Speak up for Our Sharks

Most recreational anglers rely on charter fishing businesses for their fishing expeditions and realize without charter-for-hire boats, many people in the country would be unable to enjoy recreational fishing, and many captains and crews would be out of jobs.  The Charter Fisherman’s Association believes everyone should have an equal right to access our nations’ fisheries resources.

We are asking all American anglers to join us in our ongoing mission. Currently an amendment is being proposed which would limit the fishing of Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks because some feel they may be mistaken for a similar species, the dusky shark. The blacktip shark and dusky shark are easily identified by obvious visual differences.  Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) utilizes faulty reasoning as Black tip sharks are a population that is NOT identified as overfished or subject to overfishing. This in turn threatens your recreational fishing without benefiting the resource we also seek to manage. In addition, the proposal seeks to increase the minimum size limit for blacktip sharks to eight feet long. Since the average blacktip adult is only five feet long, this proposed regulation is truly a complete prohibition on the fishing of a species which is completely capable of supporting recreational harvest. 

How can you help?

1. Go to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0161-0001
2. Submit your own comment or utilize the following to voice your opinion:

Draft Amendment 5 directly inhibits my opportunity to recreationally harvest blacktip sharks by increasing the minimum size limit.  The best available science shows that this species is not being overfished, and is not undergoing overfishing.  I support a status quo size limit for blacktip sharks and an outreach program for shark identification.

COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL 02/12/2013!

Fishing For Tomorrow

According to the latest NOAA fishery bulletin, the expected recreational Red Snapper season will be 40 days this year, down from 48 days in 2011. This will no doubt cause a raucous among the user groups as the stock is known to be rebounding and fish are getting bigger. This spurs educated fishermen, Environmental Non Governmental Organizations, regulators, and fisheries to continually work together trying to find systems and solutions to our growing problems. There is outcry for some extremist groups to repeal and rewrite the Magnuson Act, responsible for getting us to the point of rebuilding potential we are currently at.  And constant complaining about the system, or the data, or the charter fishermen, or the commercial fishermen for causing the problem. As we see our season get shorter year by year it becomes obvious that the complaining and blaming hasn't been very effective so far, in case you weren't aware of that already.

Meanwhile, this week in St. Petersburg, Florida, I was invited by a group called FishSmart to participate in a fish survivability workshop relating to barotrauma. For simple purposes, barotrauma is the effect on a fish such as Red Snapper or Grouper when it is brought up from depth and has a stomach out its mouth, eye popping out of the head, and/or overinflated or ruptured swim bladder. Although these effects appear life threatening and detrimental, research shows that fish are actually capable of recovering from these effects if handled properly and in a timely manner.

There are two main schools of thought about helping fish to recover from barotraumatic effects. Venting and recompression. Venting is when you poke the fish behind the pectoral fin releasing gasses from the swim bladder so the fish has the opportunity to swim back to the bottom. Recompression is a fairly new tactic which involves rapidly sending the fish back down to or near the bottom where it came from. This process show a lot of promise for the survivability in the future and should be a hot topic moving forward. I was also able to acquire a new product called The Seaqualizer for recompression and I am really looking forward to getting it out on the water and trying it out as the seas calm down and we begin to start the Galveston deep sea fishing season early this summer.



For more information about The Seaqualizer or the FishSmart program , go to: http://theseaqualizer.com/SeaQualizer/Movie.html and
FishSmart.org

And to book your next Galveston fishing charter check out thefishinaddiction.com

Coastal Stuffed Flounder

Of all the fish caught on our Galveston fishing charters, Flounder have got to be among my favorite!  They may be a little funny looking, but they make up for it in taste.  Stuffed, Fried, Broiled, baked, grilled, or blackened... Flounder is delicious.  Not everyone is blessed with a life on the Gulf Coast, but here's a way to take a little piece of the coast home with you.  This is the perfect time of year to take home some fresh flounder from your Galveston fishing charter.  

