What is the latest on the fight between the Feds and the state on red snapper?

Endangered species list. $25,000 fine for looking at one.

I need some info to write about it. Can't find much on it.

LINK

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to Meet in Mobile, Alabama

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet February 5 - 8, 2013, at the Marriott Mobile, 3101 Airport Boulevard in Mobile, Alabama. The full Council will convene at 10:30 am Thursday and is expected to adjourn by 3:45 pm Friday. Agenda highlights are summarized below.

Committee meetings will open Wednesday with the Reef Fish Management Committee to review a scoping document for Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocations. The Committee is also slated to take final action on a Framework Action to address Vermilion Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper ACL, and the Venting Tool Requirement.

The Committee will also:

Discuss a For-hire Days-at-Sea Pilot Program
Review comments received on a scoping document for Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper
Receive a summary from the Socioeconomic SSC Meeting held in January
Discuss issues addressed during the January 7 - 8, 2013, Special Reef Fish Committee Meeting which include:
Draft 2013 Red Snapper Framework Action
Red Snapper Allocation
Red Snapper IFQ 5-Year Review
Red Snapper Regional Management Issues
Review Exempted Fishing Permits related to reef fish (if any).

We are in the scoping phase, where the Gulf council reviews comments from public re: Fed vs. State Management. Then Gulf Council will make a recommendation to the NMFS who will likely keep control over the fishery, so nothing new except a 27 day season and possibly less fish. :banghead:

So Feds are saying snapper is endangered, la is saying you're wrong and we want to make our own limits and seasons?

You're not kidding Hat, catch bigger fish reach TAC faster and we are catching the breeding stock. Catch the small ones, not enough have or will make it to sexual maturity and our season gets shortened. You dive, you know what you see down there and it damn sure doesn't look like they are in trouble.

I agree Hat. I haven't spear fished in a while but the last few times i went with a rod we limited out the first two drops with the line and had to target other species the rest of the day. Even when i was big into diving in the late 90's early 2000's snapper were easy to come by.