From FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management
Red Snapper – Gulf, Workshops
Action: Recreational workshop Aug. 11 in St. Petersburg
Information: The public is invited to attend the Aug. 11 Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper workshop in St. Petersburg. Discussions will include state and federal management of recreational red snapper and potential future approaches to managing this fishery. The workshop is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 3rd floor conference room, 100 Eighth Ave. SE, St. Petersburg.
Links for more information:Â Â Workshops [MyFWC.com]
Lionfish
Action: Management changes effective Aug. 1
Information: Lionfish are invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s native wildlife and habitat. Several management changes go into effect Aug. 1 that will help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) combat the growing problem by making it easier for lionfish hunters to remove the spiny predators and limiting further introduction of these species into the waters.
Changes include:
- Prohibiting the importation of live lionfish;
- Allowing lionfish to be removed when diving with a rebreather, a device that recycles air and allows divers to remain in the water for longer periods of time (currently, you cannot harvest any fish when using a rebreather); and
- Allowing participants in approved tournaments and other organized events to spear lionfish or other invasive species in areas where spearfishing is not currently allowed (such as certain state parks). This will be done through a permitting system.
Links for more information:Â Lionfish [MyFWC.com]
Greater Amberjack – Gulf
Action: Season opens Aug. 1
Information: Recreational harvest of greater amberjack opens Aug. 1 in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters.
The minimum size limit is 30 inches when measured from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail and the daily bag limit is one fish per person.
Links for more information:Â Greater Amberjack [MyFWC.com]
Gray Triggerfish – Gulf
Action: Season opens Aug. 1 in state waters
Information: Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish opens Aug. 1 in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles). Gray triggerfish remains closed to harvest in Gulf federal waters through Dec. 31.
The minimum size limit is 14 inches when measured from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail and the daily bag limit is two fish per person when the season is open.
Links for more information:Â Gray Triggerfish [MyFWC.com]
Spiny Lobster
Action: Season opens Aug. 6
Information: Spiny lobster opens to recreational and commercial harvest in state and federal waters Aug. 6.
The daily recreational bag and possession limit is six per person.
Spiny lobster must be measured before they are removed from the water and must have a carapace larger than 3 inches. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding any soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace. (see illustration)
Harvest is prohibited in Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, Dry Tortugas National Park and the no-take areas of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Links for more information:
- Spiny Lobster Information [MyFWC.com]
- How to measure a spiny lobster [MyFWC.com]
Blue Crab
Action: Trap closures slated for Aug. 10-19 and Aug. 20-29
Information: In an effort to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps, the FWC has established regional blue crab trap closures. These closed seasons only apply to standard blue crab traps. The harvest of blue crabs by other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps, is permitted during the closures. Traps that are attached to private property such as a dock are not included in the closures.
All waters of Brevard through Palm Beach counties, excluding the St. Johns River system, will be closed to the use of blue crab traps from Aug. 10-19.
All waters from the Georgia/Florida state line, excluding the St. Johns River system, south through Volusia County will be closed to the use of blue crab traps from Aug. 20-29.
Links for more information: Blue Crab [MyFWC.com]
Permit
Action: Season reopens Aug. 1 in Special Permit Zone
Information: Harvest of permit inside the special permit zone reopens Aug. 1. The daily bag limit is one fish person and two per vessel and the minimum size limit is 22 inches fork length inside this zone. The Special Permit Zone includes state and federal waters south of Cape Florida in the Atlantic and south of Cape Sable in the Gulf.
The harvest of permit from areas north of the Special Permit Zone is open year-round with bag limit of 2 fish per person and size limit of not less 11inches or more than 22 inches fork length. Â
Links for more information:Â Permit [MyFWC.com]
Provided by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission