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TimestampEnter your full nameemail addressCommentsCity, State, Zip CodeCheck all that apply
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6/12/2012 9:47:37Charles Domsoncldomson@hotmail.comI really am not concerned about when the closed season is for recreational anglers.
My complaint is that even when its closed for rec, the commercial fisherman continue to fish under the excuse of "bycatch".
I believe that the entire grouper fishery, deep and shallow/red and gag/rec and comm, should be shut down during breeding season. Period.
And if gag grouper is truly overfished and undergoing overfishing as your data shows, then shut down the gag fishery completely, for both rec and COMMERCIAL fishherman until it recovers. Your policies towards the commercial sector closures make no sense and appear politically or financially motivated Its quite sad really.
Charles Domson MD		Palm Harbor, FL 34683Private Recreational Angler
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6/14/2012 7:55:27Jason Descantreel.irie@gmail.comThe total number of fishing days should not be reduced no matter the season. The split season would allow Gags to be targeted closer in the cooler months. A reduced bag limit or increased size limit which would allow more days to fish, would be my preference. I would rather fish multiple days and be able to keep one fish then be discouraged to fish at all because I can not keep any fish.

For example if you give me 30 days to fish I can maybe (if I am lucky) fish two of those days.		ClearwaterPrivate Recreational Angler
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6/15/2012 10:56:31Michael H. Colbycaptmike50@hotmail.comWithin this framework action I would probably prefer Alt 3 (3b) and Alt 2 (2c). I am not sure if current numbers would support either. Clearwater, FL 33756Private Recreational Angler, Charter/Headboat For-Hire
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6/15/2012 11:49:52JOHN LAUBENTHAL MDjlaubmd@juno.comPlease reconsider the current plan of 'staggered' seasons. It's ridiculous to go spend hundreds of dollars to go fishing & be forced to throw back ~90% of what you catch (Gags, AJs, Triggers, etc). Currently everyone is so excited to be able to go catch 2 ARS p.p. (& maybe some Red Grouper), but basically everything else is closed. Do us a favor (& tell NMFS to 'shove it') & manage our resource for the good of fish & FISHERMEN. Most of us would rather have all the 'bottom fishes' open for ~3 months & then shut it all down. We'll hunt Cobia in the Spring & Troll in the fall (& fish inshore for Trout & Reds all winter). The current system could not be any worse (unless you outlaw fishing altogether)Panama City BeachPrivate Recreational Angler
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6/18/2012 4:28:17Thomas Robinsonthm53@comcast.netI would like to commend the council for considering this proposal. Your action on this matter of a 2 month ban on red and gag grouper, if you allow us to fish for the red grouper, will certainly allow the gag a reprieve. I have fished out of Naples for 35 years and I know the fishery well. Please heed the local outcry on this important issue.Naples,Fl, 34102Charter/Headboat For-Hire
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6/19/2012 5:01:57Capt. Mike Lucascaptmlucas@yahoo.comThe February- March closure for groupers at the peak of our winter season really hurts our charterboat business in southwest Florida .Naples, Fl. 34104Charter/Headboat For-Hire
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6/19/2012 5:04:36Christopher Boggscrboggs@bellsouth.netI hope to be in the market for a boat this year, but with all the short seasons and outright closures I am wondering if its even worth the investment. Gas prices and weather already make it difficult to reliably get offshore to the deep water species...why bother buying a boat if I can only keep a finite amount of fish during a finite period of time? We can't keep grouper for most of the year. We can't keep snapper for most of the year? Now triggerfish closures? All that's going to be left is the pelagic species that largely require trolling efforts...which can make them cost prohibitive...Tampa FL 33626Private Recreational Angler
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6/27/2012 12:57:25charles weaverhweaver@sswce.comby catch mortality is a problem, but look what is happening with the red snapper.
people tell me they catch 10 or 20 and cull them to get the big ones due to the small
limit. big mortality let everyone buy tags and increase the enforcement at the bay
openings and the docks and boat ramps.		auburn, alabama 36830Private Recreational Angler
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6/27/2012 13:31:20DONALD MARSEEdmarsee@yahoo.comI think the 20 fathom rule would work and that also would let them spawn.Temple Terrace,Fl. 33617Private Recreational Angler
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8/2/2012 11:59:05Thomas Pruitttw.pruitt@verizon.netPer the request above this Comments section on this web page....I am 61 years of age, once a licensed charter Cap....fished the waters of Florida's east, west coasts, and the Florida Keys since 1964. I fish the west central Gulf coast, off shore, about twice a week, during the better weather months.

My comment to you :


Considering the proposed open seasons for gag grouper... I believe that...even though great consideration should be given to the needs of the recreational anglers, as mentioned in your proposal....the first priority should go to the rebuilding of the gag stock.

I love to fish for grouper...I would not fish the offshore Gulf, when grouper are closed, were it not for mangrove snapper. That said ... I believe that for the next 3-4 years, and perhaps longer if necessary...grouper should be closed on the month's of November, December, January and February. All months that bring the grouper in closer, and all the while that Gag's are spawning should be closed, until the stock has recovered. Red grouper during the open months should have a four fish bag limit as compensation....they are in no short supply!

I have a hard time making this recommendation to you....seeing that I will probably be too old and shaky to get out on the Gulf before the stock has recovered enough to change the open seasons that would enable us to catch
the gags closer in, and catch enough to make the trip worth it. But..so be it !
I have two sons and grandsons I need to worry about.

Thank you for receiving my comment, and best regards.

