Comment from Charles Saussy, Individual Recreational Diver/Fisherman

I have fished the Central Eastern Gulf of Mexico on a regular basis for about 20 years, much of this time spent spear fishing. I've noticed obvious fluctuations in various species populations from year to year. For instance, I could not find a Red Snapper in the mid 1990s, then after a hurricane traversed the Atlantic and turned into the Gulf in 2001 we started seeing them everywhere. In 2004 and 2005 there virtually no Gags in 25" to 80" I beleive because of emergency Phosphate dumping to the South and extreme red tide conditions, probably caused by the phosphate dumping. This year I have been spear fishing about a dozen times and I see alot more of all species than in the last 4 years. Overall the Gags are numerous but small. I agree with the concept that we all have to be good stewards of of this great resource and I agree with concepts of your agency. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery is a resource for all American fishermen, Commercial and Recreational alike. In that spirit I urge your commision to consider equal measures of regulation to both interest. Please do not close grouper to recreational while leaving it open to the long liners. Please do not lower the Red grouper size to 18" for commercial and not for recreational. Additionally, A man should be intitled to make a living on the sea whether commercial or recreational, but I think the Long Lines go way beyond working out a living, they are big business with way to much by catch killing. The seas are empty of recreational boats when it is 4 to 6' but the 60+' long liners are out there fishing for SYSCO or General Foods. Limit it to vertical line and spear gun and you will have acomplished more for the Gulf Fishery than you ever will trying to please everyone. You will probably save a lot of turtles and sharks in the process. Let Red Lobster feed the tourist with aquaculture and bandit caught fish.