2013 Kings and Spanish numbers
In today's report section, Slim wrote:
Quote:
Oh well, this ends a pretty disappointing year for me - maybe because I was spoiled to the size and numbers of fish during 2009-2012. Dunno what happened this year, maybe a combination of early bad weather, dredging, baitfish arriving late, or whatever else - I hope that 2014 gets back to normal. (assuming 2009-2012 was normal). Kind of a weird year for GSSP, seems like a lot more cobia were caught, more slot reds, more remoras/sharks, a lot 11 3/4" flounder, a lot of mangrove snapper, BUT disappointing year for kings, spanish, bull reds, jacks, legal flounder (12+), and pomps.......even sheepie numbers are down from what I remember.
If I remember right, I think I ended up catching 9 kings this year, mostly at Navarre where I got lucky and hit several really good days. But at Gulf Shores, PCola, and at Navarre, I talked to a lot of regulars who said it was their worst year ever for kings.
Just looking around at the official reports, I found this:
http://safmc.net/Meetings/CouncilMee...g%203-4-13.pdf
If I am reading this correctly, recreational landings have fallen by almost 50 percent since their peak in 2009. I also saw where the commercial sector didn't fill their quota, so season was reopened for them in November for two days -- but I wondered how much good that would do them in November when there aren't a lot of kings around, anyway.
If the recreational sector only caught 25% of their quota last year and the commercial side didn't get theirs, either, is it possible that the overall numbers of kings in the Gulf is on a downward cycle again?
You folks hearing any "insider" info?
(with apologies for being "mackerel" focused, it is what I drive down there for) :D