Regardless of what NOAA is telling us, If we can just get to them, the fish are out there!
Unfortunately for me I have a replaced hip & a very bad knee; for those reasons, I canceled last weekend's Florida Fisherman trip to the Middle Grounds. I would love to have gone.
NOAA keeps insisting that if it swims it's over-fished & in danger of going extinct. We who actually fish, know differently.
Check out this report from my good friend Mr. Vince Taaffe. Vince went; he knows,
"The fish are out there!"
We did excellent on that trip, despite what in all actuality was 8-12's mid morning , even with both deckhands seasick. we filled both boxes in the back and half of the front box, which is over two thousand pounds of fish. this was done with twenty anglers on the boat, half of whom were curled up in their racks or giving breakfast back to King Neptune( I was part of that group for a bit). so despite the odds being against us for that trip we did quite well. we did have a good group of advanced anglers which always makes a trip like that more bearable. everyone came home safe and we caught a lot of fish, which in my book is a success.
don't let the rough weather deter you, we caught more gags on this past trip than any other trip since the season opened, and our fish count has been increasing with every trip as well.
-Vince Taaffe
Thanks Vince! I will pass your excellent report directly to Jane Lubchenco, (head of NOAA), Roy Crabtree (Gulf Council & SAFMC), Pam Dana, (Rec. rep. Gulf Council), Nick Wiley, (head of FWC) They need to know, "The fish are out there!"
Bob H.
Just received from Pam Dana:
Bob, thanks for your caring and for keeping us informed on the fishermen's experiences in the "middle grounds".
I continue to take note of your perspectives and appreciate your nput.
Take care of the hip.
Pam
