If you're among anglers who are angry about proposed snapper/grouper closures and no-fishing zones, you should make it a definite point to attend one of the future public hearings planned by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Two of the hearings are Feb. 3 in Key Largo and Feb. 4 in Cocoa Beach. Times and locations will be provided here or at www.SAFMC.net. Issues to be discussed include deepwater no-fishing zones, allocations between recreational and commercial sectors, possible fishing closures and other key issues for Atlantic waters.

You might not be allowed to fish for red snapper or grouper during these first four months of '09 if it were not for strong protests that came from various anglers, objecting to federal managers' plans to close down those fisheries. Similar plans are expected to come up in the new year.