I didn’t get to go this year due to the weather, hopefully some positive changes will occur.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on proposed changes to regulations for red snapper affecting how the current limited openings should be handled. A series of public hearings will be held via webinar from August 12-15, 2019 with listening stations established along the South Atlantic coast (see schedule below). The proposed changes include: 1) removing the minimum number of days for the South Atlantic red snapper seasons; 2) modifying the start date for the recreational red snapper season; 3) revising the days of the week recreational harvest of red snapper would be allowed during an open season; and 4) modifying the start date of the commercial season. The changes are proposed in Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Note that the proposed changes would notextend recreational or commercial seasons, increase the annual catch limits for red snapper, or change the recreational bag limit or commercial trip limit.
The tag issue if it comes to that, would have to be carefully administered. If not a guy could get a tag for everyone in his family . At some point the council needs to launch a new study on red snapper and get a better understanding of whats really out there. I know lots of guys that hook so many that they consider them to be pests and end up going from spot to spot trying to avoid catching reds
The point is that you won’t get one. The quota is something like 29K fish. With 250K anglers applying for 29K tags, you’ll be lucky to get one tag every 10 years.
They are aware of what is out there. They do not like the stratification of ages amongst of the fish being reported/studied. Everyone posting pictures and reporting the hundreds of 6-10lb red snapper they couldn’t get away from aren’t helping. It reinforces that the smaller fish are returning and now they want those smaller fish to grow to be older fish. Only way to have a 20 yr old snapper is to wait 20 years. Yall get comfortable with these dumb snapper seasons and pray that global warming continues the proliferation of muttons into our waters.
And let’s be honest here. Red snapper is good but there are far better eating fish in that ocean.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
They are aware of what is out there. They do not like the stratification of ages amongst of the fish being reported/studied. Everyone posting pictures and reporting the hundreds of 6-10lb red snapper they couldn’t get away from aren’t helping. It reinforces that the smaller fish are returning and now they want those smaller fish to grow to be older fish. Only way to have a 20 yr old snapper is to wait 20 years. Yall get comfortable with these dumb snapper seasons and pray that global warming continues the proliferation of muttons into our waters.
And let’s be honest here. Red snapper is good but there are far better eating fish in that ocean.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
so you are saying to quit posting pics?
On the older fish, it won’t be us recreational fishers getting all of em. It will be the commercial guys that all these rules are biased for.
Honestly, let’s be honest. Sure some fish eat better. But not a lot. When you spend the money to be able to get far enough off our coast and Want to target some meat fish to break even on fuel, ARS is a good choice. Plenty of the bastards out their, if only big brother would let the few that can make it out there to get them would let us take some home.
I’d like to see the BSB creel limit upped and size dropped. They are worse than the infux of lion fish on stripping our reefs and live bottom. They don’t eat as good as some fish, but are pretty tastey IMO.
I believe Skinnneej is spot on with the tag issue. We all want to be able to fish more for ARS, but I don’t think tags are the answer.
They are aware of what is out there. They do not like the stratification of ages amongst of the fish being reported/studied. Everyone posting pictures and reporting the hundreds of 6-10lb red snapper they couldn’t get away from aren’t helping. It reinforces that the smaller fish are returning and now they want those smaller fish to grow to be older fish. Only way to have a 20 yr old snapper is to wait 20 years. Yall get comfortable with these dumb snapper seasons and pray that global warming continues the proliferation of muttons into our waters.
And let’s be honest here. Red snapper is good but there are far better eating fish in that ocean.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
so you are saying to quit posting pics?
On the older fish, it won’t be us recreational fishers getting all of em. It will be the commercial guys that all these rules are biased for.
Honestly, let’s be honest. Sure some fish eat better. But not a lot. When you spend the money to be able to get far enough off our coast and Want to target some meat fish to break even on fuel, ARS is a good choice. Plenty of the bastards out their, if only big brother would let the few that can make it out there to get them would let us take some home.
I’d like to see the BSB creel limit upped and size dropped. They are worse than the infux of lion fish on stripping our reefs and live bottom. They don’t eat as good as some fish, but are pretty tastey IMO.
They are aware of what is out there. They do not like the stratification of ages amongst of the fish being reported/studied. Everyone posting pictures and reporting the hundreds of 6-10lb red snapper they couldn’t get away from aren’t helping. It reinforces that the smaller fish are returning and now they want those smaller fish to grow to be older fish. Only way to have a 20 yr old snapper is to wait 20 years. Yall get comfortable with these dumb snapper seasons and pray that global warming continues the proliferation of muttons into our waters.
And let’s be honest here. Red snapper is good but there are far better eating fish in that ocean.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
so you are saying to quit posting pics?
On the older fish, it won’t be us recreational fishers getting all of em. It will be the commercial guys that all these rules are biased for.
Honestly, let’s be honest. Sure some fish eat better. But not a lot. When you spend the money to be able to get far enough off our coast and Want to target some meat fish to break even on fuel, ARS is a good choice. Plenty of the bastards out their, if only big brother would let the few that can make it out there to get them would let us take some home.
I always appreciate a good discussion. Didn’t think you were trying to fight at all.
I’ve been in Key West for the last couple of years and was able to buddy up with a few commercial guys that enjoy non-commercial fishing as well. The 75lb trip limit for commercial red snapper isn’t worth the fuel for them to run 20-30 miles west to solely fish ARS. Most commercial work down there is yellowtail on the reef, free-diving for black grouper, some mutton snapper or commercial deep dropping. Other than the deep dropping for snowies and goldens everything else can be done 10 miles or less offshore. It may be a little bit different as you move up the east coast but the commercial guys aren’t pressuring the population like they are with grouper, vermillion, seabass quotas. 3-4 fish and they are limited out and they are not leaving the dock looking for red snapper.
I’m not saying don’t post pictures. I’m trying to get across that the NOAA biologists have already determined the age and number of fish and their plan is to wait until that mass of fish matures. No amount of raising hell is going to turn their 4 yr old fish into a 17 yr old fish. Just time.
As far as table fare, I’ll take any species of grouper all day long and twice on Sunday. Those ARS are big beautiful fish that will kick your ass from top to bottom and they are great fresh, but I’ve not had great success with those fillets keeping well.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
