Snapper & Scallop Seasons Extended!‏

Great News! This just in from the FWC!

The state and federal 2012 recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico waters has been extended by 6 days. The season will close July 17, with the last day of harvest being July 16. To learn more, visit NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service website or the FWC red snapper page.

The FWC Commission approved the extension of bay scallop season and decided to continue the recreational closure for snook in Gulf of Mexico waters at the June Commission meeting in Palm Beach Gardens. The bay scallop season will be extended by two weeks, changing the season from July 1 through Sept. 10 to July 1 through Sept. 24. They also decided to continue the closure of snook through Aug. 31, 2013. This closure will offer additional protection to snook, which was detrimentally affected by the 2010 cold kill. To learn more, view our news release page.

Please note that we have Offshore trips open next week with Bruce, Grayson, Ken & John (and possibly Charlie if he calls to tell me he's open when he reads this) And don't forget we can hook you up for scalloping with Capt. Greg Fletcher.

More good news...Capt. Brett Martina is now a full time Flats Guide! This time of year he is all over Tarpon on a fly rod, but he is also an excellent Redfish guide (Spring & Fall) as well. Brett is a very intuitive and innovative fisherman who has in his own way revolutionized our local fishery. You'll just have to fish with him to find out what this means.

Kathy Robinson
Robinson Real Estate Company
44 Avenue E.
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850-653-8896
www.FloridaRedfish.com

FWC Extends Scalop Season

The FWC Commission approved the extension of bay scallop season by two weeks, changing the season from July 1 through Sept. 10 to July 1 through Sept. 24. The open region extends from the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando county line.

The daily limit is two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a vessel limit of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one-half gallon of bay scallop meat. Harvesting can only be accomplished by hand or with the use of a landing or dip net.

During the season, scallop harvesters can assist FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/bayscallops.

Snook Season Remains Closed In Gulf

The FWC Commission has voted to keep snook season closed in Gulf of Mexico waters until at least September 1st 2013. They decided to continue the closure of snook through Aug. 31, 2013. This closure will offer additional protection to snook, which was detrimentally affected by the 2010 cold kill.

New Permit / Pompano Rules Begin Aug. 31

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has enacted new regulations that will strengthen protection of Florida's permit, pompano and African pompano fisheries. The new rules take effect August 31st. The FWC extended the current regulations into federal waters, giving more protection and increasing the enforceability of current rules. Previously, there were no regulations protecting permit, Florida pompano or African pompano in adjacent federal waters.New regulations separate the management strategies of the three species and create two new management areas for the harvest of permit. The two new management areas are seperated by a line running due east from Cape Florida and south of a line running due west from Cape Sable.

All state and federal waters south of the line will be designated a Special Permit Zone where the commercial harvest of permit will be prohibited. Recreational anglers will have a minimum size limit of 22 inches fork length and a daily bag limit of one permit per person and two per vessel. Also, recreational anglers are allowed to use only hook-and-line gear, except that spearing for permit is allowed in federal waters. There will also be a May, June and July harvest closure.

In the northern zone, there will be no commercial harvest for permit is allowed, however, commercial fishers who are targeting other species with nets outside of the Special Permit Zone are allowed an incidental bycatch trip limit of 250 fish. Recreational anglers will have a slot size of 11-22 inches fork length with a daily bag limit of two fish per person. Recreational anglers will be allowed one permit over 22 inches with a vessel limit of two permit larger than 22 inches in length. Recreational anglers are allowed to use only hook-and-line gear for permit, except that spearing for permit is allowed in federal waters. 

The new regulations will also extend current Florida pompano recreational and commercial gear regulations and commercial trip and size limits into federal waters, maintain the Florida pompano recreational minimum size limit of 11 inches fork length and eliminate the 20-inch Florida pompano maximum size limit for recreational harvest. The new rules will maintain the recreational daily bag limit of six Florida pompano per person and eliminate the aggregate limit with permit.

Current African pompano recreational size and bag limits were extended into federal waters, and spearfishing for African pompano is allowed in federal waters. 

Reel Work Sport Fishing
301 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-522-9399
1-877-524-9377
Email: lauderdalefishing@gmail.com
Website: lauderdalefishing.com
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters

Atlantic Snapper Grouper Management Plan

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is taking public comments until September 1st regarding Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic. Amendment 24 will implement a rebuilding plan for red grouper in the South Atlantic. Red grouper have been determined to be overfished and undergoing overfishing. The plan is intended to end overfishing immediately and increase overfished stock to a sustainable level. In addition, Annual Catch Limits (in pounds or numbers of fish) and Accountability Measures would be established for both recreational and commercial sectors of the red grouper fishery.

Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC  29405, or via email to: SGAmend24PHcomment@safmc.net for Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper FMP.  Written comments will be accepted from August 12, 2011 until 5:00 PM on September 1, 2011.

The hearings on Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan have been rescheduled as part of a series of public hearings that will be held in November 2011. Public hearings will be held in Florida on the following dates: Jacksonville on November 15th; Cape Canaveral on November 16th, and Key Largo on November 17th. Details regarding the locations for the public hearings will be provided as they become available.

Reel Work Sport Fishing
301 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-522-9399
1-877-524-9377
Email: lauderdalefishing@gmail.com
Website: lauderdalefishing.com
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters

Snook Regulations 2011

Updated:  June 10, 2011

SnookAt the June Commission Meeting, Commissioners received a staff report with the most recent information on the status of the snook population, which suggests that snook on Florida's Atlantic coast were less severely impacted by cold weather than Gulf coast snook.  Based on this information, Commissioners ruled to reopen snook harvest season September 1, 2011 in Atlantic waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River.  The regular daily bag limit of one snook per harvester per day will apply, as will the 28"-32" total length slot limit.

The current harvest prohibition of snook in all of Florida's Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County state and federal waters will remain in effect until August 31, 2012 to allow the snook population additional time to rebound and provide time to complete a full stock assessment.  Catch and release of Gulf coast snook is still permitted at this time.

Gulf Grouper Regulations 2011

These are the latest fishing regulations for grouper in the Gulf Of Mexico. There will be an open season for both Federal and State waters from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This is only for 2011.

Gulf of Mexico (except all state waters of Monroe County)

Updated: June 1, 2011

2011 Gag Grouper Closure and Fall Harvest Season
in Federal and State Waters

The latest stock assessment indicates that gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico are overfished and undergoing overfishing. NOAA Fisheries Service recently announced interim rules that prohibit recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters until long-term management measures for gag grouper can be developed.

The first interim rule prohibited harvest of Gulf gag grouper in federal waters through May 31, 2011. At its February meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council discussed a second interim rule that would continue the interim gag grouper closure through the end of 2011, but also allow for a recreational open season for gag grouper in Gulf federal waters from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This rule has been approved by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

These closures also prohibit anyone on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or charter/headboat permit for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish fishery has been issued from harvesting or possessing gag grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The FWC Commissioners approved rules that closed state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Monroe County, to the recreational harvest of gag grouper from June 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, with the exception of a fall harvest season September 16 through November 15, 2011.  These rules will be in effect for 2011 only.

Federal Commercial King Mackerel Closure

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has closed commercial harvesting of Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone through March 31, 2011. The Florida east coast subzone is federal waters from the Flagler/Volusia County line to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line. Beginning April 1, the boundary between Atlantic and Gulf groups of king
mackerel shifts south and west to the Monroe/Collier County boundary on the Florida west coast. From April 1 through October 31, fish harvested along east coast of Florida, including all of Monroe County, are considered
to be Atlantic group king mackerel.
Closure of the commercial king mackerel sector in the Florida east coast subzone complies with regulations implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic and is necessary to protect the Gulf group king mackerel resource.
In cooperative actions, the state of Florida is expected to close commercial harvest of king mackerel concurrently in
adjoining state waters.
During the closure period, no person aboard a vessel for which a commercial permit for king mackerel has been issued may fish for or retain king mackerel in or from federal waters of the closed subzone. There is one exception for a person aboard a charter vessel or headboat. A person aboard a vessel that has a valid charter/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish and a commercial king mackerel permit may continue to retain king mackerel in or from the closed subzone under the 2-fish daily bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat. Charter vessels or headboats that hold a commercial king mackerel permit are considered to be operating as a charter vessel or headboat when they carry a passenger who pays a fee or when more than three persons are aboard, including operator and crew.
During the closure, no king mackerel caught in the closed subzone may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold. This includes recreational and tournament-caught fish. The prohibition of sale, however, does not apply to trade in king mackerel that were harvested, landed ashore and bartered, traded, or sold before the closure and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Thanks to Underwater-Lights USA, Underwater LED Boat Lights For This Report.

New Circle Hook Regulations For Atlantic

New fishing regulations took effect  this month in the Atlantic. As of March 3, 2011, all vessels fishing for snapper and grouper in federal waters of the South Atlantic, north of 28 degrees, will be required to use non-stainless steel circle hooks (offset or non-offset) when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits to fish. It will be unlawful to possess snapper or grouper north of 28 degrees N. latitude without possessing non-stainless steel circle hooks. The use of circle hooks is expected to reduce the mortality rate of incidentally caught red snapper and other non-target fish.

Thanks to Reel Work Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters for this report.