Thomas.W. (Bill) Pruitt		Wesley Chapel, Fl. 33544Private Recreational Angler
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8/29/2012 9:17:35George S. Velkeygulfangler@aol.comMy sincere concern is that for years we senior citizens, retiree's and vetrans have enjoyed the grouper season in the inshore waters of the Florida Panhandle during the cooler months of the year. However this year, the season was shifted to occur in the hottest part of the year. I for one, am a senior, retiree and vetran whose health cannot tolerate the heat associated with fishing during hottest months of the year. I am certain that I an not alone in this concern. Those of us seniors, retirees and vetrans that share in the physical intolerances would Sincerly Appreciate the inclusion of cooler months in the 2013 grouper season. Perhaps consider a dual season where seniors can opt to fish during the cooler months inlue of the hotter months.

Sincerely Yours,

Older Fisherman

George Velkey		Panama City FloridaPrivate Recreational Angler
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9/5/2012 9:46:57George S. Velkeygulfangler@aol.comFor years we senior citizens have enjoyed fishing for Gag Grouper during the cooler months of the year on the shallow waters of the Florida Panhandle. We Seniors have Health problems dealing with the heat during the hotter months of the year. We would sincerly appreciate if you would consider including some cooler months like, November and December in the 2013 season.

Thanks, Senior Panhandle Fishermem		Panama City Florida 32404Private Recreational Angler
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10/5/2012 5:14:55Chris Salespiinthesigmasky@gmail.comA significant consideration in setting grouper season and limits should be bycatch impact on red snapper. This definitely needs to be considered to ensure the red snapper resource is not negatively impacted during grouper season as well as wasting a prized resource during outtings. In the last 2 years I have traveled from Michigan for 3 trips consisting of a total of 7 fishing days. During these grouper outings, outside of the red snapper season, 7-14# red snappers are being caught in grouper areas. After a deepwater fight, and even after taking the time to properly rejuvanate the fish, these fish are not recovering. They are returned to the ocean and sometimes they slowly recover, but more often the fish simply floats belly up after a few tries to recover, or sometimes a dolphin feeds on it. I must emphasize, I prize this resource and am putting more than 10 minutes into recovering these fish. I highly recommmend a mixed bag limit be created with concurrent seasons for grouper and red snapper, like is done for gag grouper with other grouper species. For example, how about a mixed bag of up to 5 fish, where 2 could be red snapper. This seems to be the consistent number of large fish caught on these outtings where reccovery is an issue. By the same token this will conserve grouper as snapper keeps displace grouper from the catch. Similarly, it could be 4 fish with 1 red snapper. Interestingly, I do not observe the same issue with smaller red snapper, so you could even go as far as to set a size limit, say 20" minimum on what is kept, where recovery seems to be a challenge beyond that length.

Thank you for your consideration of my comments.		Private Recreational Angler
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10/13/2012 12:15:54Randall Grahamjrgcpa@nettally.comHow does the Council know how many fish recreational anglers catch?

How has the Council addressed the long-standing practice of commercial fishermen selling their catch in ways that by-pass the trip-ticket methodology of record keeping?

Does the Gulf Council take trips and/or receive ANY other benefit, be it tangible or intangible, from commercial fishing interests? If so, how and where are these benefits disclosed

Does the Gulf Council recognize that the "appearance" of a lack of independence is just as significant as an "actual" lack of independence?

Tallahassee, FL, 32312Other
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10/14/2012 11:22:08John Grellestylinn@verizon.netIt seems to me that lowering th Gag grouper limit is another way to bring hardship to another select group of people in Florida ( fishing guides and recreational fisherman.) This action will affect our Florida economy in a negative manner.
Thank You, John Grelles ( recreational fisherman)		Palmetto, Fl. 34221Private Recreational Angler
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10/15/2012 14:53:17Capt Bill WalshDawnpatrolmarco@cs.comThanks for the opportunity to provide input. Never got notice of Naples meeting until this morning. As VP of Marco Island Charter Capt Assn was at meeting in Tampa last year with Capt Fred Lifton, Member of Reef Advisory Comm where we had agreement of Comm at adjournment that SWFL would have last half of Dec and month of Jan for gags to coincide with gag presence here and our "season". Agreement never made it to reality. So our input this time around in order of priority is
1. Move grouper shallow water restrictions to beyond 15 fathoms.
2. Provide SWFL with open season as prior agreement 15Dec to 31Jan
3. Reduce harvest to one gag grouper in an aggregate of three per day.
This is a very important issue here. Snook stays closed for big fish inshore and closed grouper during our season leaves us with mangrove snapper ??? as primary target
Again, thanks to the council for listening. Sorry I couldn't make the Naples session.
Captain Bill Walsh		Marco Island, FL 34145Charter/Headboat For-Hire
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11/7/2012 8:33:49Win H, Campbellwcampbell26@tampabay.rr.com Come on guys everyone knows the price of gas has gone up three fold ,and times are tough . There are far less people fishing offshore today than three years ago.You closed down grouper when the reglar man has a chance to catch the gags close to shore .There is far less fishing pressure from recreational anglers now than years past !!! How about 30 more day's for red snapper the commercial guys get the lions share of them ,where I live you have to travle 50 miles to get them .

51 YEAR OLD
NATIVE FLORIDAN
WIN CAMPBELL
npr fl 34653Private Recreational Angler
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12/11/2012 21:27:09George S. Velkeygulfangler@aol.comSir,

I have a question. It is proposed to close the 2013 Recerational Gag Grouper Season when the Annual Target Catch is reached. My Question is what critera is used to determine when the Annual Target Catch is met for the recreational fisherman?

Thanks, Senior Gag Grouper Fisherman		Panama City Florida, 32404Private Recreational Angler
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