Comment from Alan Lamarche

I am a retired Law Enforcement Officer, Administrator and Trainer. I began my career as a Florida Wildlife Officer with FWC and served in various capacities including 3 years as the Deputy Director of the Law Enforcement Division. I have advanced degrees and am a very observant person. I have recreationally fished for grouper and snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, primarily Apalachee Bay, out of St. Marks, Shell Point and Franklin County, Florida for over 30 years. My fishing time now is primarily devoted to taking youngsters, most of them for their first time, and introducing them to the thrill of the "powerful pull" of a grouper and the "reward" of a grouper dinner. I fish a lot now, and I realize that I do not have a first hand knowledge of the entire Gulf of Mexico, but I believe that my observation and studied opinion off of the coast of Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin Counties in Florida is superior to anyone at NOAA. Our local gag and red grouper fisheries for the sport fishermen has always been seasonal. We have excellent near and off shore fishing during the spring and fall months with most of our grouper going too deep for us to pursue (or they develop lock jaw) from late January to March and during July and August. This year is no exception. Our gags and reds were here in good numbers during April, May and June, and they showed up again in September as they do every year with minor variations in quantity and size. Currently, during our trips inside of 40 miles, many inside of 20 miles, we are having no problem catching plenty of keeper gags and reds with one or two "hawgs" on each trip. We never go out when our youngsters don't throw back dozens of undersized grouper of both persuasions. If we are in shallow natural reefs, it is not unusual for our kids to catch and release 50 or more undersized gags. The same is true for the short reds in the natural "live bottom" a few miles further out. There is one thing that I have noticed that is so obvious that no one at NOAA will acknowledge. The 800 pound Gorilla in the equation that the "Scientists" won't admit about the recreational fishing pressure on our grouper is that it is only about 30% of what it was just 3 or 4 years ago. The terrible economy has resulted in a majority of the former weekend "grouper diggers" who used to trailer their boats from South Georgia and Alabama to go back to "pond fishing." Those who could afford to rent Marina space have sold their boats or are trying to sell them. I said I'm observant and I am. My retirement home overlooks the Bay and a former Marina that died because of the economy. I regularly visit the only two remaining Marinas within driving distance, and they are struggling to survive. They have very few remaining customers and almost no grouper fishing clientele. When I go grouper fishing now, we have the entire Bay to ourselves, save an occasional boat sighting on a fair weather weekend. It is a truly sad situation that NOAA completely ignores. The main point being, that there is NO "pressure" from recreational fishermen on grouper in the northeastern Gulf. I cannot speak with authority about the rest of the Gulf, but I suspect that the economy has substantially reduced "previous pressure" every where! I don't buy the NOAA explanation of why Commercial fisherman should be able to keep 100,000 pounds of gag grouper and a sport fisherman can't keep one! If the fish is caught in deep water and might die if released, does it matter who releases or keeps the fish? A Sport might "occasionally" go fishing and help support a Marina if he can catch a couple reds and keep at least one gag, but he won't go at all if the gags are completely eliminated from the daily bag. Since the inception of NOAA, I have heard commercial and recreational fishermen, who have spent a lifetime on the water, criticize the Data Collection methods of those Federal Biologists who make these "throw out the baby with the bath water" recommendations about our salt water fisheries. I have read letters and articles by knowledgeable and observant fishermen offering to take these Scientists out with them to show them first hand where the fish are located. I am making the same offer today in an effort to urge the decision makers to refrain from further depressing an already depressed part of our society and for the sake of a generation of youngsters who, because of your over reactions, may never experience the thrill of the "diggers of the Gulf." Respectfully Submitted, Major Alan Lamarche, Retired Shell Point Florida