 Shawn Hanway with her red drum catch.
Submit your photos by emailing them to Saltwater@MyFWC.com. Learn
more about our photo guidelines.
Commission Meeting – February
Marine Fisheries items discussed
Information: The FWC Commission listened
to public testimony on and discussed several marine fisheries management items
at the Feb. 7-8 meeting in Tallahassee.
Final action:
-
Permit: Changes approved to lengthen the permit
spawning season closure inside the Special Permit Zone in south Florida by
adding April to the existing May through July closure. This change will take
effect April 1.
-
Bay scallops: Regionally-specific bay scallop
harvest seasons for the 2018 season approved. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational/Bay-Scallops
for more. Share your input on these
season structures at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
-
Spiny lobster trap certificate program: Remove
outdated and inconsistent rule language. This item was a draft rule discussion but
will not have another public hearing unless one is requested by a member of the
public.
Draft rule discussions (these items will be brought back to
a future meeting for final decision):
-
Gulf red snapper: Draft rule proposal as a part
of Florida’s proposed fishery management pilot program to require charter,
headboat and guides who fish for reef fish in Gulf state waters and do not have
a federal reef fish permit to report their intention to run for-hire trips
targeting certain species of reef fish. This presentation included an update on
recent federal discussions about red snapper and the 2018 recreational harvest
season. Comment on this proposal at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
-
Sheepshead and tripletail: Draft rule proposal
to extend FWC’s current and proposed rules for both species into federal
waters, to increase the minimum size limit for tripletail from 15 to 18 inches,
to reduce the daily recreational bag limit for sheepshead from 15 to 5 fish,
and to create a vessel limit of 50 sheepshead for recreational harvesters
during the peak spawning months of March and April. Comment on this proposal at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
Discussions:
-
Dry
Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area review: Commission provided its
continued concurrence with fishing and anchoring regulations. FWC will continue
to work with the National Park Service on research and management.
- Federal fishery management updates
- Federal legislative update
Links for more information:
Agenda
[MyFWC.com]
News
Releases [MyFWC.com]
Triggerfish – Gulf
Recreational season opens March 1
with regulatory changes
Information: The recreational
gray triggerfish season in Gulf state and federal waters will reopen to harvest
March 1. When the season reopens, the following regulations will be in effect
in Gulf state and federal waters:
- Decreased bag limit of 1 fish per person, per
day.
- Increased minimum size limit to 15 inches fork
length.
- Close harvest in January and February, in
addition to June/July closed season.
Before fishing for triggerfish
from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up for the Gulf
Reef Fish Survey at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Link for more information:
Triggerfish
[MyFWC.com]
Snook – Gulf
Season opens March 1
Information:
The recreational harvest season for snook in Gulf state and federal waters (includes
Monroe County and Everglades National Park) is slated to open March 1.
Link for more
information:
Snook [MyFWC.com]
 Lionfish Harvesters Wanted
Reef Rangers website is renovated,
ready for more lionfish hunters
Information: Become
a Reef Ranger today at ReefRangers.com. The website was recently updated and
the program is ready for more participants. Reef Rangers is a year-round
lionfish removal program where individuals and teams of divers pledge to remove
lionfish from adopted reef sites of their choice. Sign up today to receive a
Reef Rangers lionfish t-shirt, tank sticker and magnet, and continue your
removals and harvest reports to earn more prizes.
Add info for
the next lionfish event
Link for more
information:
ReefRangers.com [MyFWC.com]
|
 FWC needs your feedback
Information: FWC is collecting feedback on several fisheries issues including bay scallops, shrimp, 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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