New, tougher Florida fishing rules could be on the way

Plenty of discussion remains before the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission makes a decision, but some of the state’s favorite fish species might soon get greater protection.

Florida has no official designation for game fish and sport fish, so at the FWC meeting Dec. 5 in Apalachicola, staff will recommend to commissioners:

• A game fish designation for redfish, snook and spotted sea trout.

This designation could include no commercial harvest, recreational harvest by hook and line only, and zero bag limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels. Under current regulations, commercial harvest is allowed for spotted seatrout but not redfish or snook.

• A sport fish designation for tarpon, bonefish, permit and billfish.

This designation could include catch-and-release only, no recreational or commercial harvest, fishing with hook and line only. Under current regulations, commercial harvest is allowed for permit but not tarpon, bonefish or billfish.

LINK (via: Florida Today)