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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

FWC approves several changes to Gulf cobia management

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At its December meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) took final action to approve several changes to the management of cobia in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
These changes are based on stakeholder input and concerns from anglers, and will further promote sustainable management of this fishery.
Approved changes will go into effect Feb. 1, 2018, and include:

  • Creating a Gulf/Atlantic management boundary defining all state waters north of the Monroe-Collier county line as “Gulf state waters” for purposes of managing cobia.
  • Making the recreational and commercial bag limits for cobia in Gulf state waters the same by reducing the commercial limit from two to one fish per person.
  • Reducing the recreational and commercial vessel limit in Gulf state waters from six to two cobia per vessel, per day.

The current 33-inch minimum size limit will not change.
For more information or to view the presentations given at the Commission meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings,” then click on the link below “Next Meeting.”

FWC discusses regional bay scallop seasons

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At its December meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed draft changes that would create regionally-specific bay scallop open seasons and would allow a trial scalloping season in state waters off Pasco County in 2018. Stakeholder input gathered over the past year was presented to the Commission along with an overview of the bay scallop fishery, an update on the status of scallops in St. Joseph Bay, and proposed management changes for the fishery.
This draft proposal includes both long- and short-term changes and will be brought back before the Commission at the February meeting for a final public hearing.
Regionally-specific open seasons, if approved, would mean the timing of the summer bay scallop season would vary across the allowable harvest area to provide a better scalloping experience for the public and maximize the benefits to various regions. For some regions, that means having a season that starts later so that scallops are bigger when the season begins and for other areas, that means having a season that starts during early summer to allow for more opportunities for those on summer break.
Allowing a short trial season in Pasco County, which has been closed to harvest since 1994, would likely provide an economic benefit to the county and create opportunities for local residents to scallop in their nearby waters.
If approved in February, long-term regionally-specific open seasons would include:

  • Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, and St. Marks): July 1 through Sept. 24.
  • The remaining portion of Taylor County and all of Dixie County (including Keaton Beach and the Steinhatchee area): the third Saturday in June through Sept. 10.
  • Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa): July 10 through Sept. 10.

If approved in February, the following open seasons will be created by executive order for 2018 only:

  • St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 17 through Sept. 30, 2018.
  • Pasco County: Establish a 10-day open season to run July 20-29, 2018.

The FWC will set a long-term season in St. Joseph Bay once the population in that area has more fully rebuilt.
Share your input on these season changes by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing [email protected]. You can also learn more by viewing a workshop presentation at MyFWC.com/Fishing (click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Public Comments/Workshops” and “Workshops.”
For more information or to view the presentations given at the Commission meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings,” then click on the link below “Next Meeting.”

FWC discusses draft rule to extend the permit spawning season closure inside the Special Permit Zone

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At its December meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed a draft change to extend the spawning season closure for permit inside the Special Permit Zone. This draft proposal was approved and will be brought back before the Commission at the February 2018 meeting.
The proposed change, if approved in February, will add April to the existing May-through-July season closure for the harvest of permit inside the SPZ, which includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast and south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast.
Recent research confirms spawning-size permit are visiting known aggregation sites from April through July.
To comment on this proposal, visit MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or email [email protected].
For more information or to view the presentations given at the Commission meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings” then click on the link below “Next Meeting.”

Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area explore the outdoors event rescheduled to Jan. 27

