FWC's Fishing in the Know - January 2022

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In This Issue Goliath grouper workshops Commission meeting – December Groupers, Atlantic Snappers, Gulf Gag grouper Red grouper Spotted seatrout Blue crab traps Right whales   Conservation Tip of the Month Match tackle to the targeted fish to land it quickly and minimize stress on the fish. Large species such as sharks, billfish and tarpon should be brought alongside the boat within 20 minutes of being hooked. If you are consistently landing exhausted fish that require extensive efforts to resuscitate, consider using heavier tackle.    Fish Rules App Keep up-to-date with the latest Florida fishing regulations by downloading the Fish Rules app on your smart device.  Learn more at http://www.fishrulesapp.com

Ethical Angler of the Month Shawn Kimball and daughter Finley showing their excitement to catch this black drum.  Submit your photos by emailing them to Saltwater@MyFWC.com. Learn more about our photo guidelines.

Goliath grouper workshops Share your input FWC is hosting two virtual public workshops to gather input on a proposal for a limited, highly regulated harvest. Share your input on this topic by attending a workshop at 6 p.m. ET Jan. 11 or noon ET Jan. 13. This proposal, which will be considered for final approval at a future meeting, includes a special opportunity for harvest through a lottery draw and will include area and seasonal closures, size and gear restrictions, and post-harvest requirements. Staff will be seeking feedback on the changes suggested by Commissioners in October, including adjusting the permit fee, revising the closed area, increasing the lower end of the proposed slot limit, and reducing the impact of catch-and-release fishing on goliath grouper spawning aggregations through gear restrictions. Link for more information:  Workshops [MyFWC.com] Commission meeting – December Marine fisheries items The FWC Commission listened to public testimony on and discussed several marine fisheries management items at the Dec. 15 and 16 meeting in Destin. Decision making (regulation changes were made on these topics): Diamondback terrapin and blue crab traps: The Commission approved several diamondback terrapin conservation measures, including requiring all recreational blue crab traps to have rigid entrances no larger than 2 x 6 inches at the narrowest point or a 2 x 6-inch bycatch reduction device (BRD) installed by March 1, 2023. In addition, beginning March 1, 2022, the collection of diamondback terrapins from the wild will be prohibited with exception of collection for scientific research with a permit. Also, people who have diamondback terrapins as pets before March 1, 2022, can legally keep these animals but must obtain a no-cost permit.  Draft proposal (these items will be brought back to a future meeting for final decision): Dolphinfish: Recreational anglers in southeast Florida and the Keys have expressed concerns about declines in size and abundance of dolphinfish in Atlantic waters. The Commission moved forward with a proposal that, if approved at a future meeting, would reduce the recreational bag limit from 10 to five dolphinfish and the private recreational vessel limit from 60 to 30 dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters, and clarify that captain and crew are prohibited from retaining a daily bag and possession limit statewide.  Shrimp: As the third and final phase of a long-term project to update shrimp regulations, the Commission approved a proposal that, if approved at a future meeting, would change how shrimp are managed in Florida, including increasing recreational access in the Big Bend, allowing commercial food shrimpers to use gear necessary to produce the highest quality frozen shrimp, and clarifying and updating regulations. Discussions (no decisions were made on these items): Federal fishery management updates: The Commission discussed outcomes of recent meetings of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Links for more information: Agenda [MyFWC.com] Groupers, Atlantic Season closes Jan. 1 Several species of grouper will close to recreational and commercial harvest in Atlantic state waters (including Monroe County) starting Jan. 1. This seasonal closure includes gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, and graysby. The harvest of these species of grouper in Atlantic state waters will remain closed through April 30, reopening May 1. Link for more information: Groupers [MyFWC.com] Snappers, Gulf Reopens Jan. 1 The recreational harvest of blackfin, silk, queen, and wenchman snappers in all Gulf state and federal waters will reopen Jan. 1.  Learn more: Snappers [MyFWC.com] Gag grouper Season closes Jan. 1 The recreational harvest season for gag closes in all Gulf and Atlantic state and federal waters Jan. 1. Atlantic state waters and Atlantic federal waters  (including Monroe County) will reopen to harvest May 1. Gulf state waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties will reopen April 1 and all other Gulf state waters and all Gulf federal waters will reopen June 1. Link for more information: Groupers [MyFWC.com] Red grouper Reopens Jan. 1 in Gulf The recreational harvest of red grouper in Gulf state and federal waters (excluding Monroe County) will reopen Jan. 1.  Link for more information:  Groupers [MyFWC.com] Spotted seatrout Central East Region reopens Jan. 1 Spotted seatrout will reopen to recreational harvest Jan. 1 in the Central East Region, which includes all state and federal waters from Palm Beach through Volusia counties (see map of Regions below). Link for more information: Spotted seatrout  [MyFWC.com]   STATE SEASON UPDATES January – February State waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf and from shore to 3 nautical miles in the Atlantic.   Jan. 1 – Grouper, several species (Atlantic) closes Jan. 1 – Gag (Gulf) closes Jan. 1 – Red grouper (Gulf) opens Jan. 1 – Snappers, several species (Gulf) opens Jan. 1 – Spotted seatrout (Central East) opens Jan. 16-25 – Blue crab trap closure (St. Johns River system)  Feb. 1 – Snook (Atlantic) opens Feb. 1 – Spotted seatrout (Western Panhandle) closes   FWC WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK Share your input on goliath grouper, redfish, trap fisheries, dolphinfish and more. Provide your comments GREAT CATCH! Congrats to Joel Hitchman on this mutton snapper catch.  EVENTS January – February We will continue to monitor COVID-19 updates and plan events with this consideration in mind. Lionfish Events Calendar Jan. 11 - Goliath grouper virtual workshop Jan. 13 - Goliath grouper virtual workshop SOCIAL SALTWATER Post of the Month Handle with care - MyFWC Facebook Page Many of our popular recreationally targeted saltwater species must sometimes be returned to the water. Regardless of if it's your first time on the water or if you’re an experienced angler, anything that can be done to minimize harm to fish being released will benefit the resource in the long term. Take a moment to review a few helpful fish handling tips at our online #Fishing Lines Field Guide: https://bit.ly/3ERKs9c SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS Catch a Florida Memory Facebook Lionfish Reef Rangers Facebook FWC Facebook FWC Instagram FWC Saltwater Fishing YouTube FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Facebook ONLINE FISHING RESOURCES Where to Fish Fish Handling Learn to Fish Fish Identification Saltwater Fishing Tips Recreational Regulations On-the-water Etiquette And More!

