Shore Line: New fishing regulations in place

Welcome back snowbird anglers! Since you’ve been gone, several new state and federal regulations have gone into effect that affect many of the popular fish you like to target.

In an effort to educate anglers about these new rules, the Collier and Lee County Sea Grant Extension Agents, with collaboration with from local FWC law enforcement, will host two workshops in January.

The first is Jan. 13 at the Rookery Bay Reserve Environmental Learning Center, and the second, Jan. 22, at the Bass Pro Outdoor World in Fort Myers. Both free, public workshops start at 6 p.m.

Workshop leaders will provide details about the new reef fish regulations, demonstrate the proper use of the required equipment, and discuss additional handling and release techniques.

Since June 1 all recreational and commercial vessels targeting reef fish in state and federal Gulf waters must have on board and use non-stainless circle hooks when using live or cut baits, dehooking devices, and venting tools. According to the rule, reef fish include groupers, snappers, amberjacks, sea bass, gray triggerfish, hogfish, red porgy, and golden tilefish.

When used properly, research has shown this gear can help significantly reduce post-release mortality rates associated with these fish. NOAA fisheries approved Reef Amendment 27/14 in February, with the goals of implementing long-term measures to end over-fishing in the Gulf’s red snapper fishery and reduce by-catch and release mortality of reef fish that are caught and not kept.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) also approved and adopted these measures to maintain consistency with the federal management plan and protect the red snapper and reef-associated fisheries.

New regulations addressing overfishing of gag grouper and recovery of red grouper will also take effect in federal and state Gulf waters starting Jan. 1. The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council recently sent Reef Fish Amendment 30B to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation. The final rule won’t be approved until sometime in late 2009, but Gulf Council requested NOAA fisheries implement an interim rule to address the overfishing of gag grouper.

These rules are being implemented because the most recent stock assessment indicates that gag groupers are being overfished.

According to the Magnuson-Stevenson Reauthorization Act of 2006, when a stock is determined to be experiencing overfishing the regional councils must take immediate action to reduce their harvest level.

Currently, recreational anglers can keep up to five gag groupers per person, per day and the federal closed season (beyond nine nautical miles) runs from Feb. 15 to March 15. The interim rule will reduce the gag bag limit to two fish per person, per day in federal waters and expand the closed season from Feb. 1- March 31. The aggregate bag limit for groupers will remain at five during the interim rule, but is expected to be reduced to four when the final rule passes.

In December, FWC approved the similar two-fish per person, per day recreational bag limit and closed season for gag grouper in Gulf state waters to be consistent with the federal regulations. However, FWC also approved an increase in the red grouper recreational bag limit from one to two fish per person, per day in state waters starting Jan. 1. The most recent red grouper stock assessment indicates their numbers have recovered enough to allow an increase in harvest levels. FWC decided to be proactive because it is expected that the federal red grouper bag limit will also increase to two fish when the final rule is implemented.

For more information, contact Fluech at 417-6310 x204 or fluech@ufl.edu.