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12th ANNUAL GROUPER GRAB RULES

Due to the recent closure of Gag Grouper in the Gulf of Mexico by the FWC (please read below) the following rules have changed for the 2011 Grouper Grab. Keeping with the tradition of the Grab being a Grouper fishing tournament we will require each team to bring ONE Red or BLACK Grouper to the weigh station in order to qualify for the tournament. However to keep this year’s tourney fair for all size boats and teams involved we will be adding 2 NEW species to the tournament – Cobia and King Fish are allowed to be weighed for the 2011 tournament, until further notice of restrictions /closures or openings are made by the FWC for 2012 and beyond. ALSO as always the donation of any additional fish is highly encouraged. See below for the complete FWC ruling and all tournament rules.

The 2011 Grab will allow FIVE fish to be weighed - ONE MUST BE A RED OR BLACK GROUPER in order to qualify. TWO of your fish, if you are weighing FIVE fish MUST be snapper. You may still qualify and weigh only three fish (one being a grouper) in any combination of Grouper, Snapper, Cobia or Kingfish ie two Cobia and one Grouper, two King Fish and one Grouper, one Grouper, one Snapper and one Cobia and so on. See below for more information.

Gulf of Mexico (except all state waters of Monroe County)

Updated: June 1, 2011

2011 Gag Grouper Closure and Fall Harvest Season
in Federal and State Waters

The latest stock assessment indicates that gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico are overfished and undergoing overfishing. NOAA Fisheries Service recently announced interim rules that prohibit recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters until long-term management measures for gag grouper can be developed.

The FWC Commissioners approved rules that closed state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Monroe County, to the recreational harvest of gag grouper from June 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, with the exception of a fall harvest season September 16 through November 15, 2011. These rules will be in effect for 2011 only.

12th ANNUAL GROUPER GRAB RULES

August 19th-21st, 2011

  1. All anglers MUST be at the MANDATORY Captains Meeting Friday night August 19th at the Boat Barn located adjacent to Rum Runners at Cape Harbour.
  2. Maximum 5 fish can be weighed PER team: Due to the recent FWC regulation changes listed above we have adjusted the rules to make the playing field as even as possible for large and small boats.
  3. ONE fish being weighed-in MUST be a Grouper (Black and or Red) and if you are weighing in a total of 5 fish, 2 of those 5 fish MUST be snapper and the remaining 2 fish can be any combination of Cobia, King Fish, Grouper or Snapper. If you ONLY have Cobia and or King Fish plus a Grouper you can ONLY weigh 3 fish total to will qualify at weigh-in.
  4. All grouper, snapper will be weighed individually. Any foul play will result in the team disqualification for any and all prizes and events.
  5. Any fish weighed in the tournament become the property of the tournament. Any additional fish donated will be greatly appreciated!
  6. Boats may leave from any land location (dock, slip, ramp, etc.) at 5:00 AM on Saturday morning August 20th. Lines in the water, anglers honor at 7:00 AM.
  7. Boats must to return to Rum Runners for Weigh-in BY 6pm in order to qualify. The Weigh Station opens at 4:30 PM and it is open to the public.
  8. Only specified Grouper (Black and Red), Snapper, Cobia and King Fish will be eligible for tournament weigh-in.
  9. Tournament grouper (Red) for weigh-in must measure 20 inches minimum in length or it will be disqualified (No Exceptions) ALL FWC regulations, size restrictions and rules MUST be followed at all times.
  10. All Grouper, Snapper, Cobia and King Fish will be weighed individually. Any foul play will result in the team disqualification for any and all prizes and events.
  11. All fish must be caught on rod and reel hook and line, no electric or hydraulic reels, no spear fishing or explosives.
  12. No mutilated or frozen fish eligible; at Weigh Masters' discretion (all decisions are final).
  13. No boat may off load their catch until verified by the Weigh Masters. Tournament score card must be presented to the Weigh Masters by 6:00 PM and signed by an angler from that team.
  14. Radio channel communications will be provided at the Captain's Meeting. Official Tournament Cell Numbers are 239-671-9347 and 239-850-1707.
  15. In case of mechanical breakdown, fish cannot be transferred from one boat to another.
  16. Any tournament boat towed in past the deadline of 6:00 PM, due to mechanical breakdown will have eligibility determined by Tournament Officials (all decisions final). Please keep in contact with Officials.
  17. Any protest by any participant in The Grouper Grab must be in Writing and presented to a tournament official; no later than 30 minutes after the weigh-in station closes ( No Exceptions ). All protests must be accompanied by a $250.00 filing fee in cash. If the filing fee is not paid, the protest will not be acknowledged. Any protest filed will be handled immediately and appropriately.
  18. Any fish weighed in the tournament become the property of the tournament. Any additional fish donated will be greatly appreciated!
  19. The top places will all be subject to a polygraph test.

For any information on this event call 239-850-1707 or 239-671-9347.