Good Luck Guys at the TPWD meetings !!

for those of us who don't know - what are the major issues?

Hi BAB,

As you know in Federal waters .... beyond 9 nautical miles .... the NMFS has greatly reduced the season and bag limits on Red Snapper. They're now pushing for a 2-16" fish limit to be taken only between June 1 and Sept 30.

For years the TP&W has defied the feds by leaving Red Snapper fishing open year-round and retaining a 4 fish 15" limit in state waters .....within 9 nautical miles. Now federal regulators are saying they want the state to go along with them and mirror their regulations and that the states regulations shouldn't differ from theirs. If successful that would mean we can only retain 2 fish that are 16" long and can only fish for them for something like 122 days of the year.

While I think the Red Snapper issue is the main thing with most of us the feds are also pushing for a no retention rule on Blacktip Sharks. Now I don't like sharks, I don't fish for them nor do I keep them, however, there are those among us who do. So we will join the fight for them.

The third issue regards the Menhaden commercial seining industry. Menhaden are a very vital fish to our ecosystem. They are known to consume microorganisms that cause such maladies as Brown Tide and Red Tide. Maintaining a healthy menhaden population is a must. This is not even to mention their importance on the food chain and as bait. As of now it's my understanding that the biggest concern about this issue is in waters up the coast around the Sabine Pass area but the fear is that more boats will be brought in and they will eventually affect our part of the coast as well.




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I see - I figured the snapper issue was a part of it, didn't know about the bunker issue.

I fish for sport, meaning that keeping fish isn't my number 1 priority. That being said, I like keeping fish to eat and think people should have that right within reason. I'm all for conservation, but we need to look at who really needs to be cutting back. Me keeping a handful of red snapper or tuna or a couple sharks a year isn't putting a dent in the population. Commercial guys who slaughter tons and tons of fish (as well as by-catch) are the ones damaging the fisheries.

Recreational fishing generates a ton of revenue. Governments are more reluctant to cut commercial industries because "it's someone's livelihood". Well - why don't they make the jump to charter/party boat services?

Additionally - the problem could be better regulated by restricting the methods of commercial fishing. I don't know all the ways they fish down here, but things like long-lining and drag netting are really poor ways of fishing.

Oh, one more thing - I dont have a problem conserving more and adhering to limits, I just have a problem with the fact that not everyone has to play by the same rules.

I fish for sport, meaning that keeping fish isn't my number 1 priority. That being said, I like keeping fish to eat and think people should have that right within reason. I'm all for conservation, but we need to look at who really needs to be cutting back. [/QUOTE]

Bret,

You fish for the right reason!

There have been a lot of rash statements about commercials and the snapper situation that just don't hold water.

I got a call last week from a old friend that has been a charter capt. and had a 200lb. snapper permit under the derby system. he valued this permit for winter time to make ends meet. under the new rules his ifq is 1500lbs. for the year. I asked him how it was under the new rules and he told me that even though this was half of his usual commercial take he made more money! He made his quota in 1 1/2 day trip, burnt only 50 gal. fuel and sold it at a higher price. next year his quota will be reduced to 1000lb.
I then asked how the new 2 fish rule affected his charter buisness. His reply was that people still want to go fishing for the right reason and that the 2 fish limits this season were of greater quality and size.
The real commercial threat is pogie boats, longlining, and
rascals that have no intention of following the rules.

Just an observation from the middle of the road.