New Grouper Regs ! They suck !

Post by **Frank Bradfield** » July 21st, 2005, 6:03 pm

From what i read so far : starting August 9th, 1 red grouper per person, 3 total bag limit, and closed Nov 1 thru Dec 31st. , which blows, Nov is my favorite month. I'm really pissed...

Post by **sharkboy** » July 21st, 2005, 8:02 pm

Where did you find this?

Post by **mjsigns** » July 21st, 2005, 10:00 pm

INTERIM RULE CHANGES TO RECREATIONAL GROUPER FISHING REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 9, 2005

(July 21, 2005) - NMFS has implemented the following interim rule, effective August 9, 2005, to reduce overfishing of the recreational allocation of red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, and to minimize adverse impacts on other grouper stocks that could result from a shift in fishing effort from red grouper to other species.

* Aggregate grouper bag limit reduced from 5 fish/person to 3 fish/person
* Red grouper bag limit reduced from 2 fish/person to 1 fish/person, which counts as part of the 3-grouper aggregate limit.
* Closure of the recreational fishery, from November 1 through December 31, 2005, for all grouper species.

Can be found at:
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » July 22nd, 2005, 7:28 am

Looks like all the e-mail that were sent to gubment officals must have been used to wipe their azz, all they did was kiss the NMFS and let them have there way. Guess we see how many business's fall over this change.

Post by **Frank Bradfield** » July 22nd, 2005, 7:54 am

Thanks for posting that for me ! I did send quite a few emails but it seems their mind was made up ahead of time. This is a sad time for us offshore guys!

nautigator · Post by **nautigator** » July 26th, 2005, 6:37 pm

Things are getting bad boys, and not looking to get any better. I try to look at the bright side of things and the only thing I can come up with is $$$ savings. I average 3 offshore trips a month and burn 60-70 gallons a trip. At $2.40+/gallon, this will save me $936 (rounding the numbers). This will make a good start to pay a shrink when I go nuts from not going fishing for two months. I wonder if we could sue the govt for undue stress and suffering? It makes no difference now, but I am sure there will be fresh grouper available at Red Lobster....viva la commercial pescadors, hope your line breaks too...

Post by **PinFishKing** » July 26th, 2005, 6:48 pm

I wonder how long a nasty red can survive in the fish box? I'm sure most people are going to throw back the smaller dead ones as they catch bigger ones. The only thing the new limit is going to do is limit the number of fish you take home. It is not going to limit the number of fish killed.

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » July 27th, 2005, 6:46 am

If you want to join in on a protest FS members are getting folks together to have a boat in tow around the capitol in Tally.

Post by **mjsigns** » July 27th, 2005, 7:48 am

I went to a fish market on capitol circle SE and they had a "short gag grouper" on ice right in their display case. That really got my goat. The only beneficiary to this new reg is the commercial industry.

my .02

Post by **Frank Bradfield** » July 27th, 2005, 7:51 am

Actually the commercial guys are getting locked out too if i understand it correct. The only people not affected are the longliners....they are the problem...

finniefish · Post by **finniefish** » July 27th, 2005, 10:44 am

Since FWC did not adopt this, does it only apply to Federal waters.

Is it still a 5/2 limit in state waters?

Does the 2 month closure also apply to state waters?

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » July 27th, 2005, 11:01 am

The FWC said they would only support a drop in the Red Grouper to 1 and nothing else. So what will the State do, who knows at this point.

Post by **Frank Bradfield** » July 27th, 2005, 11:03 am

From what i'm reading so far the state waters will remain open , but with the new bag limits. Don't quote me on that , its still early and there is a lot of confusion.

nautigator · Post by **nautigator** » July 27th, 2005, 11:04 am

Great, so if Frank is correct, then we will see every single commercial guy out there every day trying to get as many caught as he can. Imagine what that impact will have on the numbers. Locations totally cleaned out. AWESOME, JUST FREAKIN AWESOME!!!

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » July 27th, 2005, 11:08 am

If the FWC follows the feds then they just backstabbed everyone out there, since they said they would only support the Red reduction, nothing else, and that they would not enforce the feds rule.