[Destin, FL.–] Lowering my live threadfin herring bait more than 115 feet to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, I was really hoping to hook a red snapper instead of an amberjack. For one thing, …
Goliath Grouper, Grouper & Snapper Management Meeting Jan 7-9
27 Dec 20139:06 AM
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2013
CONTACT: Kim Iverson
877/SAFMC-10 or 843.571.4366
Joint Meeting on South Florida Management Issues and the Goliath Grouper Joint Council Steering Committee Scheduled
A joint committee of the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils will meet January 7 – 9, 2014 in Key Largo, FL to discuss South Florida Management Issues. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Key Largo Resort and will begin on Tuesday, January 7th at 8:30 a.m., and conclude on Thursday, January 9th by 12 p.m.
Agenda items for the meeting of the Joint Council Committee on South Florida Management Issues include:
- Presentation on the South Florida Issues workshops held in July/August 2013;
- Overview of status and trends for South Florida species; and
- Discussion of species specific management concerns and next steps for yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, hogfish, mangrove snapper, shallow-water groupers, Nassau grouper, warsaw grouper, and speckled hind.
Additionally, the Ad Hoc Goliath Grouper Joint Council Committee and the Joint Council Committee On South Florida Management Issues will meet to review the last stock assessment for goliath grouper and to hear a presentation on the recent Goliath Grouper Stakeholder Workshops and survey. Other items on the agenda include the review of recommendations from the Ad Hoc Goliath Grouper Joint Science workshop and a review of ongoing goliath grouper research.
Meeting information including the full agenda can be found at: http://safmc.net/meetings/other-meetings.
Photo Courtesy of Capt. Randy Towe
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![](mailto:?subject=Goliath Grouper, Grouper & Snapper Management Meeting Jan 7-9&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/goliath-at-hand.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-1785" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/goliath-at-hand.jpg?w=650" /></a>
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2013
CONTACT: Kim Iverson
877/SAFMC-10 or <a href="tel:843.571.4366" target="_blank">843.571.4366</a>
<a href="mailto:kim.iverson@safmc.net" target="_blank">kim.iverson@safmc.net</a>
Joint Meeting on South Florida Management Issues and the Goliath Grouper Joint Council Steering Committee Scheduled
A joint committee of the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils will meet January 7 - 9, 2014 in Key Largo, FL to discuss South Florida Management Issues. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Key Largo Resort and will begin on Tuesday, January 7th at 8:30 a.m., and conclude on Thursday, January 9th by 12 p.m.
Agenda items for the meeting of the Joint Council Committee on South Florida Management Issues include:
Presentation on the South Florida Issues workshops held in July/August 2013;
Overview of status and trends for South Florida species; and
Discussion of species specific management concerns and next steps for yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, hogfish, mangrove snapper, shallow-water groupers, Nassau grouper, warsaw grouper, and speckled hind.
Additionally, the Ad Hoc Goliath Grouper Joint Council Committee and the Joint Council Committee On South Florida Management Issues will meet to review the last stock assessment for goliath grouper and to hear a presentation on the recent Goliath Grouper Stakeholder Workshops and survey. Other items on the agenda include the review of recommendations from the Ad Hoc Goliath Grouper Joint Science workshop and a review of ongoing goliath grouper research.
Meeting information including the full agenda can be found at: <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-y8UF1K6NmIaewaMaxtnA7z8Bu7NDuGU1xXsnFysAfc_OHCZxtyeqRNHW0IeTHQQlMjkBKNOsreHOexhHvrxonJQApwKrab2mA5vnZxHL9Ya1djm93AQZFxZ3zu15vhGHKam55nuePvIh3KwNpVZIb52XrYLtguuUawqNusL8y1tJTPeDG-wLTMr7RyCJxTaSSX2W4Z4zTNAa6_sJ_9UFCGxnHa4xMCB9_DKBQUsB2tLZU9JH8lRI3b_SqnNotp_k2pVK7q--0L_z8aOkN8QOsTya88ZyKqwyh04u55GzqkelLalG-YXCv11k24t5QlGG-fIxwzVCjq-b3JhOETEUAxZDzicyLwRBjC4TZx7nP6ony6jfzl04Qulgt0x-bVzP_E2ILK6bBU=&c=rvA1hCGDuSeTSKycMBZPEzj8S2GbrL2PVTNdThCSvGcN_MhYTaXMXA==&ch=pz6LpIWwvqO0AECK4m6CTJGzPYROaUAatZiloCPNuO_JcftFyEIrNg==" target="_blank">http://safmc.net/meetings/other-meetings</a>.
