FWC meets this week in Orlando

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet this week in Orlando.

The Commission has a few items on its agenda that may be of interest to local hunters and fishermen, one of which is the creation of game fish and sport fish designations.

If the proposal is passed it would create a game fish designation that would make certain species off-limits to commercial fishermen and a sports fish designation that would offer an even higher level of protection by making selected species catch-and-release only.

The move is opposed by the Franklin County Commission as being another attack on commercial fishing in the state.

This week the Commission will also consider establishing saltwater-license-free fishing days for 2013 and will likely approve the Gulf of Mexico recreational gag grouper season in state waters.

If approved, the proposed season for most state waters would start July 1and end sometime around late November/early December.

The July 1 season would not include state waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. According to the proposal, these will open April 1 through June 30 instead.

Commissioners will also decide whether to adopt new recreational bag limits and a closed season for gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters.

These changes would make state regulations for gray triggerfish in Gulf waters consistent with pending federal regulations.

The Commission will also vote on proposed amendments that would allow a quota permit holder to take a different guest each day of a quota hunt.

The FWC meeting will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the “Ports of Call” meeting facility at SeaWorld.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. both days.

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