Season of change coming for grouper

Who's on first, what's on second?

That's part of the not-so-comic routine among reef fish anglers this spring as they try to understand exactly when the various seasons for gag and red grouper will reopen after the spawning closure.

Both species have been under tight regulation as a result of a massive kill during the 2005-2006 red tide that lasted for months. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) biologists estimate that about 20 percent of the red grouper and 18 percent of the gag grouper died off during this event.

And, they say, gags were already being overfished due to targeting of the adult spawners far offshore. Because gags take a long time to mature and because only a few survive the decade or more required to create males (all are female at hatching), researchers say it's easy to overfish the species even while strong numbers of small fish are still evident.

However, recreational anglers argue that there has been near zero recreational and charterboat pressure on the offshore reefs for more than a decade due to the price of gasoline, which can cost upwards of $500 for a trip to the outer ledges in a twin-engined V6 rig, and far more for larger diesel powered boats.

Additionally, the majority of recreational anglers point to amazing numbers of undersized grouper inshore in the Gulf, where catches of more than 50 small gags daily have become common for those who know the numbers.

In any case, bottom anglers have an increase in harvest opportunities this year for the first time in many years with a change in the red grouper bag limit to four fish daily. Federal regulators feel that at least this species has recovered sufficiently to allow additional harvest, thus the increase. The limit on gags, however, is two daily as part of a total four-grouper bag.

Under current state law, anglers fishing in state waters, up to 9 nautical miles offshore, can harvest gags April 1-Dec. 31, and red grouper April 1 to Jan. 31 of 2013.

Under current federal law, anglers fishing federal waters more than 9 nautical miles offshore can harvest gags July 1-Oct 31—just four months—and red grouper April 1-Jan. 31 of 2013.

The tricky part comes in this, that the state has indicated they want to match their rules to the feds to avoid the very confusion that now reigns among grouper fishers all along the West Coast, and could take up the change as early as February.

Bottom line is plan to go red grouper fishing on April 1, no matter what, and stay tuned for a ruling on the gags.

Long-time area grouper-diggers like Captain Mark Hubbard who operates a fleet of charter boats out of Treasure Island say that choosing the summer months for open season on gags is unfortunate because keeper-sized fish are mostly far offshore at that time, out of reach to most recreational anglers due to fuel costs.

The selected season would pretty much prevent all gag harvest in the productive shallow rocks from Anclote Key all the way north to Steinhatchee, where keeper grouper are often caught in depths of 8 to 20 feet in March and April. But at any rate, Hubbard and others are hopeful that this may lead to increased harvest opportunities later as stocks continue to recover—barring another massive red tide, of course.

For a look at current federal regulations, visit

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/fishing_regulations/index.php. To see current state regulations, visit www.myfwc.com.

IN A NUTSHELL

GULF OF MEXICO GROUPER RULES

STATE WATERS LESS THAN 9 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE:

Gag Grouper Season: April 1-Dec. 31. Bag limit 2, 22-inch minimum.

Red Grouper Season: April 1-Jan. 31, 2013. Bag limit 4, 20-inch minimum.

Overall, anglers in state waters can possess a total of four grouper, only two of which can be gags.

FEDERAL WATERS MORE THAN 9 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE:

Gag Grouper Season: July 1-Oct 30. Bag limit 2, 22-inch minimum.

Red Grouper Season: April 1-Jan. 31, 2013. Bag limit 4, 20-inch minimum.

Overall, anglers in federal waters can possess a total of four grouper, only two of which can be gags.