Florida_NP0 's_POS Fish_NN0 and_CJC Wildlife_NN1 Conservation_NN1 Commission_NN1 (_PUL FWC_NP0 )_PUR at_PRP its_DPS Oct._NP0 7_CRD ,_PUN 2021_CRD ,_PUN meeting_NN1 approved_VVD a_AT0 "_PUQ draft_NN1 proposal_NN1 "_PUQ for_PRP a_AT0 highly-regulated_AJ0 and_CJC very_AV0 limited_AJ0 season_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 state_NN1 's_POS goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ,_PUN targeting_VVG comparatively_AV0 small_AJ0 fish_NN0 ._SENT 
"_PUQ Conservation_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX0 about_PRP closing_VVG a_AT0 resource_NN1 forever_AV0 ;_PUN it_PNP 's_VBZ about_PRP closing_VVG it_PNP as_PRP a_AT0 management_NN1 measure_NN1 and_CJC giving_VVG access_NN1 back_AVP when_CJS we_PNP can_VM0 ,_PUN "_PUQ said_VVD FWC_NP0 Commissioner_NN1 Robert_NP0 Spottswood_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP believe_VVB we_PNP are_VBB at_PRP this_DT0 point_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC it_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 small_AJ0 and_CJC productive_AJ0 step_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 right_AJ0 direction_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Indeed_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 proposed_AJ0 goliath_NN1 harvest_NN1 will_VM0 be_VBI restrictive_AJ0 ,_PUN limited_AJ0 in_PRP duration_NN1 and_CJC very_AV0 expensive_AJ0 for_PRP anglers_NN2 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VBZ proposed_AJ0 to_TO0 open_VVI in_PRP 2023_CRD ,_PUN with_PRP surely_AV0 some_DT0 regulation_NN1 tweaking_VVG and_CJC lots_PNI more_DT0 input_NN1 coming_VVG from_PRP fisheries_NN2 folks_NN2 ,_PUN commissioners_NN2 ,_PUN biologists_NN2 ,_PUN anglers_NN2 ,_PUN guides_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC others_NN2 before_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ reality_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 proposal_NN1 is_VBZ for_PRP a_AT0 lottery_NN1 of_PRF 200_CRD Florida_NP0 goliath_NN1 harvest_NN1 permits_VVZ ,_PUN one_PNI per_PRP person_NN1 ,_PUN with_PRP a_AT0 trophy_NN1 fee_NN1 of_PRF $_NN0 500_CRD per_PRP tag_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VBZ slated_VVN to_TO0 run_VVI from_PRP March_NP0 to_PRP May_NP0 ,_PUN hook_NN1 and_CJC line_NN1 only_AV0 ,_PUN with_PRP a_AT0 goliath_NN1 slot_NN1 limit_NN1 for_PRP fish_NN0 somewhere_AV0 between_PRP 20_CRD and_CJC 36_CRD inches_NN2 long_AV0 ._SENT 
Such_DT0 grouper_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 20-to-36-inch_AJ0 range_NN1 are_VBB minnows_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 goliath_NN1 species_NN0 ,_PUN since_CJS they_PNP grow_VVB to_PRP 800_CRD pounds_NN2 and_CJC 8_CRD feet_NN2 long_AV0 ,_PUN during_PRP decades_NN2 of_PRF living_NN1 ,_PUN growing_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC feeding_VVG on_PRP Florida_NP0 reefs_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 IGFA_NN1 world_NN1 and_CJC Florida_NP0 record_NN1 for_PRP goliaths_NN2 is_VBZ 680_CRD pounds_NN2 ,_PUN caught_VVN off_PRP Fernandina_NP0 Beach_NN1 (_PUL on_PRP the_AT0 Florida-Georgia_NP0 state_NN1 line_NN1 )_PUR in_PRP May_NP0 1961._CRD 
Goliaths_NP0 have_VHB been_VBN protected_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 state_NN1 from_PRP harvest_NN1 (_PUL catch-and-release_NN1 is_VBZ allowed_VVN )_PUR since_PRP 1990._CRD So_AV0 an_AT0 opening_NN1 in_PRP 2023_CRD will_VM0 be_VBI the_AT0 first_ORD time_NN1 in_PRP 33_CRD years_NN2 the_AT0 oversize_AJ0 bottom-dwelling_AJ0 ,_PUN reef-living_AJ0 fish_NN0 will_VM0 be_VBI available_AJ0 for_PRP harvest_NN1 ._SENT 