Blue crab traps St. Johns River trap closure  All blue crab traps must be removed from the St. Johns River system (see map below) before Jan. 16 as part of a 10-day blue crab trap closure. This includes all lakes and tributaries west of the St. Johns River's intersection with the Intercoastal Canal through and including Lake Helen of Blazes. Blue crab traps may be placed back in the water Jan. 26. Art by Dawn Witherington Link for more information: Blue crab [MyFWC.com] State Reef Fish Angler Do you fish for reef fish like snapper, grouper or triggerfish from a private recreational vessel off Florida? Then you are a State Reef Fish Angler. Sign up for this annual, no cost, required designation even if you are normally exempt from purchasing a fishing license at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or learn more at MyFWC.com/SRFS.

Right whales Be on the lookout If you plan to fish or boat off the Atlantic Coast of Florida this winter, please be on the lookout for North Atlantic Right Whales who are calving in our waters from November through April. These endangered species are extremely hard to spot and collisions have caused costly damage to boats, put passengers and crew at risk, and injured and killed right whales. With fewer than 350 left, right whales are one of the world's most endangered large whale species.  Protect your boat and crew by doing the following: Go slow, which may give you time to react.  Post a lookout! Watch for black objects, whitewater, and splashes.  Avoid boating in the dark, when visibility is poor, or in rough seas.  Use the Whale Alert app to know if whales have recently been sighted or reported in your area.  Keep at least 500 yards from right whales (it's the law).  Report whale sightings and collisions immediately to the U.S. Coast Guard on marine VHF Ch. 16 or call 1-877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343). Learn more: Right whales [NOAA.gov] Right whales [MyFWC.com] Catch a Florida Memory Ty Nopens started his Catch a Florida Memory Saltwater Life List with this gray snapper caught off of Big Pine Key. Submit saltwater catches and earn rewards Have you caught a Florida memory? Submit photos of your saltwater catches to earn rewards for various achievements while targeting a diversity of species and reducing fishing pressure on the most commonly sought-after catches. Saltwater Fish Life List: Can you catch all 70 species? Saltwater Reel Big Fish: Recognition for extraordinary-sized catches. Saltwater Grand Slams: Earn rewards for catching three specific fish in 24 hours. Join the Triple Threat Club and earn even more prizes (including a long sleeve performance fishing shirt and more) by participating in all three programs. Anglers must qualify for each of the three programs to be eligible. FWC also manages the Florida Saltwater Fishing Records program. Link for more information: CatchaFloridaMemory.com

Florida Coral Crew If you want healthy, beautiful coral reefs and would like more information about Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and what the FWC and partners are doing to help, join the Crew and sign up today: FLCoralCrew.com.

Marine Fisheries Staff Highlight Dr. CJ Sweetman began working for the Division of Marine Fisheries Management in May 2019 as the regional biologist representing the Florida Keys and as part of the federal fisheries management team. He got his start with FWC through working for the agency’s research institute FWRI managing a project aimed at maximizing the efficiency of lionfish harvest in lobster traps. Originally from Madison, Connecticut, Sweetman decided on marine biology early in life after watching a National Geographic special on Eugenie Clark’s research on sharks. He achieved his B.S. in Marine and Freshwater Biology from University of New Hampshire, and slowly began working his way south achieving his M.S. in Fisheries Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science focusing on ecology/biology of deep-sea fishes along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and PhD in Fisheries Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science focusing on consumption patterns of Chesapeake Bay fishes.  “After grad school, I wanted to apply my training to an area where I thought I could make a difference. And that, along with my wife, brought me to Florida. It may sound cliché, but being able to have a real world impact for the betterment of our oceans is what still drives me.” The two things he likes best about his position are working through complicated issues with his team and working with scientists on fisheries management issues that ultimately help shape future research. “I think the interplay between research and management is one of the most complicated, but important things that we do.”  When he isn’t working, he’s out on the water fishing and diving, and in the rare cases he’s not doing that, he’s birding or at home playing the guitar.  His wife, Dr. Kristene Parsons, is also a well accomplished scientist and currently works at FWRI in the South Florida Regional Lab. They have a white German shepherd named Kaya who is the light of their life. CJ's dad was in the State Police for 30 years and on a personal level, he finds it gratifying to work with so many incredible LE officers on a regular basis. Questions for our staff? Email Marine@MyFWC.com.

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