Gulf Red Snapper Regs Get Overhaul

Not really applicable to my neck of the sea, but the Red Snapper regs have been updated.

In June 2007 new Gulf red snapper federal waters regulations were passed, and are pending implementation, expect Gulf state waters to follow suit. The recreational bag of four red snapper per person, per day drops to two per person, per day, the new revised fishing season in federal waters is now from June 1 to September 30, the 16-inch fish minimum stays the same. The new regulations prohibits possession of a recreational bag limit by captain and crew of for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.

The GMFMC plans to have the final rules written into law early this year. After the federal laws are put into place, expect state waters to implement the same regulations.

This part applies to everyone who fishes for offshore reef fish -- required venting tools must be onboard all vessels fishing for reef fish species. Non-stainless steel circle hooks must be used when targeting reef fish with natural bait. We have used circle hooks exclusively for years when fishing for reef fish. Two reasons, it's better for the fish and you can use lighter test leader since the hook is what goes in the fishes mouth, not the leader. Vent tools are just good practice, no point in releasing a fish that is just going to promptly die.

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As a side note -- I wonder when the FWC is going to wake to the fact that inshore and offshore the Goliath Grouper has taken over. Yes taken over, and eaten most of the other fish. Another good plan gone bad. There needs to be an open season with bag limits, just like other grouper. When the Goliath Grouper was banned from all taking in 1990 without much fanfare, it was thought stocks were depleted. They were, the reason was profit since you can still sell grouper in the fish market. The docile curious Goliath was easily speared, weighed a lot and brought top dollar. Times change, now in many places you cannot bring up a fish without a Goliath Grouper snapping up the meal. It's clearly to the point that the balance has tipped.