It_PNP 's_VBZ about_PRP time_NN1 ,_PUN say_VVB many_DT0 Florida_NP0 anglers_NN2 ,_PUN guides_NN2 and_CJC divers_NN2 ,_PUN who_PNQ have_VHB been_VBN dealing_VVG with_PRP a_AT0 booming_AJ0 and_CJC now_AV0 overwhelming_AJ0 population_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 giant_AJ0 predators_NN2 ._SENT 
Capt._NP0 Scott_NP0 Goodwin_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ has_VHZ been_VBN working_VVG full_AJ0 time_NN1 on_PRP charter_NN1 boats_NN2 out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 Cape_NP0 Canaveral_NP0 area_NN1 on_PRP Florida_NP0 's_POS east-central_AJ0 coast_NN1 for_PRP over_AV0 30_CRD years_NN2 ,_PUN thinks_VVZ it_PNP 's_VBZ too_AV0 little_AJ0 ,_PUN too_AV0 late_AJ0 ._SENT 
"_PUQ Goliaths_NP0 have_VHB taken_VVN over_PRP many_DT0 of_PRF our_DPS shallower_AJC wrecks_NN2 that_CJT were_VBD fishing_VVG favorites_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ says_VVZ Goodwin_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ Anglers_NN2 are_VBB now_AV0 faced_VVN with_PRP the_AT0 challenge_NN1 of_PRF battling_VVG goliaths_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 shallows_NN2 or_CJC hordes_NN2 of_PRF red_AJ0 snapper_NN1 and_CJC sharks_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 deep_AJ0 [_PUL reefs_NN2 ]_PUR ._SENT It_PNP has_VHZ made_VVN catching_VVG a_AT0 legal_AJ0 fish_NN0 for_PRP dinner_NN1 a_AT0 serious_AJ0 dilemma_NN1 ._SENT Goliaths_NP0 have_VHB increased_VVN in_PRP size_NN1 ,_PUN numbers_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC ferocity_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 point_NN1 that_CJT spearfishermen_NN2 say_VVB it_PNP 's_VBZ not_XX0 safe_AJ0 and_CJC anglers_NN2 lose_VVB the_AT0 bulk_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 fish_NN0 they_PNP hook_VVB ._SENT 
"_PUQ Goliath_NP0 numbers_NN2 have_VHB diminished_VVN the_AT0 fish_NN0 diversity_NN1 on_PRP many_DT0 of_PRF our_DPS inshore_AJ0 wrecks_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 talk_NN1 of_PRF culling_VVG a_AT0 mere_AJ0 200_CRD small_AJ0 ones_NN2 is_VBZ as_CJS much_DT0 of_PRF a_AT0 joke_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 three-day_AJ0 red_AJ0 snapper_NN1 season_NN1 [_PUL in_PRP Florida_NP0 ]_PUR ._SENT Anglers_NN2 are_VBB all_DT0 for_PRP conservation_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC what_DTQ they_PNP are_VBB calling_VVG a_AT0 [_PUL goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ]_PUR season_NN1 is_VBZ totally_AV0 useless_AJ0 and_CJC just_AV0 meant_VVD to_TO0 ease_VVI the_AT0 public_AJ0 pressure_NN1 mounting_VVG on_PRP them_PNP ._SENT Just_AV0 like_PRP red_AJ0 snapper_NN1 mismanagement_NN1 ,_PUN fishery_NN1 managers_NN2 are_VBB missing_VVG the_AT0 boat_NN1 on_PRP this_DT0 one_PNI too_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Noted_AJ0 guide_NN1 ,_PUN Capt._NP0 Dave_NP0 Markett_NP0 ,_PUN with_PRP over_AV0 40_CRD years_NN2 of_PRF Tampa_NP0 Bay_NN1 area_NN1 fishing_NN1 experience_NN1 ,_PUN agrees_VVZ ._SENT 
"_PUQ Goliath_NP0 grouper_NN1 are_VBB a_AT0 prime_AJ0 example_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 predator_NN1 that_CJT has_VHZ been_VBN over-protected_VVN and_CJC ,_PUN as_CJS a_AT0 result_NN1 ,_PUN they_PNP have_VHB depleted_VVN a_AT0 wide_AJ0 variety_NN1 of_PRF marine_AJ0 resources_NN2 ._SENT Goliaths_NP0 are_VBB voracious_AJ0 feeders_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC they_PNP have_VHB been_VBN conditioned_VVN to_TO0 target_VVI species_NN0 that_CJT are_VBB hooked_VVN and_CJC thus_AV0 restricted_VVN in_PRP their_DPS ability_NN1 to_TO0 avoid_VVI capture_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ Most_DT0 reef_NN1 habitats_NN2 that_CJT hold_VVB adult_NN1 goliaths_NN2 are_VBB severely_AV0 depleted_VVN in_PRP natural_AJ0 marine_AJ0 species_NN0 diversity_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
