too many red snapper!

[love2fish]

went out with a few friends yesterday- about 90 miles out of Tampa Bay, trying to catch some warsaw or snowy grouper. averaged about 4-6 big 20lb range red's for every grouper we got up to the boat. Ended up trying 4 different spots trying to get away from the reds.

1st grouper of the day:


Hated sending these back to the bottom!!!


Pretty amazing sunset on the way in:

[Blue Agave]

Excellent!

I just posted on another thread here on the forum how the FEDS data on Red Snapper is completely inaccurate.  I love red snapper!  Yum!

[Circle Hooked]

Great post and great fishing, thanks for sharing with us, I couldn't agree more on the Snapper deal, these guys pull these regulations out of their azz with no legit science to back it up.

[John Jones]

these guys pull these regulations out of their azz with no legit science to back it up.

That about covers it.  All the feds are worried about is keeping the big commercial fleets in business.

[seabob4]

these guys pull these regulations out of their azz with no legit science to back it up.

That about covers it.  All the feds are worried about is keeping the big commercial fleets in business.

Pretty much!  Gorgeous Reds, man, the fillet's that baby would make...

And I don't see the guberment getting any better, any time soon.  Run by lawyers, for lawyers...of big corporations.  Anybody here in Tampaland check out the article in yesterdays St. Pete Times on the net worth of our President and the current candidates?  Like any of them care about us lowly citizens?

[Blue Agave]

these guys pull these regulations out of their azz with no legit science to back it up.

That about covers it.  All the feds are worried about is keeping the big commercial fleets in business.

Completely accurate, FEDS make no $$$$ on the recreational quota.

[gran398]

They shut the snowy's down here two years ago. We had a wreck in 650 feet that was loaded up with them.

The commercial boys thumbed their nose at the feds. After all, it was 70 miles offshore....and enforcement could only come from one direction. So...if you kept an eye out every once in a while to 330 degrees...no prob.

Then one slick weekend.... their  helo showed up

[love2fish]

On the first spot- my friend with the numbers was so excited about warsaw and snowy's and never mentioned reds- he's been there a dozen times and never caught a red there... we left that spot out of frustration because there were so many there!
All we kept joking about was: "there goes a $150-180 fish" everytime we'd drop them back overboard. I have heard stories and after yesterday agree... the number of reds that could die while trying to catch another fish seems to be pointless...if there was a per person limit on the fish, so you could maybe keep 1 or 2 red to fill your cooler and be finished- it would save countless reds. (or insert other species of fish depending on what you're going for).
regardless- it was an amazing day out on the water and my arms are still tired from reeling in fish from 400 feet!

[Blue Agave]

400ft = electric reel  

[love2fish]

Blue, I agree! we had 1 on the boat, but never hooked it up. I try to not mix beer and power tools! haha.

[John Jones]

I have heard stories and after yesterday agree... the number of reds that could die while trying to catch another fish seems to be pointless...if there was a per person limit on the fish, so you could maybe keep 1 or 2 red to fill your cooler and be finished- it would save countless reds. (or insert other species of fish depending on what you're going for).

There have been many studies done by biologists and suggestions made to just allow a 2 fish snapper limit, period.  The first two fish you pull up go in the cooler, then you are done.  The number crunchers say it will save countless fish.  The feds just ignore it.  

You do know that the commercials can also keep ARS as short as 13"?

In my experience, venting does little good on ARS.  Grouper seem fine but with snappers no matter how careful you are some just will not go back down.

[Circle Hooked]

And I was tired from reeling up from 80 ft    

JJ commercials can also keep 18" Red Grouper and bycatch, we had a 18 " Red that was gut hooked we had to throw back, shame we couldn't bring it home instead of feeding the other fish with it :x

[seabob4]

Wonder how many Feds fish?

[Circle Hooked]

My guess 0

[T Race]

On the first spot- my friend with the numbers was so excited about warsaw and snowy's and never mentioned reds- he's been there a dozen times and never caught a red there... we left that spot out of frustration because there were so many there!
All we kept joking about was: "there goes a $150-180 fish" everytime we'd drop them back overboard. I have heard stories and after yesterday agree... the number of reds that could die while trying to catch another fish seems to be pointless...if there was a per person limit on the fish, so you could maybe keep 1 or 2 red to fill your cooler and be finished- it would save countless reds. (or insert other species of fish depending on what you're going for).
regardless- it was an amazing day out on the water and my arms are still tired from reeling in fish from 400 feet!

L2F,

Great post, excellent photos, glad you had such a cool day and thanks for sharing with your buddies !