News

SAFMC Moves Forward with Process to Help Protect Spawning Areas

Federal fishery managers met last week in Charleston, South Carolina to discuss a broad range of management measures, and approved four amendments to fishery management plans for submission to the Secretary of Commerce for review.  In addition, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council agreed to continue the development of Amendment 36 to the […]

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Massive Offshore Red Tide Bloom Kills Thousands of Fish

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have confirmed that a large, offshore red tide bloom in the northeast Gulf of Mexico has killed thousands of reef fish, including grouper, hogfish, and snapper. They report that the bloom has also killed many sea turtles and crabs, as well. Using satellite imagery from the University of South […]

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News

GMFMC Requests Emergency Rule for 11-Day Red Snapper Season

From the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council: After receiving a briefing on a recent court decision in response to a legal challenge on management of the recreational component of the red snapper fishery, the Council took actions to prevent the recreational sector from exceeding its quota in 2014 and beyond. For the short-term, the […]

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News

Rule Change Should Allow Charter Captains to Keep Snapper and Grouper

Last December, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) voted to change a rule that prevented charter boat captains and crew from keeping snapper and grouper caught on their vessels. That change goes into effect on Monday, January 27, 2014, allowing captains and crew to keep snapper and grouper according to recreational regulations. The Florida […]

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News

Best Bet out of Auckland? Snapper and Tuna

For those of you lucky enough to be fishing in New Zealand waters around Auckland, Cuvier, Island and down to Tauranga, the word is that there are still plenty of snapper around. The problem is that snapper are in the middle of their annual spawn, and spawning fish are often a bit finicky about eating. […]

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Hand Line Snapper Tournament

The 3rd Annual West End Snapper Fishing Tournament and Festival, will take place this Saturday, June 22, 2013 in West End Grand Bahama. This year’s tournament and festival theme is “Celebrating the Fishing Legacy of a Community Over Forty-years.” The tournament is designed to display West End resident’s hand line fishing skills as well as […]

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NOAA Wants Feedback on Bag Limits

NOAA has announced that it will be seeking comments from the public about bag limits for Vermillion Snapper and  annual catch limits for Yellowtail Snapper. In addition, NOAA is considering eliminating the  ventilation tool rule for boats reef fishing and is asking for public input on the matter. You can read the full announcement from […]

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News

Cobia Bite is On!

We’re getting word from citizens of the Saltwater Nation around Destin, Florida that the cobia have started to move in as waters are warming. Most of the fish have been in the 30-40 lb range, though a few over 60lbs have started to show up as well. Anglers are having good luck using eels and […]

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Tracking Keys Commercial Fishing

The Miami Herald reports that local commercial fishermen in Key Largo, Florida unanimously voted yesterday to oppose mandatory satellite tracking for vessels fishing for snapper and grouper. The meeting and vote come in response to a South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposal to require all federal snapper-grouper permit holders to install vessel monitoring systems on […]

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