Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHAD CARNEY
Published August 6, 2005

This is the last weekend in 2005 that recreational fishermen can bring home a five grouper limit from federal waters in the gulf. As of Tuesday, the National Marine Fisheries Service implements an interim limit of three grouper, of which only one may be a red. The NMFS says recreational fishermen caught double their quota of red grouper last year. The affects of the hurricane season and higher fuel prices in 2004 have many fishermen wondering about the data.

In November and December, recreational anglers and spearfishermen can't keep any species of grouper. Commercial grouper fishing will remain unaffected, despite accounting for more than 80 percent of red grouper landings.

Besides the personal freedom restriction for recreational fishers, many fishing, diving and boating related businesses predict they will be hit hard economically by this change.

If fishermen want a say in the rules that affect them in 2006 they should attend the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the Diamond Head Beach Resort, 2000 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.

For more information see the Fishing Rights Alliance Web site at www.thefra.org or write to P.O. Box 3794, Seminole, FL, 33775.

Chad Carney teaches diving and spearfishing in the Tampa Bay area. Call 727 423-7775 or e-mail chadcarney@verizon.net

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:37:26]