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On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area will host a day of fun and exploration celebrating Florida’s 75-year history of conserving native species and habitats on its wildlife management areas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to enjoy this free, family-friendly Tosohatchee WMA event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The FWC originally planned to hold the event on Saturday, Dec. 9 but had to reschedule due to inclement weather.
Only about 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, Tosohatchee WMA has woodlands and waterways reminiscent of Florida in the 1940s, when the first wildlife management area was created in the state. Osceola wild turkey and white-tailed deer roam here. Purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills pick their way through marshes flowing into the St. Johns River. Bald eagles and swallow-tailed kites can be spotted, as well as flocks of migratory birds such as painted buntings making their winter stopovers.
“Tosohatchee is a spectacular piece of old Florida. We are a great getaway from urban areas,” said FWC wildlife biologist Tom Shupe.
Participants at the Tosohatchee event will have opportunities to go on hay rides with biologists, meet FWC law enforcement officers and their K-9 companions, admire and judge the finalists submitted in the year-long WMA photo contest, and learn about the science behind the comeback of the Osceola wild turkey, which only lives in Florida.
“The 75th anniversary of Florida’s wildlife management areas inspired us in 2017 to throw outdoors celebrations all year long, from bioblitzes and bird-watching tours to geocaching and photo contests and volunteer work days,” said Jerrie Lindsey, who leads the FWC’s Public Access Services Office. “The Tosohatchee event tops off our quest to get more people out on WMAs enjoying both the wildlife and the recreational opportunities. We invite you to keep coming back to our WMAs year after year.”
“Wildlife management areas throughout the state give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to experience beautiful areas that Florida is conserving for wildlife,” said David Johnson, head of the FWC’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Section that manages the WMAs. “There are a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from hunting and fishing to wildlife viewing, hiking, biking and primitive camping. There is also the simple pleasure of taking a leisurely drive through a WMA and stopping along the way for a picnic.”
What other fun activities can you expect at the Tosohatchee event?
You can experience muzzle-loading and campfire cooking demonstrations, check out the variety of hands-on activities for kids, join Florida Trail Association volunteers on short woodland walks and take tours on how to identify native plants.
More about the WMAs’ 75th anniversary and the experiences that WMAs offer to Floridians and visitors all year-long is at MyFWC.com/WMA75.

FWC approves new Critical Wildlife Area in Volusia County

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today approved a new Critical Wildlife Area in Volusia County.
The small island, known as Port Orange Colony and now approved as a CWA, shelters hundreds of brown pelicans during nesting season. It is less than 2 acres but is one of the largest breeding sites for brown pelicans along Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Other vulnerable shorebirds documented to nest there include the tricolored heron and American oystercatcher. Also breeding and sheltering on the island are snowy egrets, great egrets, double-crested cormorants and great blue herons.
“Protecting Florida’s birds is what gave rise to the conservation movement in the United States,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “This is a legacy moment that we leave for the ages as a Commission,”
In November 2016, the FWC significantly increased the number and range of Critical Wildlife Areas, created by the agency to protect critical wildlife in its most vulnerable stages from human disturbance. At that time, 13 new CWAs were added and five existing CWAs were expanded. The proposal to establish the Port Orange CWA was postponed because of questions about ownership of the property that have since been resolved.
Once the Port Orange CWA is established, it will be closed to public access from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31. The protected area includes a water buffer around the island of anywhere from 10 to 150 feet. Signs will be posted in the water to alert the public to stay out of the CWA during the closed dates.
In 2016 before establishing and expanding CWAs, the FWC conducted a statewide effort to present the proposals and obtain public input. More than 400 people attended 14 CWA workshops throughout the state. The agency then used the public feedback to improve the CWA proposals.
Learn more about Florida’s CWAs at MyFWC.com/CWA.

FWC honors Megan Malicoat as 2017 Boating Officer of the Year

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today recognized Officer Megan Malicoat as its 2017 Boating Officer of the Year during the Commission meeting in Gainesville.
The annual award honors a state officer whose efforts show outstanding performance and achievement among sworn conservation law enforcement personnel in the field of boating, boating safety, BUI enforcement and fisheries conservation. Officer Malicoat’s 1,850 hours of vessel patrol in 2016 illustrate her dedication to this integral aspect of the FWC’s mission. She has protected the safety of Florida boaters with six search-and-rescue operations, seven boating accident investigations, and is very active in resource and boating safety enforcement.
Officer Malicoat is a coastal officer assigned to Volusia County in the FWC’s Northeast Region. Her extensive knowledge of boating safety and fisheries regulations as well as her efforts to establish and maintain close working relationships with partner agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Volusia County Sherrif’s Office, have made her an outstanding FWC officer.
One of Officer Malicoat’s greatest strengths is her continuing commitment to teamwork. She is an active and engaged member of her squad, but also volunteers to assist whenever another officer or team needs backup. She has assisted the crew of the offshore patrol vessel Osprey on numerous offshore details, and works with FWC K-9 units on training and deployment operations. She developed targeted enforcement details for regulated vessel speed zones, shorebird protection, offshore resource enforcement, marine sanitation device compliance and public safety. She has demonstrated great teamwork by supporting her neighboring squads with alligator and waterfowl hunting details in both Volusia and Brevard counties. She has worked with the squad and local municipalities in documenting and posting at-risk and derelict vessels along the Volusia County coast.
“Officer Malicoat’s exemplary efforts on the water make her an ideal choice for Boating Officer of the Year,” said Maj. Rob Rowe, FWC’s Boating and Waterways section leader. “Her commitment to public safety is outstanding, and she is a great ambassador for FWC on the water. I’m proud to have her representing our agency as FWC’s Boating Officer of the Year.”

