New Reef Fish Gear Rules
New
rules for state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico
will require all commercial fishers and recreational anglers fishing for
any Gulf reef fish species to use circle hooks, dehooking devices and
venting tools. These new rules will become effective on June 1,
2008 in all waters of the Gulf of Mexico and affect all reef
fish species including groupers, snappers, amberjacks, triggerfish,
porgies, sea bass, hogfish, and tilefish.
The intent of these new rules is to help conserve fishery resources by minimizing mortality associated with releasing fish that are not going to be harvested due to regulations or for other reasons. Fishers and anglers are being asked to be responsible to acquire and use the required gear when fishing for reef fish species. FWC Law Enforcement Officers will be taking an educational approach toward enforcement before and after the implementation of the new rules.
Additionally,
common sense should be used in abiding by these rules. For instance, if
a hook is too far embedded in the throat or gut of the fish, it is much
better to cut the line from the hook rather than try to remove the hook
with a dehooking device. The non-stainless steel hooks will
disintegrate in a relatively short period of time and should cause the
fish less harm. Also, fish should only be vented after one or all of
the following characteristics are noticed on a fish: the stomach
protrudes from the mouth, the eyes are bulging, the belly region is
swollen, or the intestines are sticking out of the anus.
The
new rules require fishers on all vessels fishing for reef fish in the
Gulf to possess and use non-stainless steel circle hooks when natural
baits are used. A circle hook is a fishing hook designed and
manufactured so that the point is not offset, but turned perpendicularly
back to the shank to form a generally circular or oval shape.
The new rules require fishers on all vessels fishing for
reef fish in the Gulf to possess and use a dehooking device to remove
hooks embedded in Gulf reef fish with minimal damage. The dehooking
device must be constructed to allow the hook to be secured and the barb
shielded without re-engaging during the removal process. It must be
blunt and all edges rounded, and it must be of a size appropriate to
secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the Gulf reef fish
fishery.
The
new rules require fishers on all vessels fishing for reef fish in the
Gulf to possess and use a venting tool to deflate the swimbladders of
Gulf reef fish to help release the fish with minimum damage. This tool
must be a sharpened, hollow instrument, such as a hypodermic syringe
with the plunger removed or a 16-gauge needle fixed to a hollow wooden
dowel. A tool such as a knife or an ice-pick may not be used. The
venting tool must be inserted into the fish at a 45-degree angle
approximately 1 to 2 inches from the base of the pectoral fin and be
inserted just deep enough to release the gases so that the fish may be
released with minimum damage.