Some 200 recreational red grouper fishermen protested Wednesday night against a federal interim rule that is scheduled to shut down all grouper fishing during November and December off Florida's west coast.

The anglers appeared at a hearing of the Gulf Coast Fishery Management Council and put their objections on record even though only one council member, Roy Williams of Florida, was present. Charter captains said the closure will be devastating to their grouper-fishing business. One from Steinhatchee said he already has had 36 cancellations for dates during the two months. The government's own estimates put "foregone income" at $100 to $180 million due to the closure. 

The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida and others argued that the emergency stoppage and bag-limit reductions are based on flawed data claiming that the recreational red grouper catch far exceeded its target limit for 2004. Data thus far in '05 does not support the increase.

The Council will consider grouper regulations Oct. 3-6 in St. Petersburg.

FS