SNAPPER SOULITIONS ?

[rarhomes]

Just got to thinking.. Has SEFSC, NOAA, REEF or any one else involved in closing Red Snapper and bottom fishing actually tried to come up with a workable solution ? Why does it have to be so drastic ? "CLOSE IT DOWN ASAP", 180 days with option on next 180 days Did they screw up again and wait to long like they did with Swordfish and Snook ? Are these the same incompetent people of the 80's?

All areas are not created equal. We still have some great snapper fishing here in central Florida, big snapper are just hard to catch.

One solution as explained to me sounds pretty good, just take the size limit off snapper period. You catch two fish and it's over, no releases no floating snapper your done. It will save a ton of fish.

Has any of the organizations responsible for the new proposed laws taken into consideration the price of fuel and the economy ? Knowing that there is not 1/2 as many people fishing today as there was in 2005.

Please add your thoughts.

Capt Rick

[Jared D]

I have heard that same thought before rarhomes, but the problem becomes that you then are still effectively shut down from bottom fishing, as if you try to catch a grouper, trigger, seabass, bliner etc etc you may accidently catch a snapper thus causing an alleged 80% mortality rate.

Its really really bad science, and needs to be sqashed. The only way to fix this, is to get them to admit to their flawed data and actually use accurate information. That being said, apparently we caused enough of a stink that they are going to look at snapper ear bones from now until September, and then they will pursue the closure. They are wanting to do age studys on those ear bones (though I dont know what that will prove).