Gulf of Mexico federal waters:

>Possible recreational grouper season closure—Jan.-April, maybe longer—under study. No fishing for any shallow-water grouper during that period
>Bag limit could drop to one (1) gag per angler
>Size limits may change
>Commercial quotas, and allocation, also up for review
>New marine reserves may come on line
>Good news is red grouper limits may loosen some

Learn everything about these issues in the draft public hearing document, which you can obtain by calling the Council at (813) 348-1630; email gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org.

The Gulf Council wants to know how you feel about the gag and red grouper fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico—population trends, remarks on limits, potential impacts of season closures or other measures. Call your buddies and car-pool to one of following public hearings. They begin at 6 p.m. at the following locations:

March 13 Edgewater Conference Center 11212 Front Beach Blvd. Panama City, FL

March 19 Radisson Hotel 12600 Roosevelt St. Petersburg, FL

March 20 Comfort Inn 3860 Tollgate Blvd. Naples, FL 34114

Outside Florida:

March 10 Hilton Airport 901 Airline Dr. Kenner, LA

March 11 University Southern MS Caylor Auditorium 703 East Beach Dr. Ocean Springs, MS

March 11 Holiday Inn 5002 Seawall Blvd. Galveston, TX

Mar. 12 Plantation Suites 1909 St. Hwy 361 Port Aransas, TX

March 12 Erie Meyer Civic Center 10300 2nd St. Gulf Shores, AL

If you can't make one of these meetings, you may comment on issues by emailing the Gulf Council members at: Amendment30B@gulfcouncil.org, or fax: (813) 348-1711. Comments should be received no later than April 3. A final public hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled Council meeting in April.

To contact your Florida voting members on the Gulf Council directly:

William Teehan (representing FWC) 850-487-0554 phone 850-487-4847 fax william.teehan@myFWC.com

William Daughdrill (recreational) 850-814-5468 phone 850-769-1674 fax

Robert Gill (commercial) 352-795-1916 phone 352-795-4355 fax bgillbgill@embarqmail.com

Julie Morris (general/other) 941-487-4527 ph. 941-487-4201 fax morris@ncf.edu

South Atlantic Council:

>Possible Jan.-April closure on all shallow-water grouper fishing for federal waters of Florida
>Bag limit may drop to one gag grouper per angler
>Other measures being considered

March 3-7, the South Atlantic Council Meeting is in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Snapper/Grouper Committee meets Tuesday afternoon, and again Wednesday morning. Information is available at www.safmc.net, or call (843) 571-4366. Stay tuned to www.safmc.net for more details on probable changes, and how you may comment.

There will be public hearings along the east coast of Florida during the first two weeks of May. We’ll know the schedule following this week’s Council meeting in Jekyll Island. Stay tuned to www.floridasportsman.com.