That’s right… Today, the interim rule goes into effect. No more red snapper for AT LEAST 6 months. The SAFMC will likely ask for the extension out to a FULLY YEAR and will likely try to get some kind of closure in place during that time that could prohibit the possession of a red snapper for the next 20+ years…
Oh yeah, one more thing… Vermillion snapper are still closed for the RECREATIONAL fleet until APRIL 01, 2010 (NOTE: Commercial vermillion opened back up on Jan 01 - YES, they can keep them RIGHT NOW!!!)
Groupers are also closed until April 01, 2010:
Gag grouper
Black grouper
Red grouper
Scamp
Red hind
Rock hind
Coney
Graysby
Yellowfin grouper
Yellowmouth grouper
Tiger grouper
Enjoy your trigger fish, black sea bass, and porgies!!!
My bad. I meant to post this in Offshore Discussion…
Yeah, this stinks!! That’s all I can think to say!! 
“Miss Amanda”
-KeyWest
-Bluewater 2020CC
-Yammy F-150God is GOOD!! ALL the time!!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
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Its only against the law if you get caught.Not that im the type of guy that would go out and keep a bunch of mouth watering oh so tasty prohibited fish i would never do that…
25 grady white twin 200 yamahas
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122007340
Jan 4, 2010
In Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, a new federal rule has fishermen angry. A ban on fishing for red snapper—one of the most popular saltwater fish — starts Jan. 4.
Federal agencies and environmental groups say that in the south Atlantic, red snapper numbers are dwindling. So along with the ban, officials also propose temporarily closing a huge area to virtually all fishing.
To people who don’t fish or don’t live in the Southeast, it might seem like a lot of fuss over one species. But in fishing communities like St. Augustine, Fla., the red snapper is more than just a fish.
It’s the reason thousands of anglers visit each year. The new rules are a blow to coastal communities around the Southeast, like St. Augustine, that depend on recreational fishing.
Robert Johnson is a charter boat captain who has fished for red snapper off the eastern coast of Florida for nearly 30 years. When his charter business slows down, he also fishes for them commercially.
According to Johnson, the average snapper measures around 2 feet long and weighs between 6 and 7 pounds. But he says he has caught fish that weigh up to 30 pounds.
Red snapper can live to 50 years old and grow to 20 pounds or more. But fish that old — and big — are very rare — a clear indication, scientists say, of how much they’ve been overfished.
Snapper Numbers Rapidly Dwindling
Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service estimates that the population of red snapper off the Atlantic Coast is just 3 percent of what it was 60 years ago. Citing these numbers, the service has put in place a six-month interim ban on fishing for red snapper with an option to extend it further.
Roy Crabtree, regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Southeast, says that the science leaves little doubt that the population of red snapper in the south Atlantic has been severely depleted.
"I think the only real debate is the extent of the over
quote:
Originally posted by skinneejOh yeah, one more thing… Vermillion snapper are still closed for the RECREATIONAL fleet until APRIL 01, 2010 (NOTE: Commercial vermillion opened back up on Jan 01 - YES, they can keep them RIGHT NOW!!!)
Groupers are also closed until April 01, 2010:
Gag grouper
Black grouper
Red grouper
Scamp
Red hind
Rock hind
Coney
Graysby
Yellowfin grouper
Yellowmouth grouper
Tiger grouper
Enjoy your trigger fish, black sea bass, and porgies!!!
Wait. Snowies, warsaws, and kitty mitchells are still open.
That right there should show anyone who knows anything about bottom fish how STUPID SAFMC is. Close down scamp and gags but leave kitties, warsaws and snowies open. SCAMP ARE ON THE SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD LIST!
Not to worry though, they’ll close those less common fish down too soon enough.
“Tigress” '88 Mako 211
Luke 8:22-25
Phin, those are what I call on the “VIRTUAL CLOSURE” list… Essentially, who in their right mind is going to run out 60 miles for their 1 warsaw per boat, 1 kitty mitchell per boat and 1 snowy per person? They’ve reduced the limits to the point where they aren’t worth pursuing which is almost as bad as a closure. It’s almost a slap in the face.
