Comment from Aaron Scholten

We do NOT need annual catch limits established for Red Drum in the gulf or anywhere else. Each state has their own rules and regulations governing Red Drum and each states rules vary widely. This is because the 'status' of the Red Drum varies widely from location to location. To try to put them all under one 'general blanket' would be cumbersome at best. As it currently is, each state is doing a very good job of keeping tabs on Red Drum population and managing it. Florida is even considering increasing the bag limit. There is NOT a crisis on Red Drum requiring ACL's and it has been this way for a while. The states, through their own respective Departments of Natural Resources, Game Wardens, FWC, Marine Patrol's etc have much greater resources to ACCURATELY gauge current conditions and trends in Red Drum Populations than your office currently has. They have a much broader sampling base to make their judgements on and are not relying on very limited inputs or 3rd party data which may have an agenda attached to it. You need to allow the states to continue managing their own population of Red Drum in their waters. There is no one solution fits all in the case of Red Drum. Please, let the states keep doing the good job they are, there is NO need for ACL's on Red Drum. Thank you Respectfully: Aaron Scholten