Goliath on 30lb

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Sailed sunday AM w/ 52 angling enthusiasts Was slow, and hot. Couple of the regulars caught a bucketful of lanes, porgys, and seabass. Googans, and tangles galore........Not a stellar experience. Afternoon trip was a 180 degree different ride. Bats on the first rip produced a couple short cobia. Anchored up on the six mile and had a nice bite of 2-4lb mangroves, and redeyes. Couple gaffer dolphin graced the slick and fell for well placed sardines. Shortly after a falling down drunk customer hooked up on a 30lb boat rod to what I thought was the bottom Fought it for 40 mins a crank at a time.....Rare golden sand shark??? Saw its silouette and then the spots. Nice goliath about 225lbs. Blown up, so we lip gaffed her and poked her bladder. Couldn't not snap a few shots. Kodak moment done we released her healthy, to fight another day. Love those fish.They are like modern day dinosaurs. Should have a couple pics e-mailed to me tommorow.
DF2...OUT

[mneptune]

Let's hope they lighten up on the regs for these groupers. A one fish per boat limit would be acceptable.....

[DIRTYFOOT2]

I'd like to see a tight slot opened up as well. We are catching them now over natural bottom, artificial reefs, and in da river. Couple years back we caught em only on the big artificial reefs. So they have definately made a nice come back. Question is, what level of harvest is sustainable, and is any level of spearing sustainable

[kyle]

No spearing or Commercial sale (from a commercial guy) But anything over 150 and below 250 should do.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

That suits me just fine That one we set free yesterday would of fit just right

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Originally Posted by kyle

No spearing or Commercial sale (from a commercial guy) But anything over 150 and below 250 should do.

Does this one fit in da slot? goliathdeck.bmp

Looks like the right size to me

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Few more picsnice goliath 002.JPG

nice goliath 004.JPG

[Disco Lady]

CONO!!!!

[Boboe]

Leave the jewfish be. They can't spawn 'till they're 100# or something like that. They need time to recover more before we start killing them. Allowing 1 per boat doesn't sound like much, but there are a lot of boats out there and the numbers add up.

[kyle]

Okay make the slot over 350lbs, 99.999% of people could never get one up, # wouldn't add up that fast.

BTW haven't been to St.Lucie recently, everything from 40 to 180ft is covered with them. Last Friday I bottom fished and touched 16 YES 16 of them all over 200LBS. To me its getting alittle carried away.

6 of the 16 also had antennas sticking out of their throats, WERE HAVE ALL THE BUGS GONE?????

[Uncle Buck]

I agree. 1 per boat, with a minimum length. If ya go by weight, that means ya have to lift and hang 'em... Pretty much a death sentence to any grouper over 30lb. Find a "corner-of-jaw" to "center-of-tail" length that allows 'em to be measured easily IN the water, and large enough to have bred a few seasons before they can be harvested. No commercial or spear harvesting. I would be 100% FOR that.

[kyle]

Thats what I meant Buck not an actual weight, but to figure abouts how long a 350 is and then you have a minimum size limit. Let not forget the great PINCH THE TAIL.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

If they eat any more bugs and snapper the outlaws are gonna start crushin em.

[Boboe]

Gotta keep the powerhead spearfishermen away from the jewfish. They won't last if that's allowed. The problem I see is that there'll be a lot more spear poaching going on if they're allowed on rod and reel. If you didn't witness me spear it, you can't say that I didn't catch it on rod and reel and then dispatch of it with a bang stick at the boat. I just want to see them recover fully, along with all the other fish out there. Get rid of the shrimpers.