Floirda relaxes seasons, rules on seatrout, increases bag for redfish in northern region

Posted On November 17, 2011


The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission elected to increase both commercial and recreational fishing opportunities for spotted seatrout in Florida waters at during the first day of the commission meeting in Key Largo yesterday, November 16, 2011. Changes are implemented starting February 1, 2012 and include removing the recreational seasonal closures, effectively opening seatrout to harvest year-round.  

"What we are trying to do is be fair in a fishery that is in abundance, and in some cases, way in abundance," said Chairman Kathy Barco. "We are dealing with a success story."  

In Florida, spotted seatrout have been closed to recreational harvest during November and December in the South Region and February in the North Region to allow for a better chance of survival when released. Spotted seatrout have a high release mortality during the warmer months.  

The changes come after a 2010 spotted seatrout stock assessment indicated numbers were consistently exceeding the annual management goal across the state, and nearly double in the northeast region of Florida. 

 In addition, the recreational bag limit in the Northern Region has been upped from five fish to six.  

On the same day, the FWC voted to divide the state into three management areas for red drum (northwest, northeast and south), so that the fish could be managed regionally. They also voted to increase the bag limit from one fish to two fish in the northern region. The 18-27 inch slot limit will remain in effect, along with a one fish bag limit in the southern region. As with seatrout, these new rules take effect February 1, 2012.        

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About

Mike Holliday
Mike Holliday

Joined November 18, 2010

Considered an authority on all forms of fishing in Florida waters, Captain Mike Holliday has been a USCG licensed fishing guide out of Stuart, Florida since 1986, the same time he started writing about fishing for The Miami Herald. A renowned writer/photographer and author of Sportsman's Best: Inshore Fishing and Secrets For Catching Seatrout, Holliday has served in editorial positions with Florida Fishing Weekly and Florida Sportsman magazines. His writing and photography credits include most regional and national fishing publications, and newspaper stints with The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Fort Pierce Tribune and The Stuart News.

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