Cooments needed on Grouper closure

BW Dave · 02-23-2009, 07:10 PM

Once Again your comments are needed. Amendment 16 which includes the closed season and restricted bag limits on Grouper is up for final approval by the secretary of Commerce. This is our final chance to have our voices heard on our objection to these regs.
Unfortunately this is a little more involved than John’s normal 1 step process, but it still only takes a couple of minutes.

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspubli...000064808487e3

fill out the form and express you objections to these new regs
Summary table of current and proposed regulations for the South Atlantic.

Grouper aggregate bag limit
Now - 5 fish
Amendment 16 - 3 fish

Gag/black grouper bag limit within grouper aggregate

Now - 2 gag or black grouper (combined)
Amendment 16 - 1 gag or black

Vermilion snapper bag limit

Now - 10 fish
Amendment 16 - 5 fish

Shallow-water grouper* closed season

Now - none
Amendment 16 - January - April

Vermilion snapper closed season

Now- none
Amendment 16 - November - March

mnelson · 02-24-2009, 01:26 PM

It doesn't seem to be important to people here. The other post hasn't been touched, I'm real surprised, thought this was a fishing forum. I sent my comments in and I'm planning on calling. With the economy the way it is they shouldn't mess with anything. Lets keep this alive, maybe it will get noticed soon.

CaptJoeVerdino · 02-24-2009, 02:15 PM

It's important to plenty of people. I think just like myself they feel nothing will change so why bother. I run a charter on the gulf side and hold permits for both coasts. I've spent time writing letters and e-mails but it always seems to fall on deaf ears. Our problem is the recreational sector doesn't have the organization and money the commercial side has. The result is we make noise but the fed does what ever they want.

No joke I get one of the blue letters every week taking about some new regulation or the other. My wife laughs and says we could save the economy if they would just spend the budget for blue paper on rebuilding our economic strength.

pyettaw · 02-24-2009, 05:31 PM

I don't like to regulations but we do have to keep the population at a sustainable level. At this time the party boat captians have no quota. I think they should have a quota similar to the recreational anglers. The charter captains can always go after some other species. The long liners need to be banned. They can become bandit boats and make there living that way or switch to some other species. If we don't do anything we will kill the population and then we will lose even more money than we will with the new regs. I personally only keep two gags as it is. Anymore is more than I can eat and the rest would be wasted, so the regs do not bother me at all. I just wish they would be more strict on commercial and party boats.

mnelson · 02-24-2009, 05:58 PM

The commercial fleet is a quarter of what it use to be, in the 80's the fleet on the East coast was at about 2000 grouper/snapper permits now its at 600 and gradually decreasing. Thats what they want to happen. I'm not a commercial guy but know a few. I run a charter boat and think that if they put these regs into effect it will kill the commercial charter and headboat business. Charter boats might be able to fish for other species but sometimes the clients don't want too. We have to let them know what they can and can not keep prior to the booking. The bottom line is the fish are out there but the science and scientist say otherwise. SEDAR, the people behind the science are getting a cut of the profit from imported fish. Thats what I heard, might not be true but it seems real fishy. They say that the fish are not there but everybody that goes fishing seem to say just the opposite. I hate to see the Florida economy if this happens. Even if you think it doesn't work please let them know what you think about whats going on. They won't stop with this, they will continue till we aren't allowed any fish. Keep the fire burning.

BigbaitBigfish · 02-24-2009, 07:01 PM

I filled it out. I would think of moving this to the main forum as most (including me) probably don't browse the regions as much.

mnelson · 02-25-2009, 05:08 AM

The are getting ready to move these regs to the northeast also. They need to chime in. I think tile fish are going to be affected up there, grouper and snapper also.