Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHAD CARNEY
Published October 29, 2005

We fished for grouper inside the 9-mile boundary that defines state waters Thursday, and had little luck.

Weed lines were thick in 30 to 40 feet and the recent temperature drop to 77 degrees hasn't cleared up the green water. It's difficult to spearfish in only 5 to 10 feet of visibility.

Bait is still scarce and on three usual hot spots off St. Pete Beach, we saw only one small gag grouper. There is no shortage of grunts, spadefish and triggerfish and sheepshead, however, and mangrove snapper are larger and more plentiful than ever.

Starting Tuesday, anglers and spearfishermen cannot target grouper unless a federal judge rules in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Fishing Rights Alliance and Coastal Conservation Association, which protests the National Marine Fisheries Service's temporary rule banning recreational grouper fishing in November and December.

A federal judge in Fort Myers is expected to rule by Monday. The result will be posted on www.spearboard.com

Fishermen can voice their opinions on grouper regulations to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council at the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL., 32548.

Public testimony is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 9-11:30 a.m. Opinions can be faxed or e-mailed via the contact information found at www.gulfcouncil.org/contact.htm

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

[Last modified October 29, 2005, 01:45:21]