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jimk
Posts: 11 Greenhorn
completely confused!
jimk
Posts: 11 Greenhorn
to anyone who can point me in the right direction or clarify some of this would be very much appreciated, I would like to stay in compliance if I could only understand half of what i am reading and being told.
First, is there somewhere that i can look up all the abreviations that I see used in many of the posts, FWC website, SaFMC regulations. Much of this,I might as well be reading ancient sanskript. I am relatively new to offshore fishing which Im sure does not help.
Second. I seem to be getting alot of conflicting responses to questions regarding legally obtainable catches of snappers,groupers, cobia . from not only the printed materials, but from officers in person, or calling tallahassee.
for example, Red snapper is open year around with a legal limit of two in state waters, closed in federal waters, then im told its only open for a certain number of days in state waters. so which is it? when it comes to grouper, specifically in regards to warsaw, snowy, yellowedge, speckled hind, These I have seen lists where they are obtainabe and legally kept, and i have seen where they are closed to fishing period.. I dont mean just closed till may 1st. but closed to harvest period. There is conflicting listings on SAFMC website.
I guess i should add that i am in ormond beach, and launch out of Ponce Inlet.
There has to be somehow to get this all straight. The last thing I want to do is pull into the dock and end up with a huge fine, and or having my boat and gear confiscated.
First, is there somewhere that i can look up all the abreviations that I see used in many of the posts, FWC website, SaFMC regulations. Much of this,I might as well be reading ancient sanskript. I am relatively new to offshore fishing which Im sure does not help.
Second. I seem to be getting alot of conflicting responses to questions regarding legally obtainable catches of snappers,groupers, cobia . from not only the printed materials, but from officers in person, or calling tallahassee.
for example, Red snapper is open year around with a legal limit of two in state waters, closed in federal waters, then im told its only open for a certain number of days in state waters. so which is it? when it comes to grouper, specifically in regards to warsaw, snowy, yellowedge, speckled hind, These I have seen lists where they are obtainabe and legally kept, and i have seen where they are closed to fishing period.. I dont mean just closed till may 1st. but closed to harvest period. There is conflicting listings on SAFMC website.
I guess i should add that i am in ormond beach, and launch out of Ponce Inlet.
There has to be somehow to get this all straight. The last thing I want to do is pull into the dock and end up with a huge fine, and or having my boat and gear confiscated.
Replies
Depending on if you are in state or federal waters and in the Atlantic or Gulf there are 4 separate lists of rules that apply. I hope this clears it up some.
The FFWCC website has saltwater state regs for the Gulf and the Atlantic. State waters go out 9 miles on Gulf side and 3 miles on Atlantic side. For Atlantic waters more than 3 miles out you can get the regs from the SAMFC website, and for Gulf waters more than 9 miles out consult the website of the GOMFMC. Do a google search and you can find these websites.
And that is why people say you need to take a lawyer with you to go enjoy a little recreational fishing these days.:banghead
Recreational Regulations for state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico
Red Snapper 2014 Open Harvest Season Min. Size Limit Daily Bag Limit
State and Federal Waters
NEW State waters: Open the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 24, 2014) through July 14.
NEW Federal waters: Open June 1, 2014, through June 11, 2014, closing June 12, 2014.
Learn more about the federal season here.
16" total length
2 per harvester per
day (bag limit not changing)
*(included in the 10 per harvester per day state snapper aggregate bag limit)
Gear rules apply. Visit gear rules page for more information.
*Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for hire vessels.
Management History
NEW Gulf of Mexico Federal Red Snapper Update: The 2014 Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational season will be 11 days, opening at 12:01 a.m., June 1, 2014, and remaining open through June 11, 2014, closing June 12, 2014. The daily bag limit will remain 2 per person. Learn more.
Recreational and commercial fishers in Gulf waters off Florida are required to use circle hooks and dehooking devices when fishing for reef fish, including red snapper. Visit the reef fish gear rules page for more information.
View a history of Red Snapper management in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters.
East coast "state" water... open year round. East coast "federal" water... close. 99.9999% of your red snapper catch on the east coast will be federal water....
West coast read post above.
I have witnessed:
1-LEO checking the boat next to mine at ramp. They put the tape on a grouper and say it measures good. I see the angler at the cutting table and the grouper has rounded tail fin! Don't want to get anyone in trouble so don't say anything, wait until filets are packed and ask what type of fish was that and he says "gag grouper"
2- we are fishing 5 mi out of Ft.Pierce 2 yrs ago came on massive school of cobia no rays and every fish over 30lbs. At the time there was different Fed and state laws and Fed was 2 per person. We ended up catching over a dozen and kept 6 of the biggest as there were 3 anglers. We get checked at Stan Blum ramp and LEO says we're good this time but possession in state water even if caught in federal can be violation. This guy was cool but another LEO on the same day could have busted us by letter of the law.
3- have been told by an LEO that was checking me out to measure ALL my dolphin with my "measuring device". Smallest was 15lbs and 4 were 25-30lbs.
4- recently asked LEO (FWC) after he checked out our catch if anyone ever comes in with Red Snapper and how do you know if it's caught in state waters (according to FWC red snapper open year round in state water). HE says fed rules supersede state laws on red snapper and if possessed in state waters it's illegal. Why does it say open on FWC website then? He asked if we are wise guys looking for trouble? No Sir!
5- ask another FWC recently about proposed red snapper opening this June for Atlantic waters and he says he has heard nothing.
Now why in the world would anyone be confused with our state and federal fishing regulations?
For some species the open season runs from Month/Day to Month/Day and/or year round with no changes (other than perhaps a rare emergency rule).
For other species the open season is set from Month/Day to Month/Day or year round and maybe subject to closure at any time during such open season.
The simple of it when Federal rules and state rules conflict;
Fishing in federal waters, federal rules apply (unless specifically provided otherwise). May return directly to shore. Do not stop and fish state waters.
Clear as mud...
http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/gulf-red-snapper/frequently-asked-questions/