Photo Courtesy of <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/adventures/fishing/offshore/captain-randy-towe.html">Capt. Randy Towe</a>
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/goliath-grouper-grouper-snapper-management-meeting-jan-7-9/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Nature, Notoriety Highlight St. Pete Kayak Tour&body=Kayaking the shallows of Shell Key Preserve near St. Pete Beach, our group of 11 is being shadowed by some very determined cormorants. The black water birds with jade-green eyes paddle only a few feet away, then dive down and follow us underwater.
"They're looking for fish that the paddles stir up," explains guide Ross Heintzelman of Coastal Kayak Charters.
The cormorants accompanied us for probably a half-mile to a mangrove island that serves as a rookery for pelicans and other birds, then faded off as we paused and floated.
Heintzelman and fellow guide Doug Allen noticed a long strand of heavy monofilament fishing line trailing from one of the pelicans roosting in the trees. The line was tangled in the boughs, tethering the pelican to its perch. The guides tried to retrieve the tag end of the line and bring the bird down to untangle it, but the pelican managed to pull free and flew away-- still trailing the fishing line.
Heintzelman and Allen were disappointed, but decided to come back later and try again.
"We've probably rescued 18 pelicans like that," Allen said.
We continued on, paddling over rich sea grass meadows teeming with jumping mullet as graceful herons and fierce-looking ospreys passed overhead.
The guides stopped near an opening in another mangrove island and led the group single-file down a narrow tunnel through the tree cover. Tiny mangrove crabs scuttled up and down the prop roots, but no one was startled because Heintzelman had briefed us ahead of time.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/kayakSTP.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4723" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/kayakSTP.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" /></a>
Emerging into open water, we paddled a short distance before entering our second tunnel. This natural architecture reminds me of a darkened cathedral, but with a leafy canopy instead of a granite ceiling. Surprisingly, there were no mosquitoes.
The third and longest mangrove tunnel was through Sawyer Key which, according to Allen, once served as a drug and money cache for celebrated former marijuana smuggler Steve Lamb of St. Pete Beach. The affable Lamb and his Robin Hood-like band made numerous midnight runs between Jamaica and Florida's west coast in the 1960s and early 70s.
The smugglers were arrested in 1973 in Steinhatchee, Fla. in what was then the largest marijuana bust in U.S. history. Once out of prison, Lamb wrote a book about his exploits entitled "The Smuggler's Ghost". Allen said rumors persist that coolers stuffed with currency may still be buried somewhere in the sand mounds of Sawyer Key. I couldn't help staring hard at those mounds as we passed by.
Departing the shady gloom of Sawyer Key, we headed back across open water toward the put-in at Tierra Verde Bayway. The faithful cormorants accompanied us nearly all the way, skillfully dodging our paddles as they swam alongside us.
Heintzelman and Allen escorted a second group of kayakers in the preserve later that afternoon. But this time, they reported success in cutting the line from the tethered pelican we had encountered in the morning. They named it "Lucky 19".
If you would like to book a kayak trip with Coastal Kayak Charters, visit <a href="http://www.coastalkayakcharters.com">www.coastalkayakcharters.com</a>, or call 727.207.6342.
Check out St. Pete Beach package deals here: <a href="http://guyharveyoutpost.com/special/">guyharveyoutpost.com/special</a>, or call the Guy Harvey Outpost Travel Desk at 800.513.5257.
