April 2016

FWC's Fishing in the Know

Division of Marine Fisheries Management Monthly Newsletter

Red drum caught by Larry Williams and Jennifer Hebert. Submit your photos by emailing them toSaltwater@MyFWC.com. Commission Meeting – April Action: Marine Fisheries Management items will be discussed in Jupiter Information: Items on the agenda include: Discussions on: Federal fishery management updates Lionfish Removal Outreach and Reward Program: Review of 2015 special lionfish removal opportunity during lobster sport season; discuss opportunities for expanding the program in 2016. Red Drum Stakeholder Engagement update Potential regulatory changes on: Red snapper (Gulf): Final public hearing for the 2016 recreational season in state waters. Proposed season would open Saturdays and Sundays in May starting May 7; then open May 28 through July 10continuously; and open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, and on Labor Day. Reef fish species: Modification of rules for species that have been removed from federal management. Links for more information: Agenda [MyFWC.com] Gag grouper - Gulf Action: Four counties open April 1 to recreational harvest Information: Information: State waters off the coast of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties open to recreational harvest of gag grouper April 1. This region will remain open through June 30, closing July 1 and includes all waters of Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, including those in Gulf County, and all waters of the Steinhatchee River, including those in Dixie County. State waters in the Gulf are from shore to 9 nautical miles. The minimum size limit is 22 inches total length but this is expected to change to 24 inches total length sometime this spring. In addition, the gag grouper season in the remainder of Gulf of Mexico state waters also is expected to change fromJuly 1 through Dec. 3 to June 1 through Dec. 31. The same season also is expected to be set in Gulf federal waters. A news release will be issued when the size limit and season changes. These changes will be posted onlineand can be found at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater” and “Recreational Regulations.” State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties will not be open July-through-December. Monroe County state waters, which are closed Jan. 1-April 30 to grouper harvest,follow Atlantic grouper rules. The bag limit is two per person in Gulf state waters. Links for more information: Gulf Grouper [MyFWC.com] Map [MyFWC.com] Spiny Lobster Action: Season closes April 1 Information: Recreational and commercial spiny lobster seasons close April 1 and will reopen Aug. 6. The two-day recreational sport season is the last consecutiveWednesday and Thursday of July, which is July 27 and 28this year. Links for more information: Spiny Lobster [MyFWC.com] Gulf Reef Fish Survey Action: Attention Gulf Anglers Information: Snapper and grouper season is right around the corner. That means it is time to sign up for or renew your participation in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey if you plan to fish for reef species in the Gulf this year: red and vermilion snapper; gag, red, and black grouper; greater amberjack, lesser amberjack; banded rudderfish; almaco jack; and gray triggerfish. To renew online, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. If you are NOT a Gulf reef fish angler and don’t plan on fishing for these reef species in the Gulf this year, please do not renew your participation in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey. By only sampling anglers who plan on fishing for those species, Florida is improving recreational data collection. Questions? Contact us at Marine@MyFWC.com.  Just a reminder – renewing the Gulf Reef Fish Survey does not renew your fishing license, so if needed, remember to renew that as well! Thank you for helping Florida collect more timely and accurate data on Gulf reef fish harvest. Links for more information: Gulf Reef Fish Survey [MyFWC.com] Red Drum Stakeholder Engagement Action: FWC wants to hear from you Information: Let us know how you think red drum are doing and what your thoughts are on the current bag limits. VisitMyFWC.com/RedDrum2016 to learn more and take our survey. FWC staff will also be visiting fishing clubs, boat shows and retail outlets during April to gather public input. Check the website or our Facebook page,Facebook.com/RedDrum2016, for updates about where to find us. Links for more information: Red Drum Engagement [MyFWC.com] Facebook page [Facebook.com/RedDrum2016]

IN THIS ISSUE Commission Meeting Gag grouper – Gulf Spiny Lobster Gulf Reef Fish Survey Red Drum STATE SEASON UPDATES April-May State waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf and from shore to 3 nautical miles in the Atlantic.   April 1 – Spiny lobster closes Gag grouper (4-county region) opens May 1 - Grouper, several species (Atlantic) opens Snook (Gulf) closes King mackerel caught by Issac Rubin. EVENTS April-May Lionfish Events Calendar April 9 – Kids’ Fishing Clinic – Pensacola April 13-14 – FWC Commission Meeting – Jupiter April 16 – Kids’ Fishing Clinic – Weeki Wachee April 30 – Outdoor Experience – Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center May 14-15 – Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival and events May 21: Kids’ Fishing Clinic - Fernandina Contact: 850-487-0554 ormarine@myfwc.com  Get the Marine Fisheries Monthly via email at MyFWC.com by clicking on “Sign up for updates ”

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