If you look at the species that we recognize for entry, Snowy Grouper and Yellowedge Grouper fill in the “Grouper Other” category.

A couple of reminders: For entry into the KWFT, you cannot use Electric or “Power Assist” reels. Also, there is a new limit for Snowy Grouper. You are only allowed 1 Snowy Grouper per VESSEL.

That is a change from 3 per person, which is what it was the last time we could fish for them.

]]> http://www.keywestfishingtournament.com/2012/05/snowy-grouper-open-240-ban-lifted/feed/ 0 http://www.keywestfishingtournament.com/2012/04/snappergrouper-ap-notes-from-1819-april-meeting/ http://www.keywestfishingtournament.com/2012/04/snappergrouper-ap-notes-from-1819-april-meeting/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:29:08 +0000 Rob Harris, Tournament Director http://www.keywestfishingtournament.com/?p=543 As some of you may or may not know, Capt Rob Harris holds a position with the SAFMC Snapper/Grouper Advisory Panel. Last week there was a meeting held in Charleston, and these are some of the notes he took while at the meeting.

SAFMC Snapper/Grouper AP Mtg 18/19 April 2012

Meeting started with a review of past items and actions taken by Council

Amendment 24 (Red Grouper)

-   Still open for comment until April 30^th. Looking to finalize by June 12^th (Council meeting in Orlando 11-15 June)

Amendment 11 (Removal of 240’ Closure)

-  Approved by Council in Sept 2011….Still under review by SoC…….Awaiting measures to provide protection of Warsaw and Speckled Hind…..MPAs being looked at for South Atlantic

Regulatory Amendment 12 (Golden Tilefish)

-   Approved by Council at March meeting……Increased the ACL…. Approved a second start date for fishing year 2012…..Maintained Sector Allocation of 97% Commercial and 3% Recreational…….Changes to Allocation not discussed

Amendment 20A (Wreckfish ITQ)

-   Still open for comment until April 30^th. Looking to finalize at June mtg.

Introduction of Ms. Sara Drevenak from PEW.

-   Unscheduled, AP Chair asked her to come up and tell us about herself and PEW……She gave some background on PEWs interest in fisheries. Not in-depth.

Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA3) (MPAs to protect Warsaw/Speckled Hind)

-   Dr Chris Koenig (FSU) gave presentation on the “Shelf-Edge Reserves”……Madison-Swanson MPA in Gulf…….Very good presentation, can I address this separately……IMHO, not sure how this will/can factor into South Atlantic shelf edges. Too many environmental differences between Gulf and SA…….Strongest current he faced was .5 kts.

-   Roger Pugliese (SAFMC Staff) gave presentation on “Spatial Approach” for site selection….May 1^st, SSC report due to Council for areas to be suggested……No assessment on either stock…..Lack of data…..Looking for input from fishermen

• We spent a good amount of time looking over some catch data and looking at charts that have catch data placed on them.
• AP had limited input based on limited data given for areas to be targeted as MPAs.

Amendment 18B/EA (Golden Tilefish)

AP selected many of the Council Preferred Actions…….AP also voted and approved to use control date already established to move forward with for Longline Endorsements which would move the qualifying dates back to traditional fishermen in the fishery……. By choosing later dates, many traditional fishermen would be removed from the fishery while benefitting longline boats that recently entered the fishery.

Several new motions were made during “New business”

I’ve noted the Motion makers only to identify who can best answer any questions that people may have. Contact information for all AP members is listed on the SAFMC website.

I made motion to increase the Recreational Sector Allocation for Golden Tilefish to a 90/10 split between Comm and Rec (currently 97/3).

• I based this upon the ACL being raised (about double) in Regulatory Amendment 12.
• I feel that any changes to the allocation should be made before the second start date for the Commercial Sector.
• By making the change now, the Commercial Sector is still gaining in ACL and would not be losing any that they already had with the increase.
• Was approved at the AP level, with 3 “Opposed” votes.

Jim Atak made the motion to increase the Recreational Bag Limit and on Gag Grouper. After we discussed the motion and I pointed out that an increase in Gags wouldn’t help the SoFl anglers, the motion was amended to include Black Grouper in the increase.

