On April 17, 2013 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to move forward with a proposed plan to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release only in Florida waters. The FWC summarizes the full proposal as proposing these changes in fisheries management approaches:

• Eliminating all harvest of tarpon with the exception of the harvest or possession of a single tarpon when in pursuit of an IGFA record and in conjunction with a tarpon tag.
• Keeping the tarpon tag price at $50 per tag but limiting them to one tag per person, per year.
• Modifying the tarpon tag program, including reporting requirements and shifting the start and end date for when the tarpon tag is valid.
• Discontinuing the bonefish tournament exemption permit that allows tournament anglers to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale.

You can also find the full agenda of the FWC meeting here.

 

 

Bonefish, Catch-and-Release, Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Regulations, Tarpon

By Sid

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