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awesum

I copied this from another board and am posting it here in hope of getting the word out on these meetings. As you know we have been enjoying a Red Snapper season in state waters that is unlike the one imposed in federal waters. And although it seems to work well that could be changing.

It also mentions sharks and at this time I don't know what changes they are proposing but it could affect surf fishermen even though I feel most of you are catch and release on sharks anyway.

If we don't fill the rooms at these meetings they will surely think we don't care. I hope some of you can attend the meeting in Port A January 9th.

TPand W is having a series of meetings in January to "consider changes in the present Red Snapper and Shark fisheries to attain greater consistency between Federal reulations and State Regulations . This is Agencyspeak for " we are getting a lot of pressure from the Feds to close state waters when the EEZ closes and we going to cave ." The only way to have a chance to keep a state fishery is to put a lot of pressure on them to keep it the way it is . If not, get ready for 2 fish 16inches from June thru Sept in state waters as well .

All meetings are from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Jan 3 Port Arthhur Public Library
Jan 8 Galveston Co. Extension Service Office Dickinson Tx
Jan 9 University of Texas Marine Science Institute Auditorium Port Aransas
Jan 10 Port Isabel Community Center Port Isabel

A good turnout for these meetings will be sorely needed

omaka · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: meeting

Awesum,

I hear man, but you know they already made up their minds, stick it to the recreational folks and increase the commercials catch, size, lenght, weight, hours, weeks, months, etc etc etc. Sad

awesum · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: meeting

topdog15 · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:25 am Post subject: Re: meeting

cephus · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: Snapper

I plan to make the meeting and ask why it is that the TPWD seems to be wanting to change it's position that Texas waters held a good population of snapper as compared to other parts of the Gulf. As I remember that is why they chose not to conform with the Feds in the first place. For my part, I and 3 of my friends have been fishing off-shore out of Port Mansfield on a regular basis for 10 years and our opion is that snapper fishing is better now that it was 10 years ago. That opion is supported by everyone I have talked to at PM also. I sure hope we can get a decent crowd out to check their oil.
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Off Shore Port Mansfield

The Trash Heap

If you want to contribute some positive elements instead of gloom and pessimism to this discussion and especially at the hearings, tell TPWD to make changes to the tackle and baits allowed. TPWD can in turn tell the feds to follow their lead instead of messing with the catch limits.

Too many small red snapper are being taken by the commercial and recreational fisheries because small hooks and not-fish baits such as squid used. Young red snapper switch from eating mostly crustaceans and squid to targeting other fish as they grow older, so, if only large circle hooks baited with fish are allowed, the gear will select for the older fish, and any small fish still hooked are more likely to be hooked in the corner of the mouth, facilitating their release. Outlaw the use of any invertebrate as bait and enforce a minimum size circle hook. This will automatically make it harder to catch and fatally injure undersized red snapper.
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The Trash Heap Has Spoken!
NNYYAAAHH!!!

gulftrout · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 1629

To make it illegal to fish with squid or shrimp in the Gulf is not an answer to anything. I personally enjoy pulling up to a shallow water rig in state waters, dropping a fresh dead shrimp and catching a mixed bag of drum, reds, sheephead, triggerfish and yes, large "Gulftrout!" Banning a particular bait would be headed down a slippery slope. As far as snapper go, that slope has gotten very, very slippery. Good luck with your meeting, may the force be with you!

Fish0157 · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 278

How it should be in both state and fed, is a keep the first 3 or 4 caught. ive seen time in time out having to throw maybe 8 15'' snapper to dies to catch on 16''. its ridiculous, keep the first however many.

The Trash Heap · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:43 am Post subject: Out of Context

cephus · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: snapper

Trash Heap, I use large circle hooks for almost all the fishing I do including Snapper, AJ's, Ling, Tarpon, or what ever else latches on, but I have caught some of my largest Red Snapper when drifting a whole Ribbon Fish on a conventional 3 (J) hook rig. Will TPWD ticket me for having that rig hooked up and ready to use after I have snapper in the box?
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Off Shore Port Mansfield

The Trash Heap · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: snapper

awesum · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

I use 2 oz., 3 oz. and sometimes 4 oz. jigs for Red Snapper. Sometime bare but usually baited. I very rarely catch one under 16" but am probably more guilty of taking breeding stock than most snapper fishermen. I would be willing to have a slot with retaining only one fish over ..... say 25" or 26".

Any data on whether the survival rate of a released snapper is better in the shallower state waters than in the deeper federal waters?

I hope I see several of you'all there at the meeting.

gulftrout · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 1629

awesum · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

If you're coming down the island road just stay on it to the second traffic light. This would be the light at the Tarpon Inn and it's Cotter street. Turn right. Go on out through the neighborhood and it takes you right past the UT Center. It will be on the left. You should see some other cars and trucks there in the parking lot.

If you're coming across on the ferry then you just stay on that road all the way. Unless of course you need to stop at Shorty's.... Wink

gulftrout · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 1629

Thanks for the directions, I will try to make the meeting. I am curious to see what TP&W has to say about this and what their plans really are, including blacktip sharks. I am afraid this is just the tip of the iceburg for what is in store for offshore fishing. The feds seem to be fond of season closures. I recall back in the late 80's the feds closed the season a couple years for kingfish. I remember fishing kingfish tournaments out of Port A. and trying to stay inside that magical line of 9 nautical miles from the beach. Looking at an anchored shrimp boat and thinking, this is going to be close. Imagine if the TP&W would have went along with them at that time, the whole Texas Charter Fleet and rec. fishermen would have been shut down for no other reason than because they wanted it so. I support size and bag limits over closures. I hope TP&W stays on the same path they have been on for years!