According to the folks at Pew, we still have 80% of the fish in the ocean that we can target!!!
Who is up for a cooler full of ring-tails, toad-fish, whiting, spots, a black-tip or two ?
quote:
Originally posted by skinneejPhin, those are what I call on the “VIRTUAL CLOSURE” list… Essentially, who in their right mind is going to run out 60 miles for their 1 warsaw per boat, 1 kitty mitchell per boat and 1 snowy per person? They’ve reduced the limits to the point where they aren’t worth pursuing which is almost as bad as a closure. It’s almost a slap in the face.
Do you enjoy catching these fish or do you only enjoy eating them? I believe that’s why many people pursue them. Just like the game fish that are illegal to remove from water.
Now that being said, do not think I support any of this b/c 1. I found it hard to go out 30+ miles to catch these fish that are banned to start with with such a small limit being able to take home. 2. now I REALLY don’t see a reason. Only way in hell I’ll be going now is with somebody else or going 10 miles, filling up on BSB and coming home. I think i’m throwing in my towel and taking up sportfishing in West Palm where uncle stores his boat…Cheap flights…More bang for your buck.
quote:
Originally posted by Plan Cmy boat won’t even run without fried chicken and cold beer
Bottom report for Jan. 5, 2010
Had a good day on the water with friends. The seas were nice and seemed to be spread out just right. Fishing was slow at first, but after lunch things started to heat up. Bow down to the greatness that is…
20 Lizard Fish
2 sharks
15 Black Sea Bass
Imagine reading post like this for the next year…Yeah, fun, Yeah!!
Reel Knotty
220 Sea Pro CC
250 Yamaha
100 qt. Beer Cooler
quote:Both, but with snowies, warsaw and kitty mitchells, there isn't a lot of catch and release. It's one thing to catch fish in 100' and release them, but out in 300' you probably will float them which is a waste.
Originally posted by Pflueger ReelmanDo you enjoy catching these fish or do you only enjoy eating them? I believe that’s why many people pursue them. Just like the game fish that are illegal to remove from water.
With the warsaws and kitties, you can pull them up at the ledge, but they aren’t really something that you can target. They are usually bycatch while fishing for other species. As a matter of fact, you could probably do away with those limits. I’ve yet to catch a warsaw bottom fishing and seldom catch more than 1-2 kitty mitchells on a trip. The limits seem kind of pointless for those two.
I’m just rambling at this point…
quote:
Originally posted by skinneejquote:Both, but with snowies, warsaw and kitty mitchells, there isn't a lot of catch and release. It's one thing to catch fish in 100' and release them, but out in 300' you probably will float them which is a waste.
Originally posted by Pflueger ReelmanDo you enjoy catching these fish or do you only enjoy eating them? I believe that’s why many people pursue them. Just like the game fish that are illegal to remove from water.
With the warsaws and kitties, you can pull them up at the ledge, but they aren’t really something that you can target. They are usually bycatch while fishing for other species. As a matter of fact, you could probably do away with those limits. I’ve yet to catch a warsaw bottom fishing and seldom catch more than 1-2 kitty mitchells on a trip. The limits seem kind of pointless for those two.
I’m just rambling at this point…
Thanks for this income. I just want to reiterate myself that I, in no means, support these measures and decisions. It’s just that we all make a big fuss and every discussion relates to it and we talk about selling our stuff, etc…I am one that wants to come back with a box full as I get to go very rarely but those of you who have the opportunity to go weekly during season, bearing good conditions, do you fish for an overstocked season or because you love it? I’m one that loves the thrill of the catch and not knowing what you may hook into…I’m also one that if I caught a 20lb+ ARS and didn’t get to mount and/or cook that bastard, I’d be a pissed off SOB…So I see it both ways. I just hope all of you keep
Pflueger, I am not quite sure what you are asking, but if people did it for the meat, they would buy it at Food Lion. We all do it for the thrill… The point is that bottom fishing in deep water (> 150’) doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of “catch and release” because of the barotrauma issues. It’s just a different kind of fishing than light tackle inshore stuff.
