Home | Tournaments | Calendar | Weather | Merchandise | Sponsors |
|
Florida Gulfcoast Spearfishing Post here to discuss regional action or issues about spearing on Florida's Gulfcoast. |
|
Thread Tools | Rate Thread | Display Modes |
11-18-2016, 01:25 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1
|
14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
Most inshore gulf hogs shot are 12-14 inches. FWC research showed hogfish populations in the Gulf are healthy. You would expect it to be healthy after the limit of 5 was established along with the vast habitat of the gulf. What stakeholder party thought going to 14 inches was necessary as a conservation measure if the population is healthy? This sounds like some Liberal feel good BS.
HOGFISH CONSERVATION MEASURES AND BOUNDARIES SET Thursday, November 17, 2016 Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943 or Amanda.Nalley@MyFWC.com The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several conservation measures that are consistent with federal rules and set a new state management boundary for hogfish at the November meeting in St. Petersburg. “Hogfish is an economically important species that is popular with the diving and angling community,” said Chairman Brian Yablonski. “This was not an easy decision, but will help balance the species’ needs while still offering opportunities for anglers.” Hogfish is overfished and undergoing overfishing in the Florida Keys and east Florida. Federal law requires the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to end overfishing immediately and implement a 10-year rebuilding plan. Because most hogfish off the Keys and east Florida are taken in Florida state waters, consistency with similar regulations pending approval in Atlantic federal waters is necessary to rebuild the stock.Hogfish -map The effective date for the state waters changes has not been determined but once confirmed, a date will be posted on MyFWC.com and will be sent out via an additional press release. The new state management boundary between the Keys/east Florida and Gulf stocks will be at 25 degrees 9 minutes north latitude (a line due west of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida). Once effective, hogfish north of Cape Sable will be managed as Gulf hogfish, and hogfish south of that line, around the tip of Florida and up the Atlantic coast, will be managed as Atlantic hogfish. Prior to this change, the boundary for hogfish was a line following U.S. Highway 1 in the Florida Keys. This new management boundary line is closer to where Gulf and Atlantic hogfish stocks naturally separate as determined by a recent genetic study. Other approved conservation changes include: Lowering the Atlantic recreational daily bag limit from five to one fish per harvester. Setting an Atlantic recreational harvest season of May 1 through Oct. 31. Increasing the Atlantic recreational and commercial minimum size limit from 12 to 16 inches fork length. Increasing the Gulf recreational and commercial minimum size limit from 12 to 14 inches fork length. Setting the minimum importation and sale size limit to 14 inches fork length statewide. The size limit increase and recreational season will allow Atlantic hogfish more opportunities to spawn before entering the fishery and, along with a bag limit change, will help rebuild the Keys/east Florida hogfish population to sustainable levels. The size limit change for Gulf state waters is also consistent with pending regulations for federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf stock is healthy, but stakeholders requested an increase in the minimum size limit as a conservation measure to give hogfish additional spawning opportunities. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Hogfish” for more. |
11-18-2016, 02:03 PM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 1,684
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
I am all for increasing the size but going from 5 to 1 is ridiculous.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
11-18-2016, 02:09 PM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Denver/Palm Beach
Age: 29
Posts: 2,158
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
I'm all for the size increase, but that definitely is rough on you guys going from 5 fish to 1. Personally, I think a 14" minimum is still too small
|
11-18-2016, 02:14 PM | #4 |
Naval gazer extraordinair
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,214
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
personally, I won't shoot one below 15", that's when they become even worth while, meat wise.
__________________
“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” ― Frederic Bastiat, The Law |
11-18-2016, 03:06 PM | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: St Petersburg
Age: 36
Posts: 52
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
Agreed.
__________________
F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver Certified "Be the change you want to see in the world." |
11-18-2016, 05:16 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Mandarin, FL
Posts: 266
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
|
11-18-2016, 05:20 PM | #7 |
Reload,Shoot,Reload,shoot
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: St. Petersburg, Fl.
Posts: 59
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
12" is too small. The yield is so little, kinda like a 12" sheepshead.
The hog population in the gulf is healthy. The majority from Sarasota to Bayport who have been diving the last couple months has usually limited recreationally with larger hogs. They are so thick right now. Are large majority of the local recreational and commercial harvesters are for it, and support it. Attending one of the hogfish assessment meets, everyone in the room was in favor, even though commercial divers are going to take a big hit on their income for a year or two, they still supported it.
__________________
Brent K. St. Pete Underwater Club Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club |
11-18-2016, 05:43 PM | #8 |
Naval gazer extraordinair
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,214
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
A big hit? The poundage isn't much to be concerned with. I've done plenty of commercial dives and rarely did I see anyone shooting less than 15" hogs.
__________________
“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” ― Frederic Bastiat, The Law |
11-18-2016, 06:30 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Palm Harbor, FL
Posts: 953
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
I'm good with this. I was a little worried they would do something stupid like 14" and a 1 fish bag limit here. At least they recognize that this side of the state has a healthy hog population. In a year we'll be seeing inshore hogs 14-16". Better for us and better for the fishery.
I look at all the 22" gags I didn't shoot this year and know next year they will be 24"+. |
11-18-2016, 07:42 PM | #10 |
Reload,Shoot,Reload,shoot
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: St. Petersburg, Fl.
Posts: 59
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
Yes the guys not diving deep water. 12" - 14" hogs add up real quick in pounds and dollars. And yes they will take a cut in income for a bit, and will have to focus on more IFQ species or dive deeper for bigger hogs, less quantity.
__________________
Brent K. St. Pete Underwater Club Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club |
11-20-2016, 02:22 PM | #11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: york,Pa. St. James City,FL.
Age: 69
Posts: 192
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
Yes , a step in the right direction ,,.. As for me , I like to put in a little extra effort and come home with two or three 18 incher's , then five of those little ones....
And two more cents ,,,,,, I still think something is a little out of wack when the bag limit is the same for Hogs and Mangrove snapper's ,,,,,,, just say en .....
__________________
S.O.S. |
12-01-2016, 09:48 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 107
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
I cook em whole. \
|
12-01-2016, 10:14 PM | #13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: West Florida
Age: 35
Posts: 1,184
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
Quote:
|
|
12-01-2016, 10:16 PM | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 1,684
|
14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
|
12-01-2016, 10:21 PM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: West Florida
Age: 35
Posts: 1,184
|
Re: 14" Minimum Hogfish in the Gulf
|
Bookmarks |
Tags |
hogfish |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | Rate This Thread |
|
|