Reduced size for commerical grouper unwise for the fishery

February 3, 10:49 AMTampa Fishing and Seafood ExaminerJim Lee

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Tampa Fishing and Seafood Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 
I                                      A 20 inch grouper, caught by Vicki Lee 

The new grouper rules call for a 'dumbing down' of previously effective catch rules.  The commercial size limit for red grouper  has been 20 inches for both commercial and recreational catches for some time now. NOAA, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Gulf Coast Council has seen fit to reduce the commercial size limit to 18 inches. The reasoning was that 18 inch grouper brought up from the 200 plus depths are difficult for the commercial anglers to save and return to the water. Well, If we are talking longliners, I am certain that is true. Dead fish cannot be revived.

In their haste to 'improve' the return live rate; or reduce waste of the kill is more like it, the NMFS came up with the 18 inch size reduction for commercial catches. What about recreational catches? Recreational catches are required to be vented and returned unharmed. Big brother also tells anglers what hook to use to prevent damage to smaller fish. 

Under the circumstances, where longline gear kills all kinds of reef fish, and small grouper even under 18 inches; and recreational anglers save smaller fish, why wouldn't the 18 inch rule apply to both factions? Seems fair to me. Ah, but remember the decimation of ALL reef fish by longline gear. In the interest of the fish, shouldn't longlines be eliminated?

Oh yes, just last week 2 commercial boats were in 40 feet of water loading their boats with 18 inch red grouper according to one guide boat skipper. Did the NMFS not think this would occur? Shame on them. The sport of bottom fishing is at stake. The 10,000 plus tourist and others that bottom fish enjoy even catching fish they can't keep. Bringing tons of money into the state.

To sum this all up, if the fish stocks are the real mission of NMFS why not eliminate long line gear? However, if other considerations are on the table, why not be fair and let recreational anglers (who return shorts safely) take 18 inch red grouper also? comments appreciated.