This summer there were Red Snapper in the ship channel in the Bay!

I have always made it a point for myself and my crews to be as accurate as possible when filling out surveys. It is very important that the government see the true numbers since they are “supposedly” working for us.
Anyone who has fished for snapper in the last few years can tell you that there has been an increase in the red snapper stock; especially in the GOM. I do believe that limits help control over-fishing for many species, but sometimes these regulations are over-kill and go too far.  This is especially true when you look at the number of lives that will be affected if this regulation passes.
From all of the research and surveys that I have seen, the red snapper population in the GOM is on the rise, not fall. There are many small red snapper in the GOm because they are reproducing so quickly, not because all of the big fish are being caught. Even Dr. Bob Shipp has commented on this. He is one of the top marine biologist and researchers on the subject, and he has tried to get this point across. 
Maybe we all need to band together and push to get someone like Dr. Shipp into a position in our government where he can help our community and when we speak, we will be heard. Out someone in the position who has direct knowledge and has been out and collected the data themselves.  Not someone who sits in Washington behind a desk and makes decisions based on inaccurate data.
  Next time you go out to eat seafood, ask for fresh local seafood only. Support local!

Cap’tcb, as a commercial and charter cap’t how honest are you in filing out the paperwork?  Those surveys play a big role in determining the limits.

I have grown up doing both charter fishing and recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and I have never seen as many Red Snapper as there are now.  I have caught Red Snapper in waters from 45’ deep to 250’ deep in the last year.  THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! You can not go to a rig, wreck, or any other structure in the Gulf and not catch red snapper. 
  Who are these people that make the decisions regarding the snapper stocks?  I am not sure what kind of system that they use to determine the health of the fish stock, but it has definitely got to be flawed and in need of some major reorganizing.
  It is time for both commercial and recreational fishermen to stand together and fight these rediculous and unnecessary laws and regulations.  The government is not only affecting many peoples recreational activities and livelihoods, but also the lives of everyone who has any ties to the fishing industry. 
  The fishing community produces millions of dollars in revenue every year that produces the very tax dollars which pay the government officials that are shutting our industry down.  It is time to ban together and put some people into these positions that will work FOR the fishing community, and not AGAINST us!
  I have grown up on the Gulf Coast and believe that the only seafood that should be served in our local restaurants and markets.  Imported seafood has really hurt many of our commercial industries and we all need to stand together and fight for stiffer taxes!

I’m with ya’ll.  I don’t buy meats at wal-mart either.  It doesn’t even look real in the package.  Not putting down wal-mart I was there today.

If you are purchasing fish at Walmart then this will have little to no relevance to you.  Additionally, that’s kinda gross.  You should try some fresh fish sometime.  You may like it.

ami says,
“But when I go to walmart and plan on buying enough fish to make one dinner for two people… I end up having to buy a HUGE thing of fish.”

Ami, I cringed when I saw you bought fish at walmart.  Most, if not all fish at a walmart are imported from Vietnam or China and are “farm raised” in rural areas in small ponds dug on their property.  These fish (usually tilapia or basa) are fed antibiotics with their food as these ponds are not the most sanitary in the world. 

That’s why the price is so cheap, even after shipping from around the world. 

There are several local seafood shops where you can buy local fish, fresh or frozen, or at least fish processed in the US or neighboring Gulf of Mexico countries.  This apples to shrimp as well.

A recent law makes vendors which sell imported seafood list the country of origin on the packaging.  Please take a moment and check these labels for your family’s health.

Once or twice will probably not hurt your health, but please think twice before buying cheap imported fish and shrimp from walmart.

One a day is rediculous.  $100 in gas, $50 in bait and other items, that’s an expensive fish!

Razorsharp, I may be one of those people you are talking about. But when I go to walmart and plan on buying enough fish to make one dinner for two people… I end up having to buy a HUGE thing of fish. I would have to eat it every night for a week to finish it off! I totally get what you are saying, but maybe another thing that needs to be added to your list is the way these fish are packaged. Not everyone in America is shopping for a huge family of overweight individuals. Some of us live alone and just want fish *one* night for dinner…
On occasion when I have a few extra bucks to go to the Freshmarket for some fish that is sold in small quantities, I will… but then again, those few occasions are far too few.

RJ I’ll second that. Seen the video myself. Just another way for agencies to get more money for the monitoring cost.