Fishing is as good as it’s ever been, but doing it for a living is getting harder and harder, fishermen say.
Tougher federal red snapper regulations have driven local fisherman to march on Washington, D.C. Shorter seasons in recent years have left charter boat captains with fewer profitable trips. A down economy also has cut down on the number of tourists who come to the Gulf Coast to fish.
“It’s just gotten so tough to do,” said Paul Wagner, captain of Backcountry Outfitters.
Wagner once had two boats, but he had to get rid of his larger one, a 36-footer. He said he has to work more days out of the year now to make enough money.
Read the complete story at NWF Daily News.