At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved regulation changes for cobia in state waters. Changes effective July 1, 2022, include: Increasing the minimum size limit from 33 inches to 36 inches fork length for all state waters. Reducing the commercial bag limit from two to one fish per harvester … Read more
At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a temporary modification to the 2022 recreational blueline tilefish season in Atlantic state waters. The 2022 recreational season for blueline tilefish will be open May 1 – July 25 in state waters, closing July 26. Typically, the blueline tilefish season is open May 1 … Read more
The following species of Grouper Hogfish and Blueline Tilefish seasons reopen May 1 in Atlantic waters. will reopen to recreational harvest May 1 in Florida state and federal waters of the Atlantic: hogfish; blueline tilefish; gag, black, red, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby. Hogfish will remain open through … Read more
Florida’s recreational and commercial stone crab season in state and federal waters will end on May 2, with the last day of harvest being May 1. Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 2 by a licensed … Read more
Starting May 1, the following regulations will go into effect for recreational harvest of dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters. Five fish per person daily recreational bag limit. 30 fish per vessel private recreational daily vessel limit. These new regulations are a proactive conservation measure intended to help address stakeholder concerns regarding declines in the dolphinfish … Read more
The spawning Permit season closure inside the Special Permit Zone in south Florida starts April 1. This closure includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast, and south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast including all of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay south of Rickenbacker Causeway. Permit will … Read more
A three-year study by FIU and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. “Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality … Read more
The Florida Keys are a coral island (key) archipelago located off the southern coast of Florida, forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key … Read more
Share your input on the future management of goliath grouper The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants your input on a final rule proposal that, if approved at the March 2022 Commission meeting, would allow a limited, highly regulated harvest of goliath grouper in Florida state waters. This proposal includes a special opportunity … Read more
The recreational harvest Snook season closes Dec. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park, and will remain closed through Feb. 28, reopening to harvest March 1. Anglers may continue to catch and release snook during the closed season. This and other regular Snook season closures are designed to … Read more
Look Out for Tagged Stone Crabs in the Keys FWRI crustacean biologists are investigating stone crab movement throughout the Florida Keys. Stone Crabs caught in our fisheries independent monitoring traps are being tagged and released into nearby waters. Look out for Tagged Stone Crabs. We hope to get enough tag reports from commercial and recreational … Read more
This closure includes all state waters south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida, and up the Atlantic coast. The Keys/east Florida hogfish season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31.
Commercially caught Stone Crab claws are cooked immediately after harvest and available fresh cooked or frozen. Fresh cooked claws should be eaten within three to four days if packed in ice or stored in the coldest part of a refrigerator. Be sure to only freeze Stone Crab claws that are completely intact and free from … Read more
The main Stone Crab harvest method used in both the commercial and recreational fisheries is a baited trap. Some recreational crab fishers collect crabs by hand (using scuba or snorkel gear). Most fishermen use traps. In the commercial stone crab fishery, traps are put out in long lines of up to 100 traps where each … Read more
The onset of winter in Florida not only brings wonderfully mild sunny weather but also the eagerly anticipated annual harvest of stone crab claws. The Crustacean Fisheries group at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) is responsible for monitoring the commercial stone crab fishery along with conducting research on the population of stone crabs … Read more
For over 20 years the Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge has combined community and families with fishing and fundraising. Presented by the Rotary Club of Key Largo, the 2021 tournament is to test anglers of all ages Friday through Sunday, Sept. 24-26. The popular catch-and-release tournament raises money for scholarships awarded to Florida … Read more
The recreational harvest season for snook starts Sept. 1 statewide with the exception of state waters from Pinellas/Hillsborough counties (including Tampa Bay) south to Gordon Pass in Collier County. These waters are catch-and-release for snook due to impacts from red tide. Unique to the region, snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the … Read more
The Florida Sport Spiny Lobster mini-season last Wednesday and Thursday is over. Regular spiny lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31. FWC plans to ramp up its efforts to combat poaching and trap robbing this season. The FWC plans to patrol the nearshore waters in a boat with a hydraulic trap puller and … Read more
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrested two individuals for the illegal killing of a tarpon in Key Largo. Officers are working to identify a third individual who was also involved. In March, the FWC received photographs and video of a large tarpon being held by three individuals on a dock in Key … Read more
An extensive public awareness initiative has begun to help leisure Florida Keys travelers and residents have an enjoyable, safe and non-impacting experience during both the two-day Spiny Lobster Sport Season and the traditional lobster harvesting season. A dedicated website, KeysLobsterSeason.com, includes interactive videos with need-to-know dive and boating safety tips, up-to-date rules, regulations for lobster hunting … Read more