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A team of experts, led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, are working together to care for a pair of endangered Florida panther kittens orphaned after their mom suffered from an unknown neurological disorder affecting panthers and bobcats. [Read more…] about Florida panther kittens under ZooTampa care while FWC continues investigation into neurological disorder
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Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced two additional recreational red snapper fishing days for Gulf waters, due to the timing of Tropical Storm Nestor’s impacts to the state. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis and FWC Announce Extension for Gulf Red Snapper Fishing
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Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today announced six additional recreational red snapper fishing days. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis and FWC Announce Additional Recreational Red Snapper Fishing Days
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Governor Ron DeSantis today commended members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Port Investigations Team, who received the Conservation Law Enforcement Award from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis Commends FWC Port Investigations Officers for Award and Continued Efforts
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Governor Ron DeSantis today joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to announce new efforts to remove pythons from the Greater Everglades. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis Joins FWC and SFWMD in Announcing Python Removal Efforts to Protect the Greater Everglades
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At the direction of Governor Scott, and in response to this year’s red tide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has enhanced red tide monitoring efforts in Southwest Florida. [Read more…] about FWC Deploys Scientists to Survey Red Tide
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Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is providing $1.2 million to enhance research and production of redfish at the FWC Stock Enhancement Research Facility at Port Manatee. This funding will help the FWC to address impacts of naturally occurring red tide on redfish populations in coastal marine fisheries. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott: Additional $1.2 Million for Redfish Hatchery Will Help Mitigate Impacts from Red Tide
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The greater amberjack recreational season in Gulf state waters will reopen to harvest May 1 and remain open through May 31. The season will reopen again Aug. 1 through Oct. 31.
Greater amberjack is overfished and undergoing overfishing, and the season has closed increasingly early in recent years due to federal quotas being met or exceeded. This new season structure adopted at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) meeting in December will optimize recreational fishing opportunities in both the spring and fall while minimizing harvest during the spawning season, helping to rebuild the stock.
For more information on greater amberjack including size and bag limits and other regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Amberjack.”
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The following species will reopen to recreational harvest May 1 in Florida state and federal waters of the Atlantic: hogfish; gag, black, red, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby.
Hogfish will remain open through Oct. 31, 2018, on the east coast of Florida as well as south and east of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast. The other species will remain open through Dec. 31, 2018, on the east coast of Florida and all state waters off Monroe County.
More information about hogfish and grouper bag and size limits, gear restrictions and fishing seasons, including a map of the Atlantic and Gulf grouper fishing boundaries, is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing; select “Saltwater Fishing” then “Recreational Regulations.”
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At the April 26 meeting in Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed Gulf red snapper management, including the 40-day Gulf recreational season (June 11-July 20, 2018), and approved the creation of a Gulf Reef Fish State For-Hire program for 2018 and 2019. This program will enhance management efforts by requiring for-hire operations that target or harvest certain reef fish in Gulf of Mexico state waters (excluding Monroe County) to report their intention to harvest these species.
To learn more about the 40-day recreational red snapper season in Gulf state and federal waters visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snappers.”
For-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish permit but target reef fish in state waters will need to sign up for the Gulf Reef Fish State For-Hire program before targeting any of the following species: red snapper, vermilion snapper, gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, lesser amberjack, banded rudderfish and almaco jack.
This effort is part of a fishery-management pilot program (also referred to as an Exempted Fishing Permit) that allows the FWC to manage recreational red snapper harvest in Gulf state and federal waters off Florida in 2018 and 2019.
To share your comments or input on Gulf red snapper, visit MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
Learn more about snapper at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snappers.”
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