9/9/2010 FWC Red Drum workshop

[fishinfool]

I went to the Red Drum workshop held at the FWC headquarters this evening. It was interesting. I learned some things. If you would have told me last year that Red Drum from Apalachee Bay would migrate to the Tampa Bay area, I would have been very suspicious of your facts. But apparently, tags do not lie and Reds are considerably more migratory than previously thought.
The other thing that surprised me was given the number of opinions posted recently concerning this subject, I would have thought more members of BBF.net or NFGFC would have been present to voice those opinions.
There were approximately 8 citizens that attended. One of those was a retired FWC employee. One was a former guide, current journalist, that still holds an active captain's licence. The rest were like me, average fishing joe. The consensus ran from closing the fishery alltogether, allowing 0 Reds to be harvested, to increasing the bag limit to 2 per person/per day. In between there was discussion of a Red Drum stamp, like that for Snook. Also increasing the size limit. One thought was to Increase the bag limit to two and close the season during the prime spawning month. All in all most in attendance were in agreement that this might not be the right year for this, due to the recent environmental impact the Gulf has undergone. My personal opinion was that we continue the current studies and revisit this issue next year to see if anything has changed. If no significant changes are found, it might be OK to increase the bag limit to two per person per day. The fishery just might be strong enough to sustain that kind of impact. I probably would not take two Reds on every trip or even most trips, but it would be nice to be able to if I wanted to feed family AND a friend or two.
I hope to attend more of these workshops as they happen.
FF

[kneeknocker]

I too was there other than trying to keep my one year old entertained I got to here almost all the testimonies. I am glad you came and i too wish there would have been more people there. Sorry I did not introduce myself, but I bet you could pick me out. Lets keep it the same and do not mess with a good thing.

[silverking]

FF and Kneeknocker, thanks for coming. I spoke probably before you got there FF (thanks for your comments), but of the sparse few that were in attendance, the majority favored leaving the bag limit at 1. Sure wish more forum members would have attended. I did tell the staff biologists about the discussion thread on here and the poll. They said they would take a look at both and pass them along to the commissioners. The workshops will continue through this fall. The final one will be a teleconference, where you can call in or possibly watch a webcast (Dec. 15).

Jumptrout/ Steve Stinson, where were you guys? MIA at the workshop and didn't see you over at Bealls/Guy Harvey either.

[Jumptrout51]

My plan was to be there.
I feel only slightly better than I did yesterday afternoon.
Too much heat I think.

[silverking]

Sorry you're under the weather, JT. I knew something was up when I didn't see you.

By the way, at the Panama City workshop the previous night, all attendees urged the commission staff to leave the bag limits as is, at one fish.

Projections presented at last night's workshop in Tally showed that if anglers who currently fish for reds would keep two, the standing stock biomass would dip below the 40% management goal to 37 percent. That's without factoring in the growing pressure inshore and without knowing the long-term effects of oil on brood stocks in the open Gulf.

[Reel Cowboy]

Too much devil water I think.

Fixed it for ya JT