If you normally fish for gag grouper in November and December, you're going to face a big No-Fishing sign in federal waters this year, a sign that sportsmen hope to tear down in a new lawsuit filed in federal court.

The Coastal Conservation Association, in an action filed in Fort Myers, seeks to overturn the grouper closure imposed recently by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The all-grouper closure is part of an interim rule in the name of red grouper.

But the no-fishing provision applies to all groupers (notably gags) and there's the rub, says the CCA. Gag stocks are not classified as "overfished" and therefore cannot be closed via an emergency rule, according to the CCA action.

Meanwhile, recreational anglers are gearing up for a major hearing by the Gulf Fishery Management Council regarding permanent provisions for groupers. The hearing is at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Best Western, 1200 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa.

“If anglers really demand change to stop excessive commercial exploitation, especially longlines, we can revolutionize offshore abundance, just as the net ban reformed inshore waters," said FS Founder Karl Wickstrom.

FS