FWC Mtgs on Possible Redfish Regulation Changes

[Jumptrout51]

Other states have avid re-stock programs.
Florida has a on again off again re-stock program that is weak during the on side.
You guys either need to learn how to catch upper slot reds or go fishing more often.

[silverking]

I've seen the "change" in the past where brood and recruitment stocks were overfished to the point of collapse, then the bag limit was reduced to ZERO and it took years to recover. I'm on the water 150 plus days a year both here and in other coastal states and I'm not seeing the schools of reds I used to because of increasing pressure. So I'd rather err on the side of caution, keep the limit at one for now and still maintain a quality fishery.

By the way, reds and trout are not closed the same month and a single upper slot red yields a good meal when trout are closed.

[mpa_72001]

there is no closed season on reds here and i don't think i can fish anymore than i do jt or there would be probably be no mrs. preacher . you need to come down here one day with me and catch some of them upper slots to in your holes i've been fishing too .i'll have a net to put them in to by then .

[Jumptrout51]

You don't need a net for reds.
You can pick them up in your hand.

AND STAY OFF MY FISHING HOLES!!!

[Steve Stinson]

I have no problem with raising the limit to two fish.

I am not sure what their definition of "Regional Management Areas" is, but if it means closed areas then we don't need to get that started up here. I grew up fishing Tampa Bay, which has closed areas for grass beds, manatees, gas-powered watercraft, etc. Once they close an area, it NEVER gets re-openned again.

NFGFC needs to have some representatives at that meeting, even though it conflicts with ours. I will go if some of you want to head down there with me.
- Steve Stinson

[silverking]

FWC redfish workshop is Sept. 9.

The proposed Northwest region would extend from the FL/AL border to the Pasco county line approximately.

[red_yakker]

a single upper slot red yields a good meal when trout are closed.

Exactly. Last night, I fed 3 people with only one redfish fillet. I put the other fillet in the freezer for later in the week, and Seth took home 2 nice fillets. That's up to 4 meals from we're getting out of our 2 redfish (22" & 26"). I normally don't freeze redfish, but we had too much to eat in one night even though we were observing the current one fish per person regulations. There are lot's more redfish around than when I was a kid thanks to the current regulations.

The fishing out west is different. Yeah, they can keep more than we can, but they have more than we do from the start. I have friends who fish in Lousianna who say catching 100+ trout and 40-50 redfish in a day is not uncommon. I've never had a day like that around here.

[Steve Stinson]

You guys don't have any kids. (Especially no teenagers). One red will not feed the average sized family, regardless of whether you fry it, blacken it, cut it in nuggets, etc. Two decent sized reds would do the job.

The most I have caught in one trip in this local area is 47. I was worn out and back to my truck by 10:00 am.

- Steve Stinson

[red_yakker]

You can take your kids fishing with you and keep more than one redfish.

[Gulf Coast]

ONE SURE WORKS FOR ME, DON'T GIVEM A REASON TO START CHANGE

[fishinfool]

Personally I usually do not catch more than one keeper per trip. There are times when I would like to keep more than one and times when I don't want to keep any. It certainly would be nice to have the option.
I have noticed that there are some people who will keep whatever the law allows whether they intend to eat the fish or not. I have seen people giving away fish at the ramp. This is just for me, but I try to make up my mind before I go out as to whether or not I am going to keep fish.
With many different attitudes towards catch and keep and catch and release, we might need to keep the current regulations for another year. Either way I am good with whatever decision is made. I will probably go to the meeting to hear both sides anyway.
FF

[Chill-N-Grill]

I'm glad to see fwc give something back instead of take take take......just my .02

[silverking]

640 views on this thread. Very small sampling compared to overall forum population, but roughly 2 to 1 in favor of keeping the bag limit at one fish.

Wonder which side the lurkers come out on?

[sanblaslayer]

I like catching them more than eating them.

[sorifish]

I say go ahead and change it to 2 per person but w/ a max bag limit per boat.....So when JT51's boat looks like a Haitian Refugee boat in the distance they can't bring in 20 Redfish . On the other hand, when fishing by myself a limit of 2 sure would be nice.