Here is the next question I think Kite should pose to the FWC legal department.;)

Sorry to throw you under the bus brother, but you did such a damn good job on the last one.

Let's assume that I hire a charter boat to take me to the grounds for a two day trip. All permits are in place for this recreational trip and the boat meets all the requirements for the two day possession rule.

We leave at noon and our first stop is a tower loaded with big AJ's.

Can I shoot two AJ's on my first day?

I know I can legally possess to AJ's on the boat, but I don't think that I can legally shoot two AJ's in one day. I think I would be in violation of the daily bag limit.

The reason I'm asking is that FWC and the coast gaurd are starting to check more on the water. If we were to get checked on the first evening of the trip and we exceeded any day limits of any species on the first day, wouldn't they write us up for exceeding the daily bag limit?

Here is the next question I think Kite should pose to the FWC legal department.;)

Sorry to throw you under the bus brother, but you did such a damn good job on the last one.

Let's assume that I hire a charter boat to take me to the grounds for a two day trip. All permits are in place for this recreational trip and the boat meets all the requirements for the two day possession rule.

We leave at noon and our first stop is a tower loaded with big AJ's.

Can I shoot two AJ's on my first day?

I know I can legally possess to AJ's on the boat, but I don't think that I can legally shoot two AJ's in one day. I think I would be in violation of the daily bag limit.

The reason I'm asking is that FWC and the coast gaurd are starting to check more on the water. If we were to get checked on the first evening of the trip and we exceeded any day limits of any species on the first day, wouldn't they write us up for exceeding the daily bag limit?


It is my understanding that you can only take one days limit at any time, you can not start taking the second days limit on the 1st day.

What would happen if on the 1st day of the multiple day trip, you take the double recreational bag limit, and for some reason either weather, mechanical problems whatever, you return to port after 1 day?

You would then be in violation of the rule.

I personally don't think this rule will be around much longer in light of how they keep taking limits away from Captain and Crew on charters.

It seems to me they are doing whatever they can to kill recreational fishing, and charter business, I hope I am wrong.

Since there will be little support for allowing a handful of people that are allowed to do it, it is highly likely that the days of double day limits are numbered. Things are getting very difficult in the offshore charter arena nowadays thanks to the NMFS. Lots of sweeping changes.
Vessel monitoring systems and the ridiculous paperwork and trip notification requirements they carry are probably coming to all charterboats too perhaps even recreational gulf anglers. There is widespread belief that they are hammering these over the top requirements on the commercial guys in the hopes that some simply throw in the towel, thereby reducing the fishing effort....and from what I heard it is working.
I suppose it is cheaper to run them out of business than to buy them out.
Then again, the guys who suck it up and jump thru every hoop will eventually hold something very valuable as the market prices continue to rise and the suppliers dwindle.
Have you seen the price of fresh grouper lately? It up there with Maine lobster and Alaskan King Crab.
__________________