‘NOAA Fisheries Service announces a final rule that increases the red grouper bag limit from two to four fish (recreational) in the four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit.’
With some exceptions, don’t expect to catch more red grouper to fill out that 4 fish limit, since the keeper to catch ratio is roughly 1 keeper for every 100 red grouper caught inside 80 feet according to some recreational charter captains.
‘The rule also increases the commercial quota of red grouper. Because red grouper is a part of the shallow-water grouper complex, this also requires an increase in the shallow-water grouper quota. The final rule will be effective November 2, 2011.’
Keep in mind the increase for commercial operations increases their take of undersize red grouper since commercials can keep 18 inch fish. The recreational limit on size is 20 inches. Where is the justice in that?
‘Recreational bag limit
The rule increases the red grouper bag limit from two to four fish in the four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit. This will allow the recreational sector the opportunity to harvest its allocation which was increased from 1.36 mp to 1.65 mp for 2011.’
Although NOAA cries that gag grouper are overfished, gag grouper are actually the principle catch in the Central West Coast of Florida. No shortage of gag grouper here.
Two things are very wrong with the way NOAA dictates rulings. The first is to apply all rules to the entire Gulf of Mexico. The other is the egregious rule allowing long line fish killing to continue to take place. Long lines kill everything that bites.
A pattern seems to be developing regarding the recreational opportunities for grouper fishing. Can you see it? If you can, write your congressmen and senators. When the change in our Federal administration comes perhaps enough pressure will put fairness and logic back into the recreational offshore fishing.
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