Snowy Grouper proposed bag limit amendment

[Incognito]

NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing an amendment to the Snowy Grouperand Golden Tilefish regulations. Here is a summary

-Decrease the commercial annual quota from 151,000 lbs gutted to 84000 lbs gutted over three years

-decrease commercial trip limit from 275 lbs gutted to 100 lbs gutted over 3 years

and

-Limit possession to one per person per day within the 5 grouper per day aggregate recreational bag limit.

They would also limit the possession of Golden Tilefish to 1 pp per day and it would continue to be counted in the grouper bag limit.


Please send an email to 0648-AT75.NOA@noaa.gov and voice opposition to the recreational change. There is no sense to limiting recreational anglers as the participation in the deep drop fishery is very limited. I estimate that 1 in 500 recreational anglers take part in deep dropping. Those that do deep drop do not have a measurable negative impact the fishery as it is not a regular fishing method and it is already restricted by weather and current ion addition to the limited participation.

Also you cannot release grouper caught at 500 feet so this makes no sense. That would mean that you could continue to fish for Rosefish and Tilefish as they are caught in the same locations but if you caught a Snowy you would have to release the fish to certain death.

Please comment that a closed season during spawning would be a better method for reducing annual harvest. If you agree with that as I do.

Please put 0648-AT75-NOA in the subject line as well.