FWC's Fishing in the Know Monthly Newsletter

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/14653cf May 2016 FWC's Fishing in the Know Division of Marine Fisheries Management Monthly Newsletter Sean Skakandy and a wahoo. Submit your photos by emailing them toSaltwater@MyFWC.com. Commission Meeting Updates Action: Marine Fisheries Management items discussed at April meeting in Jupiter Discussions: Federal fishery management updates Regulatory changes: Red drum daily bag limit in northwest management zone lowered to 1 fish per person starting May 1 Lionfish: Two-part removal program approved; startsMay 14 Red snapper (Gulf): Recreational season in state waters set to 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: Modification of rules for species that have been removed from federal management Gray triggerfish will likely close early in Gulf federal waters and if so, it will also close early in state waters. Links for more information: Agenda [MyFWC.com] News Releases [MyFWC.com] Red Drum Action: Daily bag limit lowered to 1 in northwest zone Information: The recreational daily bag limit in the northwest zone of Florida will be lowered from 2 to 1 startingMay 1. This zone is from Escambia County through Fred Howard Park near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties. As a result of this change, the red drum bag limit will be 1 along the entire Gulf coast. This is a precautionary measure. Staff will continue gathering public input on red drum populations and management through the end of May. The Commission will consider whether this region-wide bag limit reduction is appropriate as a long-term management measure at the June meeting in the Apalachicola area. Links for more information: Red Drum [MyFWC.com] Red Drum Survey [MyFWC.com] Facebook Page [Facebook.com/RedDrum2016] Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Action: Celebrate with us May 14 and 15 Information: Join the FWC in celebrating the second annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (Saturday, May 14) by attending one of many exciting events across the state including a festival 2-day in Pensacola and several statewide removal events. Links for more information: Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day [MyFWC.com] Lionfish Challenge Action: Remove 50 lionfish, get rewarded Information: Remove 50 or more lionfish between Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (May 14, 2016) and the end of September to get entered in the FWC’s Lionfish Challenge. The person who “checks in” the most lionfish will be crowned Florida’s Lionfish King or Queen. Visit MyFWC.com/Lionfish and click on “Lionfish Challenge” to learn more. Links for more information: Lionfish Challenge [MyFWC.com] Lionfish Panhandle Pilot Program Action: Program in 7-county region focuses on lionfish removal Information: For every 100 lionfish harvested from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties, between May 2016 and May 2017, the harvester will be eligible to receive a tag allowing them to take either a legal-sized red grouper or a legal-sized cobia that is over the bag limit from state waters. The state will issue 100 red grouper and 30 cobia tags in total to successful participants in the pilot program. In addition, any person or group that harvests 500 or more lionfish during this one-year period will be given the opportunity to name an artificial reef. Links for more information: Panhandle Pilot Program [MyFWC.com] Red Snapper – Gulf State Season Action: State recreational season starts in May Information: Recreational season in state waters set to open Saturdays and Sundays in May starting May 7; then open May 28 through July 10 continuously; and open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, and on Labor Day. Links for more information: Snapper [MyFWC.com] Grouper - Atlantic Action: Recreational season opens May 1 Information: The recreational season for gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin and tiger grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby; opens May 1 in Atlantic state waters, including all of Monroe County. Links for more information: Groupers [MyFWC.com] Snook - Gulf Action: Season closes May 1 Information: Snook will close to all harvest in Gulf state, federal and inland waters, including all of Monroe County and Everglades National Park, starting May 1.   Links for more information: Snook [MyFWC.com] Stone Crab Action: Season closes May 16 Information: Recreational and commercial stone crab season closes May 16 in state waters.   Links for more information: Stone crab [MyFWC.com] IN THIS ISSUE Commission Meeting Red Drum Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Lionfish Challenge Lionfish Panhandle Pilot Program Red Snapper – Gulf Grouper – Atlantic Snook – Gulf Stone Crab STATE SEASON UPDATES May-June State waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf and from shore to 3 nautical miles in the Atlantic.   May 1 – Grouper (Atlantic) opens Snook (Gulf) closes May 7 – Red Snapper (Gulf) opens weekends through May 28 May 16 – Stone crab closes May 28 – Red snapper (Gulf) opens through July 14 June 1 – Gray triggerfish (Gulf) closes Snook (Atlantic) closes Amberjack, Greater (Gulf) closes June 25 – Bay scallops opens Susie Thompson with a sheepshead. EVENTS May-June Lionfish Events Calendar May 7 – Women’s Fishing Clinic – Apollo Beach May 14-15 – Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival and events May 21 – Kids’ Fishing Clinic – Fernandina June 4 – Women’s Fishing Clinic – St. George Island June 4-5 – Saltwater License Free Fishing Day June 11-12 – Freshwater License Free Fishing Day June 22-23 – FWC Commission Meeting – Apalachicola Area June 25 – Kids’ Fishing Clinic – Port Canaveral 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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