FWC changing their story on gag grouper

Capt Blood

The FWC press release from their Feb 8th mtg said:

"The Commission also authorized Chairman Kathy Barco and Executive Director Nick Wiley to issue an executive order opening gag grouper season in the state waters off Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin counties, including Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This gag grouper recreational season, if implemented, will open harvest in state waters during April, May and June, and close harvest in those waters during the July-to-October season.

Folks I know have written letters saying NOT to implement and they're getting a reply like it's a done deal - something fishy is going on here.:nono :huh

Thank you for your comments regarding the recreational gag grouper harvest in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As you know, the Commission recently voted to set the recreational harvest season for Gulf gag grouper in state waters as July 1 through October 31, which is the same as the federal season. However, the Commission determined that a regional 2012 gag grouper harvest season for Gulf of Mexico state waters offshore of Florida’s Big Bend (Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla, and Franklin counties and including all waters of the Steinhatchee River, Apalachicola Bay, and Indian Pass) for April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012, was warranted.

Sincerely,
Martha Bademan
Environmental Specialist III
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Marine Fisheries Management

Got TA Go

Capt Blood wrote: »

for April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012, was warranted.

Warranted by....and because of.....?

Eggsuckindog

Who knows?

after a full, year of no Rec take at all - due mostly to weather in Oct Nov - I wonder what the take numbers will be? I couldn't get out 1 day during the fall due to 15+ every day - and I own a SeaCraft

Mango Man

I remember reading an article and the gist was two fold. One, the earlier season was because that's when they could catch them there and the second was economic. They also stated that the gags were not in that area during the summer so that would be a better time for their closure. Makes sense, huh?

Sounds like a payoff to me.

Capt Blood

Time is running out - seems they're gonna go through with this special season.