SE Atlantic grouper closure

[mike321]

I live in NE FL in Jax. I am an avid bottom fisherman.
The limit om Atlantic snappers are 2 per day with a min size of 20". The fishing has never been better.
A couple of years ago it was hard to catch a couple of keeper snappers. There were tons of shorts around. Lots of 14 and 15" fish. Last year there were lots of 18-19" fish. Now there are lots of keeper snaps around along with lots of shorts. The other day 3 of us went out on my boat and caught 30 or 40 snappers. 12 or so were keepers we kept 6 and released all of the others. I kept 2 for our use and we had 2 great fresh snapper meals.
There is no reason to close the snapper season.
As for the groupers we can keep 2 gags per day min 24". We do catch lots of shorts but on an avaerage day we usually catch 1 or 2 nice keepers. We didn't catch any keepers the other day the biggest was 22". Leave the grouper regs as they are.
If the proposed regs went into effect it would also hurt the local economy. All of the charter boats would go out of business. Pelagic trolling is 60nm offshore and it's a long day and very expensive.
Lets hope reason prevails.
Mike

[jimy251]

THere not only talking about cutting the limit you can keep. There also talking about closing fising for snapper and grouper from jan to april. If they do this I'm selling my boat. Winter fishing is some of the best fishing. THere trying to take all away from us and there going to. Jimmy

[sandy]

grdawg,

The CCA has more of a broad based program than the Recreational Fishing Alliance which concentrates more on fisheries matters. You ought to take a look at the RFA, they have done a lot of very good work. Just got there last Makin' Waves issue and see very little representation in Georgia. You should think about doing something about that. Like someone else said, you've got to get organized. If not the bureaucrats are gonna whomp your butt every time.