Future Commercial vs. Recreational Take?

[ecooler2]

I had an interesting thought the other day by chance. I had some work done at my house and when I asked the repairman how much the bill was he replied “just give me a couple bags of snapper” to which I replied “I’d rather pay you since that stuff is like gold”.
That got me to thinking. Might there be a time when I can’t keep any red snapper (thinking yes) and the only way I can eat red snapper is to buy it? If so, does that mean that the commercials will still be allowed to retain red snapper when they finally eliminate the recreational take? Hoping I am wrong in my concerns….

[Savage Rods]

Unfortunately, I think you might be right. It's getting to the point you won't be able to keep any, although you can't wet a hook without catching one. They've become a pest. But if things keep going the way they are, you'll never eat a fresh caught federal water snapper again. But commercials will still get their take. Sad situation. It's gonna hurt alot of people in the business too. Guides, rod builders, tackle manuf, tackle stores, etc. No one seems to think about that either.

[Possession Limit Lures]

As long as Texas retains it's backbone, you may have to eat frozen winter snapper catch, but it's still real good. If you haven't joined in yet, help with the 2cool reefing project, if we can do what Alabama did, who cares about snapper fishing in federal waters.-Mike

[justhookit]

Originally Posted by Don Savage

Unfortunately, I think you might be right. It's getting to the point you won't be able to keep any, although you can't wet a hook without catching one. They've become a pest. But if things keep going the way they are, you'll never eat a fresh caught federal water snapper again. But commercials will still get their take. Sad situation. It's gonna hurt alot of people in the business too. Guides, rod builders, tackle manuf, tackle stores, etc. No one seems to think about that either.

I probably need to point this out on the other snapper threads that are being viewed more, but the reality is that most of the "fresh" snapper sold here in Texas restaurants are NOT fresh federal snapper . . . and that statement applies even here in PortA. In fact, despite what the waiters here in town may tell you, only one restaurant here in town has fresh snapper at all. Sad.

[great white fisherman]

It is a shame that fisherman have not come together in both mind and money and formed a fishermans group to represent us. NRA is very strong and well respected however us fisherman are more individual and we do not have the strength in numbers. Unless we do something collectivly with our spirit and our money I guess we deserve what we get. I have wanted and wanted to establish a national fishing orginization to represent fisherman from all over the country oon issues that involve fisherman by region. Unless we pull together we will be pulled apart.

[Calmday]

Originally Posted by great white fisherman

It is a shame that fisherman have not come together in both mind and money and formed a fishermans group to represent us. NRA is very strong and well respected however us fisherman are more individual and we do not have the strength in numbers. Unless we do something collectivly with our spirit and our money I guess we deserve what we get. I have wanted and wanted to establish a national fishing orginization to represent fisherman from all over the country oon issues that involve fisherman by region. Unless we pull together we will be pulled apart.

RFA

[Bonito]

I spoke to a Comercial Fisherman last week and felt like crying. He said his boat just got in and they had 6,500 lbs. of Red snapper, 1,800 lbs. of B-liners, and the list went on.

Like Great White said, unless the Recreational fishermen organize and hire lobyists to represent our interests, then it will only get worse.

[Unbound]

Originally Posted by Calmday

RFA

What he said.

[BEER4BAIT]

PM Jim Smarr to join it does not cost a lot. We had a banquet last year, looking to do some membership drives this year. May tag a trigger fish so the lucky angler can win another year fishing in the blue with the rest of us JK Get with Jim Smarr.

[jim smarr]

The Recreational Fishing Alliance has always been nown as the "NRA" for Saltwater Anglers. We are a 501 c-4 under the IRS code. We are true lobbist in the States Capitols and the Unined States Capitol. We have had a major influx of great folks because we fight for fishing rights inshore and offshore. We are a National Fishing Rights group with membership wherever there is saltwater.

We are the first call a foul when our fishing rights are at stake. We are not salried as State Chairmen. We have paid staff at the home office. We do what we do because we feel it is the right thing to do protecting fishing rights. Our membership is not drawn for any other reason.

Click on the RFA link above to join our ranks.