atlantacapt
02-02-09, 12:52 PM
It is interesting to read here - both Scott Robson and Kelly Windes talking about them being in the recreational sector. I thought a few months ago they were trying to differentiate themselves from the recreational fisherman???:confused:
Gag grouper season to close for two months
Comments 23 | Recommend 2
January 29, 2009 - 12:33 PM
Tom McLaughlin
Northwest Florida Daily News
Come Sunday, the gag grouper, a favorite target of anglers in the Gulf of Mexico off Northwest Florida, will be off limits in state and federal waters until March 31.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is extending its present ban on gag grouper fishing from one month to two months.
It is doing so to bring the state grouper fishing season in line with the federal season, according to agency spokesman Lee Schlesinger. Federal regulations ban fishing for all of February and March in waters more than nine nautical miles offshore.
"Our goal is to rebuild the stocks of fish," Schlesinger said. "Sometimes you have to let the air out of the balloon a little bit and reduce the pressure."
Some local fishermen are taking the new regulation in stride.
"In effect, we had to pick our poison, and that was the best poison," said Destin fishing captain Scott Robson. "If it is rebuilding the grouper fishery and we can have grouper like we did 25 years ago, I'm all for it."
Schlesinger said the new regulation has been "fairly controversial."
"Nobody likes regulations, but a lot of fishermen understand the need for this one," he said. "The gag grouper fishery is under a lot of pressure."
Kelly Windes, president of the 40-boat Destin Fishing Fleet Marina, said Destin's recreational fishing industry is under pressure. He called the newest state regulation "another nail in the coffin" of charter fishermen.
February is typically a slow month for the recreational fishermen, but grouper fishing picks up during the last two weeks in March, Windes said.
"They're just slowly but surely doing what they can to put us out of business," Windes said. "March has typically been a good starting month for us, especially for grouper. People come here in March to fish because there are a lot here."
Windes noted that the new regulation will prevent boat captains from taking customers out in March to fish for either gag grouper or red snapper, the two most popular deep-water fish for visitors.
The new state regulation will also reduce the total gag grouper take for a single fisherman from five fish to two. Windes said he agrees with limiting the total take.
"Five is far too many," he said. "Even after a storm or during the spawn, you don't need that many. Two gag grouper is plenty."
He said reducing the grouper limit should have been enough for the FWC, particularly in a down economy.
"It's the same old thing: The people that make the rules get a paycheck every two weeks whether they produce something or not," Windes said. "They don't know how the rest of the world works. We have to produce to make a living."
"If they're going to do something like this, why can't they do it when the economy is rocking and rolling? The history of Destin is fishing, and they're doing everything they can to kill us," Windes added.
Robson said the new regulations will affect commercial fishermen as well as recreational anglers.
"They're not just picking on recreational guys," he said.
Under the new regulations, commercial operations will be banned from spawning areas, Robson said. He saw that move as positive.
Gag grouper season to close for two months
Comments 23 | Recommend 2
January 29, 2009 - 12:33 PM
Tom McLaughlin
Northwest Florida Daily News
Come Sunday, the gag grouper, a favorite target of anglers in the Gulf of Mexico off Northwest Florida, will be off limits in state and federal waters until March 31.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is extending its present ban on gag grouper fishing from one month to two months.
It is doing so to bring the state grouper fishing season in line with the federal season, according to agency spokesman Lee Schlesinger. Federal regulations ban fishing for all of February and March in waters more than nine nautical miles offshore.
"Our goal is to rebuild the stocks of fish," Schlesinger said. "Sometimes you have to let the air out of the balloon a little bit and reduce the pressure."
Some local fishermen are taking the new regulation in stride.
"In effect, we had to pick our poison, and that was the best poison," said Destin fishing captain Scott Robson. "If it is rebuilding the grouper fishery and we can have grouper like we did 25 years ago, I'm all for it."
Schlesinger said the new regulation has been "fairly controversial."
"Nobody likes regulations, but a lot of fishermen understand the need for this one," he said. "The gag grouper fishery is under a lot of pressure."
Kelly Windes, president of the 40-boat Destin Fishing Fleet Marina, said Destin's recreational fishing industry is under pressure. He called the newest state regulation "another nail in the coffin" of charter fishermen.
February is typically a slow month for the recreational fishermen, but grouper fishing picks up during the last two weeks in March, Windes said.
"They're just slowly but surely doing what they can to put us out of business," Windes said. "March has typically been a good starting month for us, especially for grouper. People come here in March to fish because there are a lot here."
Windes noted that the new regulation will prevent boat captains from taking customers out in March to fish for either gag grouper or red snapper, the two most popular deep-water fish for visitors.
The new state regulation will also reduce the total gag grouper take for a single fisherman from five fish to two. Windes said he agrees with limiting the total take.
"Five is far too many," he said. "Even after a storm or during the spawn, you don't need that many. Two gag grouper is plenty."
He said reducing the grouper limit should have been enough for the FWC, particularly in a down economy.
"It's the same old thing: The people that make the rules get a paycheck every two weeks whether they produce something or not," Windes said. "They don't know how the rest of the world works. We have to produce to make a living."
"If they're going to do something like this, why can't they do it when the economy is rocking and rolling? The history of Destin is fishing, and they're doing everything they can to kill us," Windes added.
Robson said the new regulations will affect commercial fishermen as well as recreational anglers.
"They're not just picking on recreational guys," he said.
Under the new regulations, commercial operations will be banned from spawning areas, Robson said. He saw that move as positive.