Ban on Gag Grouper Fishing Killing Florida’s Economy

Federal and state fishery managers have closed recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for gag starting February 01, 2009 and continuing until March to stop overfishing. Overfishing means gags caught at an unstained rate, although gag stocks do not suggest evidence of overfishing; go figure how this came about without evidence in a decision to cost southwest Floridians millions in lost revenues. Out of all the time in which to pick a closure, the council closes the season down during a time when this type of fishing is at a peak in bring in angling dollars in state to merchant revenues. A trickle down effect could cause small businesses to close and tourist dollars to go elsewhere. Tourist to locals who spend money to go private charter fishing target the first three months of the year as the best opportunity in catching a grouper and will plan their trips accordingly around this angling event. Peak Snowbird season (tourists) is February and March of any given year. With this new ruling, it doubles last year's original recreational closure, from Feb. 15 to March 15. At a time where housing is at a rock bottom low and the dollar in a stimulus mode why, would anyone wish more ills on an already plagued state of economical failings? This closure may need to be but not at a time where people are depending on Gag dollars to pay the bills. By placing an additional ban on gag grouper by extending the closed season through Florida’s peak tourists time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast Region and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are killing Florida’s economy in Gag Dollars. These dollars represented in the forms of lost tackle sales, fuel sales, charter captain sales, fishing license sales, food, and ice and lodging all lost because of bad timing. In a time where we are all pinching pennies, someone needs to do their homework before taking dollars away area anglers and local merchants.