp inspections asking what people caught then do followup random phone calls and extrapolate data based off a small sampling for the entire year. Funny thing is they took data from the beginning of the year last year and extrapolated it out over the entire year not taking the hurricanes into consideration. Its bad science all the way around.

Post by **PinFishKing** » June 16th, 2005, 9:43 am

I wonder how many dead grouper will be culled if they impose this type of limit? Not that I ever would, but it I bet there are folks out there that would be tempted to throw a dead 22" gag back for a 28" gag caught later.

Post by **mjsigns** » June 17th, 2005, 10:48 pm

State supports red-grouper limit of one per fisherman

chugbug · Post by **chugbug** » June 19th, 2005, 1:23 pm

When does it take effect?