Texas might get away from Federal napper regs.

[mr crab]

This is a copy of an e-mail that cca sent me. It looks like TPWD is sick of the feds setting our Red Snapper limits. Feel free to copy or forward this to anybody in the LDWF that may be interested in Louisiana regaining control of its own fishery. I think that if all the gulf states stand together, it would be better fo all of us. Also and Salty Cujun members that fish in TX, please click on the link to the TPWD comment page, and strongly disagree with the proposal.





Dear Valued CCA Member,

On February 8, 2013, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to recommend an emergency rule that could shorten the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast. As recommended, the rule would give authority to the National Marine Fisheries Service southeast regional administrator to shorten the red snapper season in the federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Texas. The EEZ begins nine nautical miles from the coast and extends to 200 nautical miles. State waters extend from the coast outward nine nautical miles.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will hold a special meeting in Austin on Feb. 26 to discuss this development and options involving the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery.

The action being taken by the federal government is the latest in a long series of controversial measures in the management of red snapper, an important recreational fishery for Texas, among other Gulf Coast states. In response to the direction of federal management and the subsequent negative impacts to recreational anglers in this fishery, CCA is promoting the concepts of regional or state management of specific federal fisheries in our belief that the states have demonstrated greater ability to successfully manage marine resources. The details involved with such a proposal are considerable and have yet to be fully developed. However, it is CCA’s intent to fully explore those options as a potential alternative to ongoing, subpar federal management of recreational fisheries.

CCA will be keenly involved in this issue. However, state officials have developed a web comment form for recreational anglers to offer their own guidance and advice on this issue. We encourage all CCA members to take advantage of this opportunity to make your opinion known by clicking this link: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/201302_red_snapper.phtml

Thank you for your continued support.