Opean season on Goliath Grouper ... They need to

[cheebaweebie]

Any responses on the problem we spearfisherman like to refer to as Goliath Grouper or Jew Fish. More times than not when diving on a wreck or large structure with a stringer of fish on your thigh, you encounter those BIG hungry BASTAR*S. I have never myself had to beat one down but I have had fellow spearfisherman buddies that have had pretty bad experiences with them. As well as fisherman trhying to get their catch into the boat. They eat everything !!!. A close friend of mine had a GG take a big gag grouper he shot right off the bottom before my friend coulld get to him and sring him up on his stringer. The GG sucked the fish in and my friend had to wrestle the GG for his spear back for several minutes before he spit it - Gag Grouper GONE. I know the FWC has spoke about opening the season on those, maybe like a lottery or snook tag on your fishing license to thin the population but I'm not sure this is going anywhwere as of yet. Comments... horror stories... encounters... care to share ?

[fireflock]

Sounds like sharks in this part of the world. You're on their playing field and it's your job to protect your catch. You don't really own it until it's in the cooler.

There might be plenty of good biological reasons to open a GG season, but spearfisherman loosing their catch is not one of them (IMO).

Rich

[moosicman]

i think alot of study would be needed to determine if these fish are still as endangered as they are. but until then i think it would be UNWISE. i'm not for spoiling spearfishermens fun, but it is just that, fun. it is not enough of a justification if it threatens a species. they serve a purpose and our lesuire time takes a back seat in order of importance. that goes for sharks too! just my opinion

[RoadRacer1978]

Originally Posted by fireflock

There might be plenty of good biological reasons to open a GG season, but spearfisherman loosing their catch is not one of them (IMO).

Rich

Thats is my opinion as well.

[cheebaweebie]

I don't think they are endangered anymore but protected. I know for a fact that they (the FWC) have been in discussions to allow thinning of the population as they have been devouring everything on the reefs. This in turn could also be an ecological issue. Not only for the benefit of the fisherman.

[RoadRacer1978]

Originally Posted by cheebaweebie

allow thinning of the population as they have been devouring everything on the reefs. This in turn could also be an ecological issue.

This is a much better reason to open up season or allow a limited number to be taken each year.

[Splitlip]

I see more Goliaths than I do Gags

[cheebaweebie]

Let me tell you since the water started cooling off here over the last month or so and viz has improved in the gulf... I have speared more GAGs on ledges and wrecks this year than I have the entire 3 year I have been spearing. two weeks ago we hit a ledge in 60 ft and when I hit the bottom to make sure the anchor was set, I hit a 25 and 22 inch GAG and a 20 inch Red before I ever got a chance to look at the anchor. On our second drop in 60 ft on a WWII wreck I got another 26" GAG right after checking the anchor. We also nailed 3 amberjack and a couple of mangroves. On out 3rd drop we did a wreck in 40 ft (artificial reef) and we ran into a school of approx. 15 goliaths all 200lb plus. My buddy and I moved to the far outskirts of the reef and started spearing hogs and mangroves to fill the cooler. Back at the dock no later than 4:30 PM.