RT, there are already enough protected areas here already......Biscayne National Park, Pennecamp, all the various "bouyed off" SPA's in the Keys, Looe Key, not to mention most of the Tortugas is now protected.
Suggesting anymore such areas, especially in our neck of the woods, is just plain ridiculous. Its congested enough as it is out here, without turning vast areas near densely populated areas into no fishing zones.
You mentioned the groupers you saw in Looe Key.....just diving today I saw 10 black groupers during the course of the 3 tanks I did today. Two of which were better than 60 pounds and the rest were 25 to 40. Too many muttons 10 to 15 pounds to count.....not to mention the schools of tails. AND....AND had it been lobster season I could have easily put several hundred pounds in the boat. All this within 3 miles of Haulover inlet.
SO PLEASE DON'T TELL ME WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN VAST AREAS OF OUR OWN BACKYARDS BECASUSE SOME TREE HUGGING, GRANOLA EATING, FERRET PETTING, GERBIL BANGER SAYS THERE'S SOME SORT OF LACK OF FISH WHEN I SEE WHAT I SEE ALL THE TIME.