fishing BAN from S.C. to south FL.reefs from 98' out

[Fl.fishing kingfish]

   This fishing ban was passed!! It will go in effect in March 2010. I am in Sebastian FL. and this ban does affect me and many other  fisherman. Such as head boats,commercial hook and liners, also sport fisherman. The area that will be closed had produced a big part of our living. This area covers 10,000 plus square miles of vital fishing grounds! The numbers they obtain for their data is bullshit!! How are they able to use the data they have I will never know. They use sport catches for their defense as well as commercial. My big ? is ... Maybe someone can help me on is....  How do they monitor the sport fishing catches?  They can't!!! hummm so how can this be proving the over fishing. And for what they can record are the commercial catches. And then they use the mathematical formula called the KB formula. This formula is far from being accurate!! There again it records much more than we catch. I guess I have vented enough for now. Thanks for any input and response.

[daybreak]

You are right, the current regs are unacceptable.

You may want to note that NMFS is seeking comments on the newest DEIS:

http://www.commercial-fishing.org/commercial-fishing-regulations/noaa-requests-comments-on-a-deis-for-south-atlantic-snapper-grouper-amendment-17a-a1000.html

We are seeing a lot of media attention on this issue. Also some lawmakers from southern states are calling for changes to current NMFS policies.

If you read the DEIS article, you can see that the regional councils are forced by the Magnuson Act to implement several senseless strategies, not just on snapper-grouper but on every fishery.

A lot of people feel that the only way to turn the tide of these senseless regs is to amend the Magnuson Act as soon as possible. If there is a good aspect to this, it is that this collection of  horrific regs of the last 18 months has brought together a lot of groups.

A lot of people across the country believe that fishing can still be saved, but it will take a strong effort by the commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, charter boat operators and equipment makers to come together and fight.

I will try to dig up some more articles about the snapper-grouper crisis and post links to them shortly.

[daybreak]

More on this issue:

SAFMC Chooses Alternative for Red Snapper Area Closure:

http://www.commercial-fishing.org/commercial-fishing-regulations/safmc-chooses-alternative-for-red-snapper-area-closure-a990.html

Florida lawmakers seek federal help for fisherman

http://www.newsherald.com/news/seek-81987-area-federal.html

[Fl.fishing kingfish]

Thanks Day, This info was very helpful!! I do realize many other fisherman are affected in many other areas as well as this area,and I know they are just as devastated and some more. I do see the affect these regs. have on other people and their families. I don't mean to sound self centered. Just the regs. changed here recently have ruffled my feathers.
    I hope we can get something changed to favor us and change our lives.  Again thanks for the info.

[daybreak]

Another snapper fishery is closing and tilefish limits have been reduced as well.

See:

http://www.commercial-fishing.org/commercial-fishing-regulations/south-atlantic-vermilion-snapper-fishing-closing-on-march-19-2010-a1007.html

http://www.commercial-fishing.org/commercial-fishing-regulations/south-atlantic-golden-tilefish-limits-reduced-a1008.html

[MWFlynn]

I wonder whos struggling more...
the fish population or the fishermen?

[daybreak]

I wonder whos struggling more...
the fish population or the fishermen?

By all accounts except NMFS, there is no shortage of snapper.

[MWFlynn]

I realize that, making it harder and harder for fisherman to make a living.

[Fl.fishing kingfish]

The fisherman are.  We have had more red snapper and grouper here in the past couple of years than we have had in a long time. Now I do agree that we need regulations,size limits etc. but we do not have to shut down the ocean to save this species of concern.
   We need to find out the real prob. I think the real probs. are or some of the probs. (not the single hook and liners)  comes from the shrimp boats their kills from their catches 4 drags a nite,1500 to 2500 lb of kill each drag and sometimes less. Times this by the amount of shrimp boats around them. #'s get crazy so wonders we can catch a fish. And here in fl my area may be diffrent than others.
   Another thing that affects the grouper and snapper are the divers, the fish has no chance. and they like to hand pick their fish. This results in the biggest they can find are targeted. Now a grouper changes sex at about 28 lb. (male) if the divers target the big ones their will sooner or later deplete the males to an extent that it will affect the reproduction. ( They are devastating the species) Now I don't say do away with the lic. but get the divers out of the water and give him a hook and line.he can still make a living he just cant drive his $65,000 truck anymore.
   They need to be able to reassure that all fisherman are releasing the snapper and grouper that are not of size limits  in a manner that they will survive. (deflate them don't feed the sharks) people kill many small size fish just to catch the slot size one. people need more education!!