Gary Ellis, Highlands County ASA, honored as FWC Prosecutor of the Year

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During the Dec. 5-7 Commission meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) honored Highlands County Assistant State Attorney Gary Ellis with the agency’s Prosecutor of the Year Award. Ellis is a prior recipient of this award, earning the recognition three years ago for his work with the FWC.
Gary Ellis is an Assistant State Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Highlands County. Ellis is a distinguished professional who is always eager to assist and provide case preparation guidance with complex and long-term investigations. During a recent case involving nonnative hoofstock at an unlicensed commercial game farm in Highlands County, he assisted local officers with drafting two search warrants for the game farm. During the execution of the search warrants, Ellis traveled to the scene and provided invaluable expert guidance throughout the entire process.
He acted as the liaison with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services veterinary staff and FWC legal counsel concerning the quarantine of the hoofstock, and worked tirelessly through the complexity of this case to coordinate the administrative functions of both agencies. This case, which spanned almost a calendar year to the day and concluded with the defendant being adjudicated guilty on all charges, was the largest unlawful captive wildlife case in FWC history.
“Gary’s dedication to his work and the assistance he gives to FWC in this region have been extraordinary. His exceptional work on this recent case supported law-abiding captive wildlife facilities and conservation of our native species and we wanted to let him know how valuable his efforts are to the state of Florida,” said Maj. Roger Young, FWC Regional Commander.
“I feel blessed to have had the privilege to work with such a fine group of men and women,” said Ellis. “I’m pleased to continue to work with the FWC to ensure that our state’s natural resources are there for generations to come.”
Without Assistant State Attorney Ellis’ tremendous legal support, expert coordination and committed dedication, a case of this magnitude, which will serve as a system-wide example for prosecuting similar wildlife cases, would not have ended so successfully.
“We are thrilled to honor Gary with this well-deserved award,” FWC Division Director Col. Curtis Brown said. “He has been a steadfast ally to the FWC in our mission to protect the people of Florida and conserve our natural resources.”

FWC Lt. James Yetter awarded agency’s Medal of Valor with Lifesaving for actions during Hurricane Harvey

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During the Dec. 5-7 Commission meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) honored Lt. James Yetter with the agency’s Medal of Valor with Lifesaving for his actions during Hurricane Harvey response in Texas.
On Aug. 31, Lt. James Yetter and Officer Michael Graves were conducting waterborne rescue operations in Rose City, Texas after Hurricane Harvey. While traveling in flooded waters alongside Interstate 10, their boat engine failed, leaving them at the mercy of the strong current. The boat was quickly washed under the I-10 bridge toward a wooded area where it became pinned against trees and swiftly capsized. Yetter was successful in rapidly shedding his gun belt and waders; but Graves was already in waist-deep water, still wearing all his gear. Graves clung to a tree as the weight of his gun belt and heavy water-filled waders pulled at him in the current. People in another vessel attempted to rescue Graves, but the line broke and he was washed from the tree he was holding to another tree farther downcurrent. Graves continued fighting to keep his head above water as he grasped the tree.
Yetter recognized that Graves’ life was in danger. Without hesitation, he left the safety of the tree he was holding and fought his way to Graves’ location. Yetter grabbed Graves and helped him get to the upstream side of the tree, where he could establish a better grip. Yetter stayed with Graves, and helped him hang on until a Texas National Guard Helicopter Rescue Team arrived and pulled them both to safety.
Even though his actions risked his own life, Lt. Yetter did not stand idly by while his partner’s life was in danger.
“James’ actions that day were truly heroic. Had it not been for his quick thinking and courageous action, there may have been a much different outcome to the situation,” said Col. Curtis Brown, Director of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “We are proud to honor his actions today with this award.”

