 Andrew Herzog releasing a tagged snook.
Submit your photos by emailing them to Saltwater@MyFWC.com. Learn
more about our photo guidelines.
Commission Meeting - December
Marine Fisheries items to be discussed Dec. 5-7
Information: The FWC Commission will
listen to public testimony on and discuss several marine fisheries management
items at the Dec. 5-7 meeting in Gainesville. Commission meetings are open to
the public.
Potential regulation changes (final decisions on these
topics may be made at this meeting; both presentations are scheduled for Dec. 7):
Cobia: Final public hearing on changes to create
a state Gulf/Atlantic cobia management boundary defining all waters north of
the Monroe-Collier county line as Gulf state waters, reducing the commercial
daily bag limit from two to one fish per person in Gulf state waters, and
reducing the recreational and commercial vessel limit from six to two per
vessel per day in Gulf state waters.
Greater amberjack: Proposed changes to make
regulations in Gulf state waters similar to pending regulations in Gulf federal
waters. Potential changes include setting the recreational harvest season to
open May 1-30 and Aug. 1 - Oct. 31 each year.
Draft regulation changes (these items will be discussed Dec.
7 and, if approved, will be brought back to a future meeting for final
decision):
Bay scallops: Potential draft changes to create
regionally-specific bay scallop harvest seasons. Proposed season dates and
locations that, if adopted, would be added into rule and remain the same
annually include:
Proposed season dates and locations
that, if adopted, would be implemented by Executive Order for 2018 only
include:
- St. Joseph Bay and all of Gulf County: Aug. 17 -
Sept. 30 (long-term changes would be established once the population is more
fully rebuilt).
- Pasco County: July 20-29 (this is a trial
season, state waters off Pasco County have been closed since 1994).
Permit: Potential draft change to modify the
permit spawning season closure inside the Special Permit Zone by adding April
to the existing May through July closure.
Discussions:
Hurricane response and recovery report (Dec. 5)
Gulf red snapper recreational season staff
report (Dec. 7)
Federal fishery management updates (Dec. 7)
Links for more information:
Agenda
[MyFWC.com]
Red Snapper – Atlantic, Federal
Season reopening Dec. 8-10
Information: Recreational red snapper season will reopen in
Atlantic federal waters Dec. 8-10. During this season in Atlantic federal
waters, the bag limit is one fish per person, per day, and there is no minimum
size limit. The bag limit applies to private and charterboat/headboat vessels
(the captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag
limit).
The season was previously open Nov. 3-5 and 10-12 in
Atlantic federal waters. The season was extended due to inclement weather
during the previously open dates and that the catch limit had not been met yet.
In Atlantic state waters, red snapper is open year-round and
the size limit is 20 inches total length. If you harvest a red snapper under 20
inches while fishing in Atlantic federal waters, you must motor through
Atlantic state waters with your gear stowed.
Link for more information:
Red snapper [MyFWC.com]
Gray Triggerfish - Gulf
Season may reopen Jan. 1
Information: Gray triggerfish is closed to harvest in Gulf
state and federal waters through Dec. 31, 2017. Several regulation changes
federal waters are currently pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of
Commerce. Similar changes for Gulf state waters were approved by the Commission
in July, but will not go into effect until after federal changes are finalized.
These changes include a January through February closed season, a decrease in
the recreational bag limit from 2 to 1 fish, and an increase in the minimum
size limit from 14 to 15 inches fork length.
If these changes are not approved and effective by Dec. 31,
2017, the gray triggerfish recreational season will open for harvest Jan. 1,
2017. If these changes are approved, the January through February closed season
will go into effect and the season will not open.
Please visit the link below for updates on the gray
triggerfish season and regulations.
Link for more information:
Gray triggerfish
[MyFWC.com]
Snook
Gulf season closes Dec. 1; Atlantic closes Dec. 15
Information: The recreational harvest season for snook
closes:
- Dec. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters,
including Monroe County and Everglades National Park, and will remain closed
through Feb. 28, 2018, reopening to harvest March 1, 2018.
- Dec. 15 in Atlantic state and federal waters
including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, and will remain closed
through Jan. 31, 2018, reopening to harvest Feb. 1, 2018.
Snook can continue to be caught and released during the
closed season.
Link for more information:
Snook [MyFWC.com]
FWC needs your feedback
Information: FWC
is collecting feedback on several fisheries issues including shrimp, flounder,
and trap fisheries.
Provide comments on these or other fisheries online at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
Link for more information:
Saltwater Comments [MyFWC.com]
Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs
Catch a Florida Memory today
Information: These three programs encourage ethical
angling while earning rewards for your efforts.
- Saltwater
Fish Life List: A list of 71 different species. Can you catch them all?
- Saltwater
Reel Big Fish: Recognition for extraordinarily-sized catches.
- Saltwater
Grand Slams: Earn rewards for catching three different specified species
in a 24-hour period.
Link for more information:
CatchaFloridaMemory.com
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