HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[jimsmarr]

National Marine Fisheries Gulf Coast Council Meeting January 12 Corpus Christi

We are trying get a good turn out at the Council meeting. We will be supplying a letter on each proposal that can be faxed in prior to Council meeting. We need copies to enter in the record. NMFS now realizes first 5 fish could cut mortality in Recreational Sector. Please help push these
by attending the meeting. Most of the time Texans never show up. We have a big ground swell movement starting in Houston to support this plan. We need to let them know what Texans think about the loss of our Winter Snapper fishing. RFA Texas has been preaching this plan for five
years. We will be working with the Port Aransas crowd to get them involved. We will post the time for public comments as soon as we have it.

Thanks

Jim Smarr



RFA Texas and Red Snapper

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RFA Texas will support first Five or what ever the number Biologist agree will sustain the fishery caught on a Recreational trip as long as the number is over Five. We conducted mortality studies during the 18" rule and found 70 to 80 percent mortality in Texas. This is not a catch and release fishery with the above mentioned mortality rates. NMFS has long been aware of these studies.
Why they have chosen to ignore the regulatory discards is beyond belief. The Magnuson Act plainly states that Reglatory Discards should be reduced as much as possible. This is a good chance for them to act according to their own law. RFA Texas would also support a separate zone for Texas since our fish are caught at depth.


Regulatory discards would be eliminated allowing a 12 month fishery in the Recreational Sector. The regulatory discard savings would be off the chart.



RFA Texas has asked RFA National to petition NMFS to allow the Recreational Anglers to continue fishing due to the Hurricane down time as the Commercials have asked for. We should have a response soon.



RFA Texas would also like to see Texas Parks and Wildlife jump on the Artificial Reef Program as the East Gulf of Mexico has done. We need to push NMFS to allow oil rigs to be dropped in place. We need to push for more barges and ships for the reef plan. Texas has been asleep at the wheel on this issue. We need more in State Waters. Alabama has done a great job on artificial reefs. Texas could benefit from an Artificial Reef Program in State waters. Put structure in place and the snapper will come.



Jim Smarr

RFATexasState Chairman

361-463-1558

jimsmarr@austin.rr.com

[awesum]

I'll be there.

I too, have wondered why Texas doesn't have an artificial reef program such as those in other Gulf states. I really think that is the answer (solution) to the problem. I joined SEA when they first got going because they had plans to pursue the artificial reef issue but that seemed to fall by the wayside.

First five would be good, or even just lowering the size limit to 14" or 15" would really help. I do a lot of party boat fishing and often fish between 14" - 16" make up 90% of the catch. Deck hands don't have the time to spend towards properly treating these fish before returning them to the water or the mortality rate would be improved.

I rarely catch the smaller fish since I used larger jigs and baits that target legal sized fish, however, 90% of the participants on a party boat are either tourists or occasionals that use the equipment furnished by the boat.

[fred]

I too will try to make this meeting and support most of the RFA positions, but would like to make a few observations. First, I think most of the problems with the snapper population as well as flounder is in large part related to "gulf" shrimper bycatch. The amount of finfish, crabs & other critters other than shrimp that are shoveled (dead) overboard from each drag is staggering. As far as "recreational fishing is concerned I think the use of "circle" hooks rather than "J" hooks will result in far fewer dead fish. This is supported by observations made over several years watching friends try to remove "J" hooks from the lower gill and throat areas compared to almost all "circle" hooks catching in the corner of the jaw area. Another issue is the best way to return a snapper with a ruptered bladder. I have read lots of ways to releave the pressure in the fish so they can resume swimming but now I am reading that the best thing to do is leave them alone and they will recover on their own as per a "Dr. Russell Nelson" in the November/December issue of TIDE. I am not too sure about that.

[michael]

I like the 15 inch size limit in state waters. The water is not to deep to bloat them up. Right now in state waters you catch many 14 1/2 inch fish. I believe this is because the close in rigs get hit pretty hard. Fish in state waters normally release very well. If you allow the first 5 fish in state waters it will lead to no snapper at all in my opinion.

I personally would be more in favor of a buyback program for red snapper commercial licenses.

Artificial reefs are a excellent idea. Lots of little small ones everywhere to hang the shrimpers nets on...........I believe I heard somewhere that this was the reason that we didn't have more reefs here.

I as a fishermen am more concerned about the health of the resource then days I am allowed on the water. I think fishermen need to take this stand so they can continue to tell the commercial guys they are out of line.
_________________
Mike elbert

[jim Smarr]

We are working on a workable buyout plan accross the Gulf.

We can push for reefs inshore so everyone can enjoy snapper. Alabama has done a great job on artifical reefs. We need to be pro active.

[Big John]

Yep, Michael is right on here. There are tons of 14 1/2" fish out there. We put back a bunch of them that one day. They swim off just fine in the shallower state waters. They don't even bloat. Most of the one's we caught were in 40 to 60' of water and they swim right off, were as I am glad the redfish we caught were slot sized, because they come up with their swim bladders poking out of their mouths and other end.

Keeping the first 4 or 5 or even 2 is not the way to go. Otherwise, there won't be a state fishery of snappers to mention.

What happened to the plans to take all the old cement from the JFK rebuild out and use to make several artificial reefs?
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[Jim Smarr]

State waters can be regulated by TP&WD to whatever works in state waters. Fed waters were what I was talking about as far as first 5 which is a true conservation move with 70 to80 percent mortality rates as evidenced in our own studies along with what is on the record at NMFS. WE actually had a study done with UT folks with the results having a PhD stamp on them.

thanks for the comments

Jim Smarr
361-463-1558

[Big John]

Jim, I misunderstood your question the first time around then, and apologize for answering a different question. Since the federal waters are much deeper, the rule would make sense. I could see were the mortality rate could easily be that high based on depth of water, and type of anglers.

Good luck!
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[jimsmarr]

Thanks for the reply.

[michael]

Most of the snapper out deep 100 plus feet of water do bloat up pretty good. I also don't think puncturing them helps that much. It does help but wounds can't be good.

In California we had a rod rigged up with a hook tied on a certain way so we could deliver black seabass right back to the bottom without the pin prick. I Don't think this would make since with snapper fishing though. It takes allot of time.

I like the commercial buyout program as long as those quotas that are bought up don't just get transferred to some other commercial fisherman.

I would love more snapper reefs in close. I fish for them a good bit out deep but I love catching them on lighter tackle in 80 feet of water or less. They pull pretty darn well like that and are very fun to catch.

It would be awesome to build up the reef program in state waters and then not allow any commercial fishing for them in state waters.

Anyway if I can help at all let me know.
_________________
Mike elbert

[snagged]

Jim,
Where is the meeting going to be held?
_________________
Jerry

Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.

[jimsmarr]

The public comment will be in the am on 01/11/06 as we now understand.
We will post up new information includig a letter when we have it.

Jim Smarr
361-463-1558
Texas Recreational Fishing Alliance
rfatexas.org
savefish.org