Seatrout Season Reopens In North Florida

Spotted seatrout season reopens to recreational harvest March 1st, 2011. At that time, all Florida waters will be open to the sport harvest of spotted seatrout. The maximum daily bag limit for spotted seatrout in the northern harvest area is 5 fish per person. In waters south of these boundaries, the daily limit is 4 fish per person. The slot limit for spotted seatrout is 15-20 inches total length, but anglers may keep one spotted seatrout larger than 20 inches.Seatrout may not be caught using any multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait, and snagging or snatch-hooking spotted seatrout is illegal. Anglers may take spotted seatrout with hook-and-line gear or cast nets and must bring the fish to land in a whole condition.
This story is courtesy of Underwater-Lights USA. Underwater LED Boat Lights.

Snapper Bonus Weekend

Bonus recreational red snapper harvest weekends set to begin in Gulf

News Release

September 28, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The recreational harvest of red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters off Florida will be open for eight consecutive three-day weekends, beginning Friday, Oct. 1.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages anglers to enjoy these extra weekend fishing days for Gulf red snapper, which were made possible because harvest levels of these fish were lower than expected this past summer.

The regular recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf waters took place from June 1 until July 24 this year.  This season was set based on projections of how many red snapper recreational anglers could catch without exceeding the annual harvest quota, which was established to help rebuild overfished stocks so that anglers can benefit from better red snapper fishing in the future.

However, the recreational fishing effort for Gulf red snapper by private and charter boats was much less than anticipated, due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in fishing closures and cancelled fishing trips in federal and state waters off parts of Florida's Gulf coast.  Consequently, the Gulf recreational red snapper quota was not met during the regular season, which means more fishing days can be opened this fall.

Anglers, except for the captain and crew of for-hire vessels, may keep two red snapper greater than 16 inches total length per person on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 1 and extending for eight consecutive weekends through Sunday, Nov. 21.

Updated information about red snapper management and regulations is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules (click on "Fishing - Saltwater").

Tarpon/ Bonefish Closure Ends

Bonefish and tarpon harvest reopens April 1

News Release

March 29, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

A temporary closure to the recreational harvest of bonefish and tarpon from Florida waters ends on April 1. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order on Jan. 16, which established statewide closed seasons for bonefish and tarpon as a precautionary measure due to the prolonged cold weather in Florida this past winter. This order expires April 1.

The minimum size limit for bonefish is 18 inches total length, and anglers may take one bonefish daily. Anglers may use hook-and-line gear only to harvest bonefish and may not harvest bonefish commercially.

Anglers who possess and attach a $50 tag to the fish may harvest up to two tarpon from state waters daily. Anglers cannot legally harvest tarpon from state waters by spearing, snagging or snatch hooking, and they may not sell tarpon.

Even though the FWC is again allowing the harvest of bonefish and tarpon, the agency encourages anglers to enjoy catching and releasing these important Florida game fish species and to handle and release these fish carefully to help ensure their survival. Information regarding proper handling and release of fish is available online at http://catchandrelease.org/Catch_and_Release_web.pdf.

Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish Closures

The FWC has issued executive orders that will keep snook, bonefish and tarpon closed to harvest until September, 2010. This was caused by the unprecedented cold weather that hit Florida after the first of the year. Below is an excerpt of the press release announcing the orders. To read the whole thing go to FWC responds to widespread cold-weather saltwater fish kills

January 15, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

• Executive Order 10-02 (Dead Fish)
• Executive Order 10-03 (Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued executive orders to protect Florida's snook, bonefish and tarpon fisheries from further harm caused by the recent prolonged cold weather in the state, which has caused widespread saltwater fish kills. The FWC has received numerous reports from the public and is taking action to address the conservation needs of affected marine fisheries. The orders also will allow people to legally dispose of dead fish in the water and on the shore.

One of the executive orders temporarily extends closed fishing seasons for snook statewide until September. It also establishes temporary statewide closed seasons for bonefish and tarpon until April because of the prolonged natural cold weather event that caused significant, widespread mortality of saltwater fish in Florida. The other order temporarily suspends certain saltwater fishing regulations to allow people to collect and dispose of dead fish killed by the cold weather.

Atlantic Shark, Grouper, Reef Regulations

New fishing regulations take effect January 19, 2010 for the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Starting January 19th this year and January 1st in 2011 and beyond, harvest of Atlantic shallow-water groupers (gag, red, black, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and tiger groupers) will be closed through April in Atlantic and Monroe counties.


