Directly from the desk of Mister Nick Wiley, head of FWC:
Hello Bob
"The Commission also authorized Chairman Kathy Barco and Executive Director Nick Wiley to issue an executive order opening gag grouper season in the state waters off Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin counties, including Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This gag grouper recreational season, if implemented, will open harvest in state waters during April, May and June, and close harvest in those waters during the July-to-October season. These changes will better align fishing opportunity with fish availability."
It is natural for folks to speculate about why these decisions are made, and I don't blame them for this. . Being at the meeting and hearing all the testimony from the people who took the time to be there can shed a lot of light on this decision. There were a number of people making a strong and sensible case for allowing gag fishing in the shallow state waters of the Big Bend during the spring months when gag are there and keeping this area closed for the July - October season when gag are not there. Also trading 4 months of fishing for 3, and gag harvest in this area is likley to be a small portion of the gulfwide harvest. These folks made the case that they would essentially have no season if they could only fish July - October. There also were a number of charter fishermen asking the Commission to go consistent. The Commissioners listened to these people, and their testimony made a difference. The Commissioners earnestly tried to find a way to address these interests or at least find some room for compromise. I am clearly biased, but I don't see how one can question FWC's integrity for this.

Also it is good to note that the schedule and locations for Commission meetings are set over a year in advance. When the schedule is set, we don't know how the issues will match up with the meeting schedule or location. Finally, I have participated in many Commission meetings over the years, and I know for certain the people who take the time to come to these meetings and participate in the process have a much better chance of influencing the process than those who watch from the sidelines and make comments after the fact. I offer these points with much respect for all the people who enjoy and/or make a living fishing in Florida. Take care. Nick

Sent to Mister Wiley:
Mister Wiley, this I understand:
"an executive order opening gag grouper season in the state waters off Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin counties, including Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This gag grouper recreational season, if implemented, will open harvest in state waters during April, May and June, and close harvest in those waters during the July-to-October season. These changes will better align fishing opportunity with fish availability."
What I do not understand is why only in Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin counties? In State waters we, in the Central Florida region, also have the same:
"Opportunity with fish availability" as do our Northern counties. Hold the meeting in the Tampa Bay area, and you would hear the same request you heard in Tallahassee. In the Summer months our gags also migrate offshore. As outlined, we in the Tampa Bay Area, will have little to no gag fishing within State waters for 2012. Give us a chance also.
Respectfully, Bob Harbison

Mister Wiley's reply:
Hello Bob. Unfortunately, it is clear there are still places on the Gulf coast that will not be able to take gags during the best time for catching them under the current season structure. Over the past year, FWC staff advocated for the longest possible season with the 2 fish bag limit. The July - October season was the compromise we ended up with recognizing it is not the best case scenario for any specific portion of the Gulf from a fishing perspective. It is my understanding that a large majority of the gag harvest is from central Florida and south given proximity to more big cities and more anglers. As I noted in my previous email, we believe gag fishing in the 4 counties in the Big Bend area represent a very small portion of the gag harvest and therefore not likely to provide cause for reducing the 4 month season. Unfortunately, going with a different season in central Florida and further south is much more likely to impact the 4 month season if it results in a significant increase in gag harvest. There are no easy solutions that will help everyone while minimizing impact on the 4 month season. I sincerely wish there were. Respectfully, Nick.

Nick Wiley

I will take gag grouper anytime I want to eat one. I am a conscious patriot willing to go to jail if they can prove that stopping recreational anglers will somehow make more grouper appear.

Here or in the panhandle. People can take two grouper every day they can fish (30 days a year max for 96% of us on the water) and never in ten million yers reduce the grouper population. It is time to fight for real.

Stop me.

So true Gary, kinda like global warming ca ca and we have shut down the world to save it - save what for who?

The new point for management is "its the experience", see FS Confron

I agree with you Gary. This has nothing to do with conservation at all. Thats just a term designed to have you give up a little of your liberty. little by little till its all gone.

Unfortunately we (as fisherman) are and have been party to the destruction of our own rights. The vendors all fall into the same trap too. Go to any club, group, magazine related to fishing and you see the environmental nutjob terminology pasted all over it. Conservation, sustainability, green and the like are code words to limit freedom. We are often working hand in hand with the same crew trying to bleed us out incrementally. Are there some fisherman, hunters, etc. that abuse? Sure. But I have been in the outdoors my whole life and met hundreds if not thousands of sportsman and can count on one hand the number that fit in that category. And I usually set them straight. But arguing on the terms of your enemy is insanity. And all these bans, catch limits, etc. are always sold on the same faulty premise. That it will help you and future generations. Its all designed to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Sorry, but, recreational fisherman cannot and will not ever impact any species. We simply can't catch enough of them. There's not enough time available to do it if every rec angler caught fish after fish every time they casted. It's not physically possible.

The problem is NOAA. NOAA has the final say so when it comes to our, or what was once our, fishery. NOAA has absolute control over federal waters, and, for all practical purposes, also State waters. The Gulf Council has input, (Federal waters) but NOAA has the final word. The 'final word' under the guidelines of EDF & Pew.
EDF & Pew, the backbone of Shares/Separation. Shares/Separation, the privatization of a national treasure, our heritage, our fish. Shares/Separation, the end of fishing as we know it.
So exactly what part does the FWC play? The FWC is responsible for Florida State waters, waters extending nine miles into the Gulf. However, there is a catch! NOAA provides cash flow for FWC research; as such, NOAA controls the FWC. Every wonder why the State of Florida followed the Feds with a 'ridiculous' 2 month gag season in 2011? NOAA controls the $$$; NOAA controls the FWC.
The really sad part is that we, we the American fishermen/women, through apathy, have allowed the 'take over' of what was once our fishery, to occur. Let Bob do it, let Gary do it, is the prevailing factor contributing to the destruction of the entire fishing industry.
Educated, united, and eager to fight, the will of the American people can overcome any obstacle; can overcome Shares/Separation. Bob H.

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btw Bob...thnx for going and doing something. It's not that no one cares, it's that the assault is happening on all fronts not just fishing. Literally every industry or activity is being assaulted with arbitrary rules that prevent people from being free.