Learn about duck and dove hunting with new guide and webpage

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December “Outta’ the Woods”
By Tony Young
We have a new Guide to Waterfowl Hunting in Florida publication that can be found at MyFWC.com/Duck. It’s a valuable tool for beginning waterfowl hunters, but experienced waterfowlers will appreciate it, too. It lists public duck hunting areas, illustrates several decoy placement setups, gives scouting and hunting tips, and provides outstanding duck identification photos of most every duck you’re likely to see in Florida.
Also, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) dove hunting webpage received a facelift, making the information you need easier to find. The updated page, MyFWC.com/Dove, offers dove hunting tips and lists all FWC-managed dove fields.
The new waterfowl guide and revamped dove hunting webpage are available for the second phase of waterfowl and coot season and the third phase of mourning and white-winged dove, which both open in December. Below is a recap of what you need to know to take part in these opportunities.

License and permit requirements

The first thing you’ll need to participate in these hunting opportunities is a Florida hunting license. Residents pay just $17 for the year. Nonresidents have the choice of paying $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months. You also need a no-cost migratory bird permit. And if you plan to hunt one of Florida’s many wildlife management areas, you must purchase a management area permit for $26.50.
Or, you may opt to get a Lifetime Sportsman’s License. This license allows you to hunt and fish in Florida for the rest of your life, even if you move away. It’s also a great holiday gift idea for family members who appreciate the outdoors.
All licenses and permits you need are available online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at county tax collectors’ offices or license agents, or by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA.

Waterfowl and coot season

The second phase of the waterfowl and coot season comes in statewide Dec. 9 and runs through Jan. 28. In addition to previously mentioned license and permit requirements, duck hunters also must get a Florida waterfowl permit ($5) and a federal duck stamp.
The daily bag limit on ducks is six, but you need to know your ducks before heading afield because there are different daily limits for each species. For instance, within the six-bird limit there can be only one pintail, one mottled duck and one fulvous whistling-duck.
Only two of your six-bird limit can be canvasbacks, black ducks, scaup or redheads; and three may be wood ducks. And you may have no more than four scoters, four eiders, four long-tailed ducks and four mallards (of which only two can be female) in your bag. All other species of ducks can be taken up to the six-bird limit, except harlequin ducks. It is prohibited to take harlequin ducks.
The daily limit on coots is 15, and there’s a five-bird limit on mergansers, only two of which may be hooded.
You also may take light geese statewide during the waterfowl and coot season (Dec. 9 – Jan. 28), which includes the taking of snow, blue and Ross’s geese. There’s a 15-bird daily bag limit on any combination of these geese.
When hunting ducks, geese or coots, hunters may use only nontoxic shotgun shells. No lead shot can be used or even be in your possession – only iron (steel), bismuth-tin and various tungsten alloys are permissible. 
And in the Tallahassee area, I need to point out some outboard motor restrictions and a prohibition against hunting in permanent duck blinds:

  • On Lake Iamonia and Carr Lake (both in Leon County), the use of airboats and gasoline-run outboard motors are prohibited during the regular waterfowl and coot seasons.
  • The maximum-allowed horsepower rating on outboard motors during the regular waterfowl and coot seasons on Lake Miccosukee in Leon and Jefferson counties is 10 hp.
  • You may not hunt from or within 30 yards of a permanent duck blind structure on the four Tallahassee-area lakes of Jackson, Iamonia, Miccosukee and Carr. You’re allowed to pack in a portable blind and hunt from it, but make sure to break it down and take it with you when you’re done. (However, there’s no problem hunting within the concealment of any natural, rooted vegetation.)

Dove season

The third phase of the mourning and white-winged dove season always runs Dec. 12 through Jan. 15. The daily bag limit is 15.
The FWC even provides an online Dove Hunters’ Hotline that gives up-to-date information on Florida’s public dove fields. The web address is MyFWC.com/Dove, and it’s updated every Thursday throughout the dove season. Information includes dove densities, previous weeks’ harvests and field conditions.

