[Gulf Coast Outfitters]

As I sit here overseas I am drooling over the keyboard waiting for the first Cobia pic I have plenty of time to read the board and think about the rediculous snapper regs.

How about this thought?

Why not make the rec regs similar to the commercial regs? I.E, You get a certain number of pounds (or number)of fish to catch a year. What was it last year, a 60 day season? 2 fish per person. So if my days of open season are correct each rec person gets 120 fish. Well, I for one only went out 3 times, of course limiting on red snapper each time, so I took home 6. That leaves a potential 114 fish that I could have caught.

Each time I went out I could have loaded up, I wouldnt have caught 30 but I most likely could have caught 10 keepers or so. Thats loading up to me. I still would have been way under my season quota.

So why not let the rec guys catch a seasonal limit instead of a daily?

 

[sealark]

Simple answer, There is no way to monitor the recreational catch. The commercial catch is closely monitored with trip tickets and trip monitoring of each trips departure and return. There is no way they will ever do or be able to that closley monitor the recreational catch.

 

[Gulf Coast Outfitters]

I disagree although I knowthat somewould argue that it would bea pain in the butt.

But, We are all crying for a better way to count the fish. Why not have a call in and interent check in system. You go out, catch 5 snapper, call in with your license number and punch in 5.

Would be pretty easy for the LEO to check as well, he boards, looks in the fish box, sees 10 snapper. Radios in and finds that you have 100 snapper to go. He goes on his way.