fisherick

Went back to my favorite livebottom area yesterday and area was pretty much completely wiped out. Was there just a week ago and lots of fish. About 30 min after arriving, a small commercial boat came within 1/2 mile pulling some kind of net. This is in about 130 feet of water. All that was still there were small grouper and scamp....I guess stuff that can get in a hole and hide. The boat was not a shrimp boat, but was definitely pulling some kind of net. Is this legal? Regardless of answer, it sux.

JoeZ

If you were in federal waters,yes, it's legal for commercial boats to fish.

fisherick

It was in federal waters.

markw4321

I have seenboats pullingnets at the yellow gravel area.Always thought they were deep water shrimpers? Are they netting fish, just curious?

Mark W

Sea Monkey

The OLE move about.

Natural bottom fishing at its best or worst. I mainly fish Natural Bottom myself. One thing to realize is that the fish swim around. I'm not trying to sound smart or anything. You can fish a rock one day and load the boat , go there the next day and only catch ruby lips. Its fustrating , cause you are counting on catching a load of fish. We have a rock we fish that has produced 3 ADSFR 1st. place fish. Been to the same rock and there will be nothing on it!!!! Go there again and there are AJ's that are eating 20in. red snapper. Its called fishing. Not trying to take the blame off of the net dragger. I wonder if Dr. Crabtree figures these net draggers in his scientific equations while implementing his fishing regulations???

sealark

I would suspect that those boats pulling nets are scallop boats. About 20 years ago they were in here from the east coast and they did destroy many of the smaller private spots. Those nets will pick up a car or similar reef ball in a heartbeat. As for the coups they don't stand a chance. I hope I am wrong about them being scallop boats.:banghead