Two other sets of regulations take effect January 19th, 2010 for Florida's Atlantic waters. New reef fish regulations will require the use of a dehooking device in Atlantic waters. New regulations for the harvest of sharks are as follows:
• Size limit of 54” fork length for all sharks except Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, blacktip, bonnethead, finetooth, and smooth dogfish
• Harvest of Caribbean sharpnose, silky, and sandbar shark prohibited
• All sharks must be landed in whole condition

See all of the latest fishing regulations at- myfwc.com

Spotted Seatrout Season Closed

Fishing for Spotted Seatrout is closed in Florida's South Region as of November 1st. The season will remain closed in the South Region through December. The South Region starts at the Flagler-Volusia County line on Florida's East Coast and extends to the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28E9.350’N 82E48.398’W), which is approximately 1.17 nautical miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County line on Florida's West Coast.

Florida Snook Season Open At Midnight

Florida's fall snook season opens at midnight September 1st, 2009. The season will remain open until December 1st in the Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County (The Florida Keys) and Everglades National Park. In these areas during open season you may keep 1 snook, per harvest day, between 28'' and 33". On the Atlantic Coast snook season remains open until December 15th. In this area you may keep 1 snook, per harvest day, between 28" and 32". A snook permit is required when saltwater license required. It is illegal to buy or sell snook and snatch hooks and spearing are prohibited. State regulations apply in federal waters.

Shoreline Saltwater License

Shoreline anglers need to buy license by Aug. 1

June 8, 2009
Contact: Henry Cabbage, 850-488-4676

Florida's resident saltwater anglers who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore will need to buy a $7.50 (plus administrative and handling fees) shoreline fishing license by Aug. 1, unless they have a regular resident saltwater fishing license.

The new license applies only to Florida resident saltwater anglers who fish from shore. Resident anglers may prefer to purchase the regular recreational saltwater license that covers them, no matter where they fish for saltwater species in Florida.

Florida has always required nonresidents to have a license when fishing from shore, and they will still need to purchase a regular nonresident saltwater fishing license.

The new shoreline saltwater fishing license for residents goes on sale July 15. It provides all of the same exemptions as a regular license, including senior citizens, children, disabled people who meet certain qualifications, active-duty military personnel while home on leave, and anglers who fish from a licensed pier.

In addition, the shoreline license requirement includes two new exemptions:

* anglers drawing food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid; and
* anglers fishing in their home counties who use cane poles or other gear that does not depend on mechanical retrieval.

At the request of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Legislature passed the new license requirement to head off a federal license requirement that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010, and will have a $15-$25 fee beginning in 2011. Florida's new shoreline license exempts this state's anglers from the federal license requirement.

Several hunting, fishing and conservation organizations requested other permit fee changes, which do not take effect until July 2010. They include increases in:

* the state waterfowl stamp, from the current $3 to $5;
* in the resident turkey permit, from $5 to $10;
* the nonresident turkey permit, from $100 to $125;
* the wildlife management area permit for hunting, fishing and other recreational uses, from $25 to $30;
* the limited-entry or special-opportunity hunt fee, from $100 per day to $150 per day and $250 per week to $300 per week, as determined by FWC Commissioners;
* the snook permit, from $2 to $10; and
* the lobster permit, from $2 to $5.

Also, new laws create a $5 annual deer permit (in addition to the current hunting license requirement for deer hunters) and allow the agency to charge up to $5 per day for non-hunting and non-fishing recreation on certain wildlife management areas.

The FWC will evaluate areas where it is the lead manager to determine where to charge the fees and how much to charge. In addition, the state will use up to 10 percent of the hunting and sport-fishing fees to promote those sports, with emphasis on youth participation.

For more information about outdoor recreation and FWC programs, go to MyFWC.com.

Snook Season Closed Gulf Region

Just a reminder that snook season is now closed in Florida's Gulf Region. The Gulf Region includes all waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County(the Florida Key's). The season remaines open in the Atlantic Region through May. The season will re-open in both regions August 1st.

Spotted Seatrout Season Open N. E./N.W.

Spotted Seatrout season is now open in Florida's Northeast and Northwest regions. The Northeast region is all state waters north of the Flagler-Volusia County line. The Northwest region starts at the western most point of Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County, about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas-Pasco County line and includes all state waters north and west of that point. In the Northeast and Northwest Regions, you may now keep 5 spotted seatrout per day between 15" and 20" long. One of the fish you keep may be over 20". In the South Region you may keep 4 seatrout between 15" and 20" with one of those fish being over 20".

Snook Season Open Gulf Region 2-09

Snook season is now open in Florida's Gulf Region. The Gulf Region includes the Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County ( The Florida Keys). In the Gulf Region you may now keep one snook, per day, between 28" and 33". A snook permit is also required if you are required to have a saltwater licence. You may not buy or sell snook and you may not use a spear or snatch hook to catch your snook. The season will remain open in the Gulf Region untill May 1st. Snook season will remain open in the Atlantic Region untill June 1st.