1. Based on the years of the 4 month Grouper Closure in the SA, Gags have only been fished to 47% of the allocation. Red Grouper even less and Black Grouper barely 10%.
2. Motion was made to increase the bag to 4 Grouper and allowing 2 to be Black and/or Gag in the aggregate.
3. Approved at the AP level.

I moved to have Council Develop a Recreational Federal Snapper/Grouper Permit, like used for HMS.

1. I base this on the need to identify the anglers participating in the Federal Snapper/Grouper fishery.
2.  Will assist in better data collection as it narrows the field on how many anglers are actually participating in the fishery
3. Approved at the AP level

Jim Atak moved to increase the minimum size limit on Triggerfish and Hog Snapper to 18″. After discussion, this change was deemed too great and the motion modified to 14″.

1. Approved at the AP level

Mark Marhefka moved to have VMS mandatory for all boats participating in the Federal Snapper/Grouper Fishery (Comm and Recreational)

1. Was discussed and voted on.
2. Motion passed (approved at AP level), with 3 “Opposed” votes

 Meeting adjourned at/about 1:00 on Thursday

We also participated in the MPA public input meeting, starting at 6:00pm Wednesday night after the AP meeting.

Last Friday, I recieved the call informing me that Capt Jose Wejebe had lost his life in a tragic plane crash.

Many will recall his TV show, The Spanish Fly…but those of us that knew him will remember him simply as, “one of the guys”.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the millions of fans he had.

Catch’em Up, Bro

Thanks to the generous Donations of many of our local (and a few not so local) supporters, we have collected items that we will have at the Captain’s Meeting and Awards Dinner for the KWFT Kick-Off event.

Dream Catcher Charters

Double Tree by Hilton Grand Key Resort

Key West Extreme Adventures

Outback Steakhouse

The Restaurant Store

American Dog Outfitters

WRI (Fishing Weather and Charts)

Benihana

Hog’s Breath Saloon

Salt Water Soul

Key West Marine Hardware

Hemingway House

A&B Lobster House

Key West Golf Club

Pelagic Gear

Signs Unlimited

Chico’s Cantina

Key West Bait and Tackle

Key West Aquarium

Esky Rod and Reel Repair

In-Kahoots

Dante’s Key West

Bare Bones Beach Shop

The folks at Salt Water Soul found another kindred spirit in the Key West Fishing Tournament and know that our anglers have Salt Water in their Souls too. So they’ve sent us a box with shirts, sunglass straps, stickers and more for us to share with our Anglers. Be looking for these items at the Captain’s Meeting and Awards Dinner.

For more information about Salt Water Soul, visit their website by

“Clicking Here”!

Click here to view the latest WRI forecast and Fishing Charts for the Key West Fishing Tournament

Click here to create your own SeaWeather trial account, and view customized forecast & fishing charts online

In a landmark decision, the Board of Directors of the Key West Fishing Tournament has taken a step in supporting the protection of our ocean’s Top Predator.

No longer will the Key West Fishing Tournament accept weights for ANY shark species. We will only accept “Releases” of any/all Sharks for entry into the Key West Fishing Tournament.

All Sharks now join Marlin, Sailfish, Tarpon and more as designated “Release Only” species.

Check out our “Minimum Citation Weights and Lengths” page for more info.

Sponsored By Dream Catcher Charters

Is proud to announce our NEW Yellowtail Snapper Kick-Off Bonus Division Species!

What is a “Bonus Division Species” for the Key West Fishing Tournament Kick-Off?

In addition to the already set species for the Kick-Off, we will designate Yellowtail Snapper as a separate “Bonus” species.

How will the “Bonus Species” work?

Simply said, the boats that are already fishing in the K/O can pay an additional “Bonus Species” division fee ($50) and they are entered.

In addition to entries based on the overall KWFT K/O event, we will open the “Bonus Species” for individual entries (those only wanting to fish the “Bonus Species”).

The “Bonus Species” entries will be a “Vessel Entry” not angler based, and will be limited to 6 anglers per vessel (boat).

Each “Vessel” will be allowed to enter 1 (one) Yellowtail Snapper per day into the Bonus Division.