Granted, I’ve caught 20+ gag grouper on 20lb spinning gear before and it’s an absolute blast, but I know from personal observation that there are more grouper and red snapper out there than I have every seen and the population keeps climbing. Even if there was a problem, the SAFMC should take a BALANCED approach like many other state fisheries (reef building, restocking, etc). These have proven to work time and time again. The only thing that has NOT proven to work is closures like this. Take the New England Cod fishery, the Nassau Grouper, and the Konch for instance. Those fisheries have been closed for decades in certain areas and have never rebounded. We will figure out why one day, I supposed, but the problem with the federal givernment is that the feds are trying to solve a big puzzle and are only interested in once piece of it (fishing). What about all of the other factors like spawning conditions, etc? If they spend their money and their brain jelly trying to figure out how to create good spawning conditions, it would severly overcome any sort of fishing pressure whatsoever. Sorry for me likeing additive solutions and being against subtractive ones…
As long as the SAFMC continues to remain “inside the box”, they will always be nothing more than a pet science project…
With millions of man hours, fancy scientific models, and billions of dollars of machinery, NOAA can’t predict the weather TOMORROW and they are going to tell us what red snapper will look like in 20 years from a weekend pow wow in Jekyll Island!!! HA HA HA HA!!! Blow it out your ass NOAA!!! Please, go back to solving your “global warming”,
My buddy sold his sea cat (catywampus) so I kind of lost my opportunity for off-shore fishing. I can’t describe how much I enjoyed it, even hung over never been sea sick. We have brought home a lot of fish both trolling and bottom bumping. All these posts about SAFMC are just sickening. If I am going to spend the money I sure want to be able to bring meat home (guess that’s just a justification from my upbringing). I can only imagine the mortality rate of by-catch of illegal fish while trying to catch some trigger or BSB.
I guess everyone that enjoys bringing home meat will now be targetting Dolphin and Wahoo. Guess they will be next on SAFMC list.
Also has SAFMC took into acount the pressure that is going to be put on our inshore fishery? Probably have a plan to stop that too:roll_eyes:
Guess I’ll keep feeding the fish in my pond so I can have some fresh fish from know origins. Bream eat pretty good… no red snapper but pretty good.
Skinnee, being the fisherman you are, you consider all the, not so obvious, things. Kinda bring light to the situation and I for one appreciate it. When I think about it I don’t think about the bringing up @ a fast rate from the depths. I hate it for all locals that fish every week when weather permits. I hope it’s all lifted before the end of 2010 but that seems to be wishful thinking.
quote:
Originally posted by Plan Cmy boat won’t even run without fried chicken and cold beer
DNR are insane! I solved the problem by cooking mine at sea, one of those grills you attach to a rail. I’m moving abroad now, enough is enough, freedom my arse!
quote:It's not a DNR issue. SAFMC is a branch of the federal government under NMFS, NOAA.
Originally posted by curboDNR are insane! I solved the problem by cooking mine at sea, one of those grills you attach to a rail. I’m moving abroad now, enough is enough, freedom my arse!
SCDNR doesn’t really seem to have a problem managing the species that they are responsible for.
I’m working on the offshore wind project in SC and really hope it comes to fruition because it will create tons of structure in the 40 to 70 foot depths on wind turbines. The Dept of Energy will need ■■■■■■■■ from fishermen and make the regs, so let’s lobby for offshore structure, clean energy, and better fishing.
quote:Just curious. What makes you think that windmills in the 40-70 foot depth would do anything for bottom fish? Do they have pipe like structure like oil rigs? I'm not knocking it. I've just never heard of windmills being fish atractors for bottom dwelling species.
Originally posted by miller470I’m working on the offshore wind project in SC and really hope it comes to fruition because it will create tons of structure in the 40 to 70 foot depths on wind turbines. The Dept of Energy will need ■■■■■■■■ from fishermen and make the regs, so let’s lobby for offshore structure, clean energy, and better fishing.
Where are they looking to place them? There is a lot of natural live bottom in that range. Hopefully they would never be allowed to destroy any existing natural bottoms and only put them in desolate areas.