Comment from Everett Melnick

know recreational fishes in the heat of summer. These kinds of measures wilI have been recreational fishing in FL. waters since the '50's. I retired 14 yrs. ago to my home in St. Pete and live in a waterfront community for the sole purpose of keeping an offshore boat at my dock and having easy access to the Gulf waters fishing. Like most local resident fishermen, I keep only what I can consume on a day to day basis and do not keep fish just because I can catch all I want. I think your proposed management measures are ill conceived with regard to resident, local recreational fishermen and overly punitive to the wrong segment of the fishing population. From my perception of personnel watercraft in my self-imposed 10-mile limit(mainly due to the high cost of marine fuel) very few boats I see target grouper because of the high incidence of terminal tackle loss. I think commercial gag fishermen should be restricted to adjusted limits, further distances and deeper water. Finally, the July 1 through Oct. 31 proposed season is unrealistic, since practically nobody I l ruin the recreational fishing industry in central FL. and lose jobs associated with water access areas. I have never been stopped for a creel count in the past 14 yrs. of recreational fishing on Boca Ciega Bay, Tampa Bay or the adjacent waters of the Gulf Of Mexico.