Here's a thought I had on that subject. It is not popular with many fishermen (of which I am one). But I believe it would eliminate the problem of putting back shorts which will just die anyway.
Eliminate size limits all together, but keep bag limits. If you catch a 10-inch grouper, you keep it and it counts towards your bag limit. Putting back a short would be the same type of violation that keeping a short is today (admittedly a more difficult one to enforce, though).
I agree with you that proper handling, venting, etc. helps immensely, but I have seen no commercial boats (charter or head boats) practice them. The short simply gets yanked off the hook and dropped over (where it either floats around for a while or gets eaten by a dolphin).
Eliminate size limits all together, but keep bag limits. If you catch a 10-inch grouper, you keep it and it counts towards your bag limit. Putting back a short would be the same type of violation that keeping a short is today (admittedly a more difficult one to enforce, though).
I agree with you that proper handling, venting, etc. helps immensely, but I have seen no commercial boats (charter or head boats) practice them. The short simply gets yanked off the hook and dropped over (where it either floats around for a while or gets eaten by a dolphin).
Been looking myself and haven't noticed them in the surf. Heard some caught 16 in seagrove this week probably on fleas or shrimp. Hopefully they put some back. My lastest catch End of March 33" Red 100 yards from shore in my Kayak. He pulled drag for 20 minutes like a pro and me in circles till I let that Bull go back to make some more.