Many fishermen, in our area, tell us they're afraid they won't survive these new fishing restrictions.

If you're a fisherman, then you already know the challenges the industry is currently facing with the closure of the amber jack season.

Bob Zales is a second generation fisherman, who's worked the gulf for more than 40 years.

"The over-fishing requirement is killing us all," Zales said.

Late last month, the National Marine Fisheries announced Florida fishermen had reached the yearly quota of amber jack.

Zales ,along with long-time fisherman Tommy Rice, aren't arguing about the quota system.

But they don't believe the fisheries services numbers are a true reflection of what's really in the water.

They point to the possible red snapper season closure as an example to close.

"In the 40 years I've been doing this, I have never seen as many red snapper. Anywhere you step, you catch red snapper," Rice said.

These docks are already starting to feel the effects of the closure.

"It's putting us out of business. It's not only affecting commercial fleet and the for hire side of the business, it's affecting the recreational angler because they don't know when they can go fishing and what they can go fishing for," Zales said.

Zales says fisherman all over the country are being affected by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management act. Which deals with over-fishing. According to law, over-fishing must stop by 2010.

"The trickle-down effect of that the end result of over-fishing deal is going is just going to devastate everybody especially with the economy the way it is now," Rice said.

Saturday, hundreds of fishermen are expected to storm south of the Hathaway Bridge for the Panama City fisherman's rally which stretches from Panama City to Mexico Beach. Zales hopes congress will take note...

"So we're trying to get the message to congress we need help. The law is just overly restrictive," Zales added.

The Panama City fisherman's rally starts Saturday at 10 a.m. until noon on the south side of the Hathaway Bridge.

After the rally, there will be a fish fry at Gracie Ray's Bar and Grill in St. Andrews.