More Fish but More Rules
Capt. Larry Pentel
February 10, 2009
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
I guess the biggest thing to report this week isn't the fishing but the fish o crats latest attempt to show how little they understand reality. As many of you know the Feds have severely cut back on snapper fishing, both recreational and commercially the past few years. Last year the Federal season opened June 1st and ended August 15th with a 2 per person limit on Red Snapper. Federal waters start 9 miles out off the Florida Gulf Coast so just about all the charters I run are in State waters. The Feds have pushed the State to go along with them the past few years but the State scientists have repeatedly said they see no need for these stringent restrictions as not only is the snapper stock in good shape, it is increasing steadily. To the anger and embarrassment of the Feds, State waters remained open the past few years from April 15th till October 31st. We all got to fish most of "tourist" season, have fun and eat well, even if the State did cut the limit back to 2 per person to try to pacify the Feds.
The Feds do not like to be argued with. If you don't agree with 'em they usually have some pretty big sticks they'll pull out and beat you into submission with. They pulled a Louisville Slugger out on this one. First, they said that any vessel with a Federal reef permit had to abide by Federal law NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE FISHING ! Now, to be able to run charters more than 9 miles from shore you have to have a Fed permit. (I had planned on just transferring mine to another boat so I could snapper fish State water). Next, they said if the State didn't go along with 'em they may have to shut Snapper down to a 1 month season, or maybe just close it completely. All the "big" charter and party boats quickly realized this would put them out of business. Who is going to spend $1,800 on a trip if you can't catch snappers, when you can pay a third of that and keep 'em on a "little" boat. The Destin and Panama City "big boat" Charter fleets lobbied the State to go along with the Feds so that they could at least have a 4 month Red Snapper season. I understand the reasoning completely, a lot of these guys are my friends and this was simply survival. There was a contingent of recreational anglers from Pensacola who argued against it but the State regulators had already been pressured hard by the Feds to go along.
The end result is this years Red Snapper season opens June 1st and closes Sept. 30th with a 2 per person bag limit in State and federal waters. This, even though there are more ( and bigger) Red Snapper than there have ever been in my memory. 'Course I can only recall back about 30 years accurately to my first "gulf" boat I bought when I was 22---prior to that I was pretty much a head boat kid--.
It's all politics, has nothing to do with actual Fishery "management".
On a much brighter note. There are still lots of fish to catch. I ran a trip last week on a nice calm day with 3 locals I got to wear out on a big school of Jacks. We also found a school of Amberines on another wreck and some triggers as well on a third spot. Oh yeah, it was the last day we could keep Gag Grouper for 2 months (more management) so we grouper fished a little as well.
Still plenty of big fish to catch!
The weather has warmed back up the past few days to down right wonderful. The bass are starting to bed on this full moon, the Pompano never really left this winter with sporadic catches still happening on the beach along with some redfish, and the surface water temp is well over 60 in the Gulf. The Cobia and Spanish will be showing up in force in a little over a month. I guess we need to get our fill of Redfish and Amberjack before then. That's the best thing about being here- There's always something biting !!!
Capt Larry Pentel
Destin Fishing Forecast:
The big bass will be on the bed for the next month or so, Still lots of Reds in the passes and flats and the sheepshead should be starting to gang up around the big structure anytime. Offshore the Jacks will continue to be the best bet for a big pull but the vermillion snapper should start to gang up and move in within the next month as well. They may not be big but, boy do they eat good!
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