update on grouper story

[pcbayou]

ST. GEORGE ISLAND — Florida wildlife officials are looking into whether there is something fishy about a record-sized grouper caught late last month off St. George Island.

Was it a permissible Warsaw grouper, worthy of bragging rights, or a protected goliath grouper, deserving of a misdemeanor citation, or even a federal charge?

http://www.newsherald.com/news/possible ... robes.html

(earlier story):

Four men fishing out of Bay City Lodge the morning of June 25 landed a leviathan-size Warsaw grouper that arguably eclipsed the world record of 436 pounds, 12 ounces, set by Capt. Steve Haeusler, fishing out of Destin on Dec. 22, 1985.

http://www.newsherald.com/sports/daniel ... -city.html

[What a mess]

Read it yesterday pretty cool!

[bull68dawg]

Awesome fish... I cant believe they didnt want to take the time to weigh it.

[Reel Navy]

Today's Ft Walton Beach "mullet wrapper" stated they harvested six, five gallon buckets worth of fillets which were vacuum packed. That's a lot of Court-bouillon and grouper sandwiches!

[Dubble Trubble]

I have to wonder if the meat from a fish that big and old would be as good as a smaller fish. Kinda like deer meat. Young ones are much tastier in my opinion. Same for trout. the 16-18 inchers taste better to me than the 25 inchers.

But I bet it was fun to catch.

Dubble

[Redphisher]

I am with you Dubble Trubble. It would have been nice to see that fish released to live a longer life...

[Reel Cowboy]

A fish that size would have to have layers of fats running through the fillets.

[pcbayou]

bump

[Dubble Trubble]

I have studied the photos, and I still say Warsaw. I will also restate that I think you have to carry a lawyer with you when you fish nowadays.

While I would have released the fish, these guys are well within their rights to harvest it in my opinion. Of course, the FWC and the Feds will use any excuse to try to get in the news. Where were they when the fish was being fileted. I am sure the news was everywhere. Now all of a sudden, they want a piece of the action.

Typical gubment......

Dubble

[Reel Cowboy]

I call BS, dang sure looks like a Warsaw to me. Then again, I ain't got a ticket book in my pocket.

[Tom Keels]

If they would have just spread the dorsal fin out in the picture there would have been no doubt.

Here is a confirmed warsaw picture...

[wevans]

Someone who knew that may have Tom and that is why they decided ta clean it and dispose of the carcass so quickly

[EddieJoe]

I have studied the photos, and I still say Warsaw. I will also restate that I think you have to carry a lawyer with you when you fish nowadays.

While I would have released the fish, these guys are well within their rights to harvest it in my opinion. Of course, the FWC and the Feds will use any excuse to try to get in the news. Where were they when the fish was being fileted. I am sure the news was everywhere. Now all of a sudden, they want a piece of the action.

Typical gubment......

Dubble

I say Jewfish. And, IMO and according to the rule, those guys were only well within their rights to harvest it if it was a Warsaw. Plenty of folks have caught large Jewfish since the harvest ban and let them go, and spearfishermen could take them most any trip on structure, but they don't. Since there are so few officers around, why would you expect them to be at a local fillet table, unless they were called? Kind of like robbing a bank, if the cops aren't around, does that make it right?

FWC and the feds are interested because it probably is a Jewfish, not a Warsaw, and that would be illegal. If it was a Warsaw, they will confirm that, and the guys caught a great record fish.

EJ