Management of gag grouper, tilefish, red snapper and other reef fish is a complex topic. And sometimes infuriating. It’s well within reason for anglers to urge for change, better data, longer seasons and simpler regulations.
To get there, let’s start with a basic understanding of how the system works. First, many of the fish we catch in Florida waters are “stay at home” species like seatrout, snook, and red drum. Their life histories, for the most part, are limited to state waters. Florida seatrout hatch, mature, and spawn in Florida waters. Populations of fish like these are managed by the State of Florida through the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Other states, like Alabama and Georgia, have their own respective managing authorities. By “manage,” scientists recommend annual catch limits…