Photos courtesy of Coastal Kayak Charters.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/nature-notoriety-highlight-st-pete-kayak-tour/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey Talks Fisheries Symposium & Guy Harvey Outpost Grand Opening with Fishing Florida Radio&body=<a href="http://www.fishingfloridaradio.com/mp3/guy_harvey_ffr_interview.mp3"><img class="size-full wp-image-1446 alignleft" title="Guy Harvey Interview with Fishing Florida Radio" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/fishing-florida-radiologo11.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="88" /></a>Guy recently spoke with BooDreaux, Steve and Capt. Mike of <a title="FFR web site" href="http://www.fishingfloridaradio.com/" target="_blank">Fishing Florida Radio</a> to discuss the upcoming <a title="Fisheries Symposium web site" href="http://www.gulffisheriessymposium.com/" target="_blank">Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium</a>, which is being held this week in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the new <a title="GHO on Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.297039977030459.74495.238365306231260&type=3" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost on St. Pete Beach</a>. Click <a title="Guy Harvey Interview with FFR" href="http://www.fishingfloridaradio.com/mp3/guy_harvey_ffr_interview.mp3" target="_blank">here</a> to listen to the interview. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-talks-fisheries-symposium-guy-harvey-outpost-grand-opening-with-fishing-florida-radio/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Billfish Invitational $300 Fuel Credit From Bahama Out Island Promotion Board&body=Register now for the <a title="TBF web site" href="http://www.billfishinvitational.com" target="_blank">Billfish Invitational</a> fishing tournament at the <a title="BBGC web site" href="http://www.biminibiggameclub.com" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club</a> and you'll receive a $300 fuel credit from the Bahamas Out Island Promotions Board! The offer is available to any registered boat participating in the Billfish Invitational, and the $300 fuel credit will be applied to the folio of the registered boat at the time of the tournament. The fuel credit offer is limited to one fuel credit ($300) per registered boat. For more information, call 800.867.4764.
<a href="http://www.billfishinvitational.com/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1234" title="Register Now for the Billfish Invitational!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/reels.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="412" /></a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/billfish-invitational-300-fuel-credit-from-bahama-out-island-promotion-board/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=New Research Confirms Benefits of Circle Hooks&body=Still not sure if you should be using circle hooks? Well, you should be - because <a title="Link to Dr. Graves study on Circl Hooks" href="http://www.inthebite.com/news/story.php?id=136" target="_blank">new scientific research</a> backs up the claims (again) that billfish are much more likely to survive a catch-and-release encounter when caught on circle hooks compared to traditional J hooks.
<a title="Bio for Dr. John Graves" href="http://www.vims.edu/people/graves_je/index.php" target="_blank">Dr. John Graves</a> of the <a title="VIMS web site" href="http://www.vims.edu/">Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences</a> (and Chairman of the <a title="GHOF Board of Directors" href="http://www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org/board_of_directors.html" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Scientific Advisory Board</a>) has published new data which shows blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish derive substantial conservation benefits from the use of circle hooks.
<a title="Full report from Dr. John Graves" href="http://www.inthebite.com/news/story.php?id=136" target="_blank">Read the full report here</a>. And, if you haven't already, please make the switch to circle hooks today.