The_AT0 Perspective_NN1 From_PRP Local_AJ0 Fisherman_NN1 
Capt._NP0 Vic_NP0 Tison_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 long-time_AJ0 Jacksonville_NP0 captain_NN1 in_PRP northeast_NN1 Florida_NP0 —_PUN not_XX0 far_AV0 from_PRP where_AVQ the_AT0 world_NN1 record_NN1 goliath_NN1 was_VBD caught_VVN —_PUN has_VHZ seen_VVN their_DPS ferocity_NN1 first_ORD hand_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ I_PNP 've_VHB had_VHN 300-pound_AJ0 goliaths_NN2 come_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 surface_NN1 and_CJC eat_VVB whole_AJ0 bull_NN1 redfish_NN1 [_PUL 25_CRD to_PRP 45_CRD pounds_NN2 ]_PUR right_AV0 at_PRP the_AT0 boat_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 mouth_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 St._NP0 Johns_NP0 River_NP0 ._SENT Goliaths_NP0 to_PRP 400_CRD pounds_NN2 have_VHB been_VBN seen_VVN several_DT0 miles_NN2 up_PRP the_AT0 river_NN1 ,_PUN eating_VVG bull_NN1 redfish_NN1 near_PRP the_AT0 Dames_NN2 Point_NN1 Bridge_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Capt._NP0 Earle_NP0 Waters_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 popular_AJ0 guide_NN1 most_AV0 noted_VVN for_PRP Homosassa_NP0 ,_PUN Florida_NP0 ,_PUN flats_NN2 fishing_VVG for_PRP giant_AJ0 tarpon_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS well_AV0 as_CJS working_VVG the_AT0 keys_NN2 for_PRP permit_NN1 ,_PUN bonefish_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC other_AJ0 species_NN0 with_PRP fly_NN1 tackle_NN1 ._SENT Waters_NP0 hopes_VVZ that_CJT the_AT0 goliath_NN1 harvest_NN1 will_VM0 save_VVI a_AT0 few_DT0 tarpon_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ For_PRP years_NN2 I_PNP had_VHD fishing_NN1 clients_NN2 out_AVP of_PRF Big_AJ0 Pine_NN1 Key_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Florida_NP0 Keys_NP0 ._SENT We_PNP often_AV0 stopped_VVD at_PRP a_AT0 few_DT0 spots_NN2 to_TO0 catch_VVI mangrove_NN1 snapper_NN1 on_PRP our_DPS way_NN1 home_AV0 to_TO0 feed_VVI a_AT0 few_DT0 people_NN0 that_DT0 night_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC about_PRP 7_CRD years_NN2 ago_AV0 when_CJS we_PNP stopped_VVD at_PRP these_DT0 places_NN2 we_PNP could_VM0 not_XX0 get_VVI them_PNP to_PRP the_AT0 boat_NN1 before_PRP goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 would_VM0 eat_VVI them_PNP ._SENT The_AT0 tackle_NN1 we_PNP used_VVD for_PRP snapper_NN1 would_VM0 n't_XX0 slow_VVI down_AVP even_AV0 a_AT0 15-pound_AJ0 grouper_NN1 ._SENT If_CJS we_PNP rigged_VVD heavier_AJC tackle_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 snapper_NN1 would_VM0 n't_XX0 bite_VVI ,_PUN not_XX0 to_TO0 mention_VVI how_AVQ the_AT0 numbers_NN2 of_PRF snapper_NN1 have_VHB dropped_VVN off_AVP ._SENT If_CJS we_PNP could_VM0 have_VHI kept_VVN the_AT0 goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP 'm_VBB sure_AJ0 they_PNP would_VM0 have_VHI tasted_VVN like_PRP mangrove_NN1 snapper_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS the_AT0 number_NN1 of_PRF grouper_NN1 that_CJT have_VHB moved_VVN under_PRP the_AT0 mangrove_NN1 shorelines_NN2 have_VHB even_AV0 taken_VVN away_AV0 from_PRP our_DPS juvenile_AJ0 tarpon_NN1 fishing_NN1 ._SENT Yes_ITJ ,_PUN they_PNP [_PUL goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ]_PUR eat_VVB