The electronic scale at Oceanside Marina will be the ONLY scale used for the Bonus Division weigh-in.

There will be a Key West Fishing Tournament Board of Directors member designated to focus ONLY on Yellowtail Snapper weigh-in.

There will be no Leaderboard for the “Bonus Species”.

Yellowtail Snapper will HAVE to be presented at Oceanside Marina during the same period that the scales are open for the General Kick-off. We will not accept any entries for the “Bonus Division” NOT weighed at Oceanside Marina.

Weights will be recorded by Vessel Name, and signed for by the person presenting the fish for weight on a KWFT form.

• Signature on the form will indicate that the angler agrees with the stated weight to and will ensure there are no “disputed” weights after the weighing is closed.
• Angler signature on the form finalizes the weight as the “official weight”.

A copy will be given to the angler, and a copy held by the KWFT.

Winner(s) will be announced AT the Awards Dinner.

There will be No Trophy, only a check presented at the awards dinner.

Do I have to fish both days?

No. You can fish either day or both. But you must fish the same “Lines-In” and “Lines Out” designated for the General Entries into the Kick-Off Event.

Will it be a 100% payout?

No. We will payout 80% of the total entries.

The KWFT will keep 20% as a donation for the KWFT.

How many Positions will it pay?

It will pay 2 (two) positions.

Top Yellowtail will take 50% of the pool.

And a position, the second paying position, to be named at the Captain’s Meeting after registration and will be based on the number of entries. (ie: 50 entries, we pay 1^st place and 25^th place).

While you may not have the winning catch, you may have the 25^th heaviest (based on the example provided) and still be in the money!

If we based the numbers on the assumption of Twenty (20) boats entered in the “Bonus Division” we would be looking at…

• Winner receiving $500
• Next Winner receiving $300

What is the Entry Fee for the “Bonus Division”?

$50

No requirement to be in the $200 K/O category.

Will there be any exclusions in who can enter the “Bonus Division”?

Yes, head boats will be excluded from eligibility.

There are far too many anglers on a head boat to have 1 (one) Yellowtail entered per day.

Commercially Registered Vessels (regardless of Dual license)

Tournament Sponsors

Members of the Key West Fishing Tournament voting Board of Directors

Registration for the “Bonus Division”

You must register at the Captain’s Meeting, March 16^th (at the Double Tree Grand Key Resort in Key West) between 6-8pm.

Once registration closes, the field is set.

The total number of “Bonus Species” registrations, 2^nd paying position and total amounts to be awarded will be posted on the Key West Fishing Tournament website after the Captain’s Meeting, the 16^th of March.

Final rules will be briefed at the Captain’s meeting and a copy provided to all registrants.

The Key West Fishing Tournament would like to welcome Dream Catcher Charters aboard as our primary sponsor for 2012!

Capt Steve Lamp and his “fleet” of boats is a perfect match for the format that the Key West Fishing Tournament operates on. From Back Country to Blue Water they cover it all. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t have to be all about the fishing. They also have combination fishing/snorkeling trips so that you can make the entire family happy!

Capt Steve can’t be in all places at one time, so he’s assembled a Crew of Qualified Captains that he has hand selected and trained for the level of fishing knowledge that he expects. You know that regardless of the trip or boat you select, you are getting one of the highest qualified Captains in the Keys.

Dream Catcher Charters is committed to the success of your fishing experience and our fishery, which is in line with the Key West Fishing Tournament’s philosophy.

Fishing is supposed to be fun, and is best when shared with friends and family. All of the Captains at Dream Catcher Charters are registered with the Key West Fishing Tournament and will assist you with filling out the paperwork to record your catch, be it a weighed catch or released.

We consider ourselves fortunate to call Dream Catcher Charters our Sponsor!

I’ve recieved several emails and phone calls about the photos, and here they are!

You can also just follow the Photo Tab from the main menu of the Homepage. If you have any that you would like to have me add to the Gallery, please send them and I’ll make sure they get posted!

Now it’s time to look forward to the Key West Fishing Tournament Kick-Off Event with our new sponsors, Dream Catcher Charters and Signs Unlimited!