[LowHydrogen]

Once or twice a year I will fish a couple hours west at Cape San Blas / Mexico beach. Just outside the bay they have a couple large net ships catching some sort of baitfish. I had thought it was illegal in FL but they must have some sort of exemption. Anyone know what they are targeting and what type of by-catch they have. It looks like a pretty big operation.

Not the same thing at all, and not illegal. That's Raffield's out of St. Joe, they're fishing cigar minnows, ballyhoo, sardines, . Their bigger boat Capt Salty was also used for catching jellyfish. I've been out on their boats before, they typically spot the bait-fish from the air and are pretty good at getting what they're after. I am not saying there are never other fish caught, but by law game fish are released. I have never seen big Reds caught or any big fish floating around behind them. They've been fishing that area for about 100 yrs.