Grouper season opens

After being stuck in port for one month, grouper fishermen finally get a chance to fish once again for the Gulf of Mexico's premiere offshore sportfish. Grouper season has been closed since Feb. 15 and anglers are eager to head to deep water and bring home some fish. But as fishermen relish the opportunity to catch these bottom dwellers, many are up in arms because of another looming federal closure. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is considering new regualtions that would shut down all recreational grouper fihsing in the Gulf of Mexico from Jan. 15 to April 15 starting in 2008. In addition, federal officials also want to reduce the aggregate bag limit from five fish to three fish, only one of which may be a gag grouper. Local tackle shops and charter boat captains say such measures, coming at the height of tourist season, would decimate the West Coast recreational fishery. Anglers are now questioning the government's overall strategy. If grouper stocks are in such bad shape, and anglers may be limited to just three fish, why is there still a commercial fishing industry that is allowed to catch 6,000 pounds of grouper per trip. Many anglers feel that federal officials need to take a new approach to fishery management and re-examine the way stocks are split up between the recrational and commercial sectors. There is a groundswell of support to move the longline fishing fleet out to beyond the 50 fathom line as in required in the other Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Anglers will have a chance voice their concerns on goruper this Wednesday when the Gulf Council meets at the radisson Hotel, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.