Migratory bird hunting regulations

Shooting hours for waterfowl and coot season, and during the last phase of dove season, are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The only firearm you are allowed to hunt migratory game birds with is a shotgun, although you’re not permitted to use one larger than 10-gauge. Shotguns also must be plugged to a three-shell capacity (magazine and chamber combined).
Retrievers and bird dogs may be used to take migratory game birds and, if you’re up for the challenge, you may even use a bow or crossbow. Artificial decoys, as well as manual or mouth-operated bird calls, also are legal gear for duck hunters. Birds of prey can even be used to take migratory birds by properly-permitted falconers.
You may hunt doves over an agricultural field as long as the grain has been distributed or scattered solely as a result of a normal agricultural operation. However, you’re not allowed to introduce grain or other feed over an area for the purpose of luring birds.
Baiting rules are even more restrictive regarding ducks, geese and coots. You cannot legally hunt waterfowl over manipulated agricultural crops except after the field has been subject to a normal harvest and removal of grain. However, you can hunt waterfowl in fields or flooded fields of unharvested standing crops. On lakes and rivers, feed – such as corn or wheat – cannot be used to attract birds, even if the bait is quite a distance from where you’re hunting. And it doesn’t matter if you aren’t the one who scattered the bait. If you knew or should have known bait was present, you’re breaking the law.
Some other things you can’t do while hunting migratory game birds include using rifles, pistols, traps, snares, nets, sinkboxes, swivel guns, punt guns, battery guns, machine guns, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosive substances, live decoys, recorded bird calls or sounds, or electrically amplified bird-call imitations. Shooting from a moving automobile or boat, and herding or driving birds with vehicles or vessels also are against the law.

Happy holidays!

Whether dove hunting with friends and family or shooting ducks on the pond with your favorite lab – December has you covered.
Here’s wishing you happy holidays and a successful hunting season. If you can, remember to introduce someone new to hunting. As always, have fun, hunt safely and ethically, and we’ll talk at you next year.

Public invited to Tosohatchee WMA to have fun, explore Florida’s 75-year legacy of conserving wildlife

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On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area will host a day of fun and exploration celebrating Florida’s 75-year history of conserving native species and habitats on its wildlife management areas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to enjoy this free, family-friendly Tosohatchee WMA event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Only 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, Tosohatchee WMA has woodlands and waterways reminiscent of Florida in the 1940s, when the first wildlife management area was created in the state. Osceola wild turkey and white-tailed deer roam here. Purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills pick their way through marshes flowing into the St. Johns River. Bald eagles and swallow-tailed kites can be spotted, as well as flocks of migratory birds such as painted buntings making their winter stopovers.
“Tosohatchee is a spectacular piece of old Florida. We are a great getaway from urban areas,” said FWC wildlife biologist Tom Shupe.
On Saturday, participants at the Tosohatchee event will have opportunities to go on hay rides with biologists, meet FWC law enforcement officers and their K-9 companions, admire and judge the finalists submitted in the year-long WMA photo contest, and learn about the science behind the comeback of the Osceola wild turkey, which lives only in Florida.
“The 75th anniversary of Florida’s wildlife management areas inspired us in 2017 to throw outdoors celebrations all year long, from bioblitzes and bird-watching tours to geocaching and photo contests and volunteer work days,” said Jerrie Lindsey, who leads the FWC’s public access services office. “The Tosohatchee event tops off our quest to get more people out on WMAs enjoying both the wildlife and the recreational opportunities. We invite you to keep coming back to our WMAs year after year.”
“Wildlife management areas throughout the state give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to experience beautiful areas that Florida is conserving for wildlife,” said David Johnson, head of the FWC’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Section that manages the WMAs. “There are a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from hunting and fishing to wildlife viewing, hiking, biking and primitive camping. There is also the simple pleasure of taking a leisurely drive through a WMA and stopping along the way for a picnic.”
What other fun activities can you expect at the Tosohatchee event?
You can experience muzzleloading and campfire cooking demonstrations, check out the variety of hands-on activities for kids, join Florida Trail Association volunteers on short woodland walks and take tours on how to identify native plants.
More about the WMAs’ 75th anniversary and the experiences that WMAs offer to Floridians and visitors all year-long is at MyFWC.com/WMA75.