<a href="http://www.circlehooksymposium.org/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-199" title="2011 International Circle Hook Symposium" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/circlehooksymposiumlogo.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="216" height="208" /></a>
NOTE: Dr. Graves and others will take the circle hook debate one step further this May when the <a title="Circle Hook Symposium web site" href="http://www.circlehooksymposium.org/" target="_blank">2011 International Circle Hook Symposium</a> is held in Miami (the event is sponsored in part by the <a title="GHOF web site" href="http://www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation</a> and the <a title="GHRI web site" href="http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ghri/" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Research Institute</a>). The symposium will provide a forum for the review and discussion of relevant research concerning the viability of using circle hooks in recreational and commercial fisheries. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/new-research-confirms-benefits-of-circle-hooks/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=The Bahamas Tournament Season Is Jumping!&body=The 2015 <a href="http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/">Bahamas Billfish Championship</a> is under way in Abaco with <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/green-turtle-cay-abacos/">Green Turtle Cay </a>the next stop. Abaco regulars Jichi, Wave Paver and Torta took the top spots with solid performances. Teque took the early lead on day one with a blue marlin and a sailfish but Wave Paver passed them by before lines out; when they added a blue marlin to their early white. On day two, Torta added a blue and a white to move ahead of Wave Paver and Teque. Jichi got on the board early with two blue marlin and did not look back; adding a white and another blue to seal the deal on day two. Day three saw plenty of action among the leaders as Wave Paver released two blue marlin and a white to make a move but Jichi "Slammed" the door shut with a sail, a white and a blue to extend their lead and collect slam bonus points.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bbc_aim_logo-no-dates.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2727" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bbc_aim_logo-no-dates.jpg" alt="BBC_AIM_Logo NO DATES" width="660" height="660" /></a>The fleet caught 26 billfish an average of 1.13 billfish per boat. Full Time brought a 597 pound blue marlin to the scales. She was over the 100 inch minimum length but they actually lost 3 points compared to what they would have scored had they released her.
This week the BBC moves to Green Turtle Cay. <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/green-turtle-cay-abacos/">The Green Turtle Club</a>, a <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">Guy Harvey Outpost </a>Expedition Lodge is co-host for the event. The Green Turtle Club is ideally located in central Abaco allowing easy access to all the region’s famed blue marlin grounds. These waters have produced huge blue marlin including the current Bahamian Record of 1119 pounds caught during the BBC in 2011. The Green Turtle Club is sold out for this event.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bbc-gtc-dock-shot.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2728" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bbc-gtc-dock-shot.jpg?w=660" alt="Competitors at the Ready, the Green Turtle Club." width="550" height="367" /></a>Competitors at the ready, the Green Turtle Club.
In addition to all the billfish caught big dorado kept anglers on their toes. They were caught AND eaten! Next up the BBC heads to Treasure Cay May 27-30. The next Guy Harvey Outpost event will be the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/bonfire-beach-bash/">2nd Annual Beach Bash Bonfire and Tournament </a>June 25th - 28th at<a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/west-end-grand-bahama/old-bahama-bay-resort/"> Old Bahama Bay</a>.
Green Turtle Club UPDATE
BBC Day One: White marlin dominated day one action. Something Fishy got off to a hot start with a double header of whites. Island Time is on the board with a sailfish. Game Changer, Marlin Raptor & Whisky Won all got in on the morning bite with white marlin. Wave Paver & Anticipation jumped to the top with afternoon blue marlin.
BBC Day Two: The white marlin bite remains hot with the blues showing up in the afternoon. Sandrita jumped to the lead today on the strength of on blue marlin and three white marlin today. Torta started their day with a sailfish added a double header of white marlin and nabbed a blue marlin late in the day to catch a slam; which will give them a nice bunch of bonus points and the overall lead after two days.
Early leaders Something Fishy improved their numbers with another white marlin to go with their day on pair. Anticipation added second day blue marlin to their first day fish to stay in contention for the top spot. Whisky Won released a blue and a white to go with their day one white to move into third place after two days. Nothing is settled and with the way some boats have gotten hot hands it is still anyone’s ball game.
Stay tuned for details on Baseball Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt's Winners' Circle charity tournament at Old Bahama Bay.
For the latest information on the BBC: <a href="http://www.bahamasbillfish.com">www.bahamasbillfish.com</a>
For more on the Guy Harvey Outpost Portfolio: <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/" target="_parent">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/</a>
For Fishing with Guy Harvey Outpost: <a href="http://www.ghofish.com/" target="_parent">www.ghofish.com</a>
For the Guy Harvey Outpost Blog <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com/" target="_parent">www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost" target="_parent">https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/GHOutpost" target="_parent">https://twitter.com/GHOutpost</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost" target="_parent">http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost</a>
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<a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/bonfire-beach-bash/"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2458 size-medium" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/00-gho-logo.jpg?w=300" alt="00 GHO-Logo" width="300" height="300" /></a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/the-bahamas-tournament-season-is-jumping/){kind=link}
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