Rally round the grouper

Anglers are up in arms over proposed measures for the recreational grouper fishery. When the Gulf of Mexico Fishery management Council meets next week in St. Petersburg, officials will consider a half dozen regulatory alternatives.

The first option would be to maintain the status quo, which is unlikely, since officials believe both red and gag grouper stocks are in trouble.

The second alternative would set a three fish aggregate bag limit and shut down the fishing season from Jan. 15 through April 15. The third alternative would have the same bag limit but close the season from Feb. 1 through April 30. The fourth would have a Jan. 1 through May 15 closed season. Under the fifth alternative, the season would be closed Jan. 1 through May 21. Under the final option, there would be no fishing from Dec. 1 through April 30.

If you read between the lines of the recently released report, Alternative Four, with the Jan. 1 through May 15 closure, appears to be the favored alternative.  Such a long closure would have a devastating affect on the recreational fishery, already reeling from skyrocketing gas prices.

Anglers will have a chance to voice their concerns next Wednesday when the council meets at the Raddison Hotel in St. Petersburg. The public comment period is 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Anglers will meet and discuss strategy tomorrow night at Tight Lines Tackle on Armenia Avenue in Tampa. Call (813) 932-4721 to learn more.

Another great source of information is the Fishing Rights Alliance website. www.thefra.org.

Comments

[bigdiggy]

I'm less concerned about the anglers than I am about the grouper. Maybe they could find a new hobby that doesn't involve burning fossil fuel and wrecking the gulf's ecosystem.

[Mark]

Bigdiggy,
What is your hobby?
Unless you eat tree bark, live in a commune, and grow your own food; you have no right to accuse others.
Sportsman are the first environmentalists. We have to be. Without a healthy ecosystem, our hobbies would be non-existent.

These new regulations are based on bad science. The agency is using old numbers to assume that anglers have fished the same amount of time as we did a few years ago. Hurricanes and the cost of gas has kept many anglers from fishing as much as they once have.

Plus there is a huge economic impact of these new measures.

The fishing industry is the largest in Florida. Even bigger than tourism. (many come here to visit and fish)

If you enjoy the economy of Florida you might want to change your mind on how you view anglers.

Please educate yourself before you post next time.