You cannot tell me the majority of these fish have all hatched since the oil spill. I'm no expert on Red Snapper, but I do know they're an egg-laying fish so they would probably be about the size of your hand at best by now. A little research shows that at an age of 1 year, the average size of red snapper, unsexed, is about 170mm (or 6.75"). More than likely the explanation of their increased presence on the rigs is that they're congregating in larger schools around structures in search of food.
@hwkeye54 I certainly am not saying any of these fish have hatched since the spill. What I am saying is that because of the fishing closures, the lack of fishing pressure has resulted in more fish populating the reefs. Particularly Groupers and Snappers are much more abundant. Now that the fishing is open again, we are reaping the silver lining by catching more and bigger fish. See my latest videos from 9-11-2010. Your last sentence is absolutely correct.
i agree with slamma, I've been spearfishing for years on the rigs off the LA and MS coast and the snapper and AJ's are thick under there. It's crazy the limits that have been put on them because they are everywhere.
Good video. But your assumption is dead wrong. Snapper were doing fine to begin with. It was shitty NMFS math that makes ya think they were in decline.
@theslammagforum You can't tell me that lack of fishing pressure will not help the fish population. That assumption is dead wrong. I am not making an assumption, these are observations made after years of diving and I have the video to back it up. I am not making any statements about whether or not limits are needed. I am saying that the current lack of pressure is creating a "Silver Lining" in that the fish populations have drastically increased.
You cannot tell me the majority of these fish have all hatched since the oil spill. I'm no expert on Red Snapper, but I do know they're an egg-laying fish so they would probably be about the size of your hand at best by now. A little research shows that at an age of 1 year, the average size of red snapper, unsexed, is about 170mm (or 6.75"). More than likely the explanation of their increased presence on the rigs is that they're congregating in larger schools around structures in search of food.
hwkeye54 1 year ago
@hwkeye54 I certainly am not saying any of these fish have hatched since the spill. What I am saying is that because of the fishing closures, the lack of fishing pressure has resulted in more fish populating the reefs. Particularly Groupers and Snappers are much more abundant. Now that the fishing is open again, we are reaping the silver lining by catching more and bigger fish. See my latest videos from 9-11-2010. Your last sentence is absolutely correct.
MarkPrimo 1 year ago
Comment removed
hwkeye54 1 year ago
i agree with slamma, I've been spearfishing for years on the rigs off the LA and MS coast and the snapper and AJ's are thick under there. It's crazy the limits that have been put on them because they are everywhere.
beanathen1976 1 year ago
Good video. But your assumption is dead wrong. Snapper were doing fine to begin with. It was shitty NMFS math that makes ya think they were in decline.
BP's fuck up will NOT help.
theslammagforum 1 year ago
@theslammagforum You can't tell me that lack of fishing pressure will not help the fish population. That assumption is dead wrong. I am not making an assumption, these are observations made after years of diving and I have the video to back it up. I am not making any statements about whether or not limits are needed. I am saying that the current lack of pressure is creating a "Silver Lining" in that the fish populations have drastically increased.
MarkPrimo 1 year ago
Comment removed
theslammagforum 1 year ago