tarpon_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Capt._NP0 Don_NP0 Dingman_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 wide-traveling_AJ0 marine_AJ0 angler_NN1 living_VVG in_PRP Florida_NP0 and_CJC host_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 popular_AJ0 "_PUQ Hook_NP0 The_AT0 Future_AJ0 "_PUQ TV_NN1 fishing_NN1 show_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP fishes_VVZ throughout_PRP the_AT0 state_NN1 inshore_AJ0 and_CJC offshore_AJ0 and_CJC has_VHZ had_VHN many_DT0 run-ins_NN2 with_PRP goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ._SENT 
"_PUQ Wreck_NN1 fishing_NN1 for_PRP permit_NN1 is_VBZ especially_AV0 difficult_AJ0 because_CJS there_EX0 are_VBB so_AV0 many_DT0 goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 around_PRP all_DT0 the_AT0 wrecks_NN2 ._SENT You_PNP 've_VHB got_VVN to_TO0 adapt_VVI your_DPS fishing_NN1 methods_NN2 if_CJS you_PNP hope_VVB to_TO0 have_VHI any_DT0 chance_NN1 of_PRF catching_VVG a_AT0 prized_AJ0 permit_NN1 from_PRP a_AT0 reef_NN1 because_CJS grouper_NN1 are_VBB so_AV0 aggressive_AJ0 to_TO0 eat_VVI a_AT0 hooked_AJ0 fish_NN0 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VBZ really_AV0 urgent_AJ0 to_TO0 get_VVI a_AT0 hooked_AJ0 permit_NN1 —_PUN or_CJC any_DT0 other_AJ0 fish_NN0 —_PUN away_AV0 from_PRP a_AT0 wreck_NN1 or_CJC reef_NN1 to_TO0 prevent_VVI that_CJT fish_NN0 from_PRP being_VBG stolen_VVN and_CJC eaten_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Capt._NP0 Kirk_NP0 Waltz_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT0 Northeast_NN1 Florida_NP0 charter_NN1 captain_NN1 who_PNQ says_VVZ goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 even_AV0 devour_VVB jetty-living_AJ0 fish_NN0 at_PRP inlets_NN2 ._SENT 
"_PUQ A_AT0 few_DT0 years_NN2 ago_AV0 we_PNP were_VBD fall_NN1 fishing_VVG an_AT0 inlet_NN1 jetties_NN2 and_CJC constantly_AV0 loosing_VVG big_AJ0 sheepshead_NN1 to_PRP what_DTQ we_PNP thought_VVD were_VBD sharks_NN2 ._SENT Finally_AV0 ,_PUN we_PNP saw_VVD a_AT0 big_AJ0 brown_AJ0 fish_NN0 come_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 surface_NN1 near_PRP the_AT0 boat_NN1 and_CJC eat_VVB a_AT0 hooked_AJ0 sheepshead_NN1 we_PNP had_VHD on_AVP ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 300-pound_AJ0 or_CJC better_AJC goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Capt._NP0 Rufus_NP0 Wakeman_NP0 ,_PUN long-time_AJ0 and_CJC noted_AJ0 charter_NN1 captain_NN1 headquartered_VVN in_PRP Jensen_NP0 Beach_NN1 ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN has_VHZ the_AT0 best_AJS eyewitness_NN1 account_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 ._SENT 
"_PUQ One_CRD day_NN1 off_AVP [_PUL the_AT0 town_NN1 of_PRF ]_PUR Stuart_NP0 we_PNP were_VBD on_PRP a_AT0 reef_NN1 chumming_NN1 for_PRP sharks_NN2 and_CJC looking_VVG to_TO0 catch_VVI cobia_NN2 that_CJT follow_VVB them_PNP ._SENT We_PNP had_VHD our_DPS Minn_NP0 Kota_NP0 [_PUL electric_AJ0 motor_NN1 ]_PUR ‘Spot-Lock_NP0 '_POS on_PRP ._SENT All_DT0 of_PRF a_AT0 sudden_AJ0 ,_PUN the_AT0 boat_NN1 lurched_VVD and_CJC there_EX0 was_VBD a_AT0 big_AJ0 slash_NN1 up_AVP under_PRP the_AT0 bow_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP saw_VVD a_AT0 large_AJ0 goliath_NN1 grouper_NN1 swim_NN1 away_AV0 and_CJC the_AT0 electric_AJ0 motor_NN1 was_VBD vibrating_VVG so_CJS I_PNP pulled_VVD it_PNP up_AVP ._SENT The_AT0 grouper_NN1 had_VHD grabbed_VVN the_AT0 lower_AJC [_PUL electric_AJ0 motor_NN1 ]_PUR unit_NN1 and_CJC tore_VVD off_AVP a_AT0 prop_NN1 blade_NN1 ._SENT Goliaths_NP0 are_VBB aggressive_AJ0 beasts_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ 