To complement a great recipe and delicious fish, this week we launched a Flounder Friday Special on Facebook.  Anyone who claims the offer will receive $50 OFF their Galveston Fishing Charter booked on a Friday in November or December.  Just to sweeten the deal, mentions this article when booking, and receive an additional $50 OFF.  Happy Holidays from Fishin Addiction Charters!

Going coastal... A Fall Favorite

Flounder caught on a Galveston Fishing Charter
thefishinaddiction.com

While the calendar says winter time is fast approaching, you'd never know by the weather outside in Galveston, Texas. We have been blessed with almost a full month of 70 degrees and light winds on the island. This is perfect weather for almost everything outdoors, especially fishing!

This is another great time of year for a Galveston fishing charter, fall and early winter are flounder season! They are fun and easy to catch, but more importantly, absolutely delicious!

Call today to book your next Galveston fishing charter and have a blast catching these awesome fish, don't worry if they're a little funny looking though.

Also, I'm putting the finishing touches on another great recipe for our fans and followers. In the meantime, enjoy some ceviche with an ice cold beer one last time before the cold weather sets in for the next couple months.

Check out Fishin Addiction Charters online at:
thefishinaddiction.com or gulfoffshorefishing.com
and make sure you like us on Facebook for the latest updates from the water.

Local Fish, Local Problems

A very interesting piece in the NY Times at the beginning of the month speaks to how great some fishery problems can be solved at a local level.  The article found here: A Growing Movement for Community Supported Fisheries

This process and system will trump economics and policy across the fishery world.  By developing a community interested in sustainability is a tough process, but will no doubt solve some problems facing our growing demand for seafood.  It's about the future, not the belief of the past when it comes to fish.  Last time I checked, I couldn't taste how popular a fish was to catch when its on my plate next to a cold beer or glass of wine......

The Running of the Bulls!

The ocean is just full of waves... The tides, the swells, and even the fish move in waves. Each species has a preferred time to make their wave to the Gulf to spawn, reproduce, and return to Galveston, Texas or their respective bay system.

This years run for the 'bull reds' has just begun and will be a great time for fishing over the coming week through mid to late October in Galveston. These fish out up a fantastic fight and travel in huge schools! It is not uncommon to catch 20, 30, or even 50 in a few hours on our half day Galveston fishing charters.

A little about bull red, they're not a different species or anything. Just a big red drum, or redfish. Typically red drum are restricted to a slot limit from 20-28 inches to protect the spawning population. Each year you are allowed to harvest 2 of these big fish, over 28 inches, if you choose to use your oversized red drum tag on your Texas fishing license. This is the time of year most of these fish are harvested, especially on Galveston fishing charters.

Each year in the Fall these fish congregate in the passes to migrate offshore and reproduce in massive schools by the hundreds and thousands.

This is a truly magical time of year to be fishing in Galveston, Texas. Huge fish in great numbers, that average anywhere between 30 and 50 pounds make up the majority of the catch aboard our Galveston fishing charter boats.

In closing, I just wish I had a dollar for every time I've been told "this is the biggest fish I've caught in my life" on our Galveston Fishing Charters!!!

Mention this blog and receive $50 off your Bull Red trip with Fishin Addiction Charters, call 512-639-9188 to make your reservation!

Check us out online at: thefishinaddiction.com and like us on Facebook

Galveston Fishing... Now a Ghost Town

For almost 6 months of Galveston fishing season now, I've made that familiar walk down the dock checking out the boats and making a living as a Galveston fishing guide. Often enough to get to know which boats are new, the ones that need some TLC, the ones that are away for repairs, and the one that haven't moved all season when I could be running a great fishing charter on it. Sad thing to see a great fishing boat go to waste!

But now that Labor Day weekend has passed, and school is back in session... Those days are almost gone again. Galveston fishing season is winding down, and gives way to hunting season. Fish are old news, but the doves, ducks, geese, and deer hunting are what is IN!

It just feels strange to go check on the boat and do a little maintenance in peace and quiet, but it's time for a little rest. And before you know it, March will be peeking around the corner again and we will be back on the water for another great season of FISHING in Galveston, Texas!!!