Commission meeting – October

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]

Red Tide Update

The following changes are for snook, redfish and spotted seatrout:

Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

• Snook and redfish remain catch-and-release through May 31, 2022.
• Spotted seatrout harvest has a six-fish recreational vessel limit. Commercial harvesters will also be held to the recreational three-fish bag and six-fish vessel limits.
• These regulations are for all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County including Palma Sola Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River.

NOTE: Prior to purchasing a snook permit, check current regulations in the area you plan to fish. All sales are final. Refunds will not be given even if the species you plan to target is closed to harvest.

Stay up-to-date

Fishing in the Know

The Marine Fisheries Management Monthly Newsletter

A quick and easy way to keep in the know about changes to state and federal regulations, current season openings and closures and Marine Fishery events.

• Fishing in the Know - January  2021
• Last Month's Fishing in the Know - December 2021

Gone Coastal

Marine Fisheries Management Quarterly Column

This quarterly column focuses on fishing across Florida, from the best bait to catch a cobia with to how to know what to fish for on vacation.

Good to Get

Find out what species are currently open for harvest on our Good to Get page.