Fisheries biologists with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission are holding open houses throughout the state to gather public input on largemouth bass regulations.
The idea is to hear from the bass-fishing public before making recommendations on possible changes to size and bag limits or possibly other changes to the bass regulations. The FWC has already conducted online surveys and is still accepting mail-in surveys to reach bass anglers.
“This is an opportunity for anglers to provide their thoughts and ideas about Florida’s largemouth bass regulations,” said Allen Martin, regional fisheries administrator for the FWC in Lake City. “Should they stay the same? Should changes be made? You tell us.”
The two workshops closest to Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast are:
March 11 (from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.) at Scott Driver Park, 3950 S.W. 99th Drive, Okeechobee.
March 12 (from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.) at Bass Pro Shops, 200 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach.
There’s no set schedule. Anglers participating in the bass workshops can come and go as they please.
One question biologists hope to answer is whether anglers favor broad-brush regulations for bass that are simple to understand and enforce or customized regulations that address problems in specific areas but make the regulation landscape more complex.
The review of regulations is called for in the FWC’s recently approved black bass management plan.
Martin said the FWC could produce recommended changes to bass regulations in the fall. More public workshops will be held to gather input on the proposed changes, if any are recommended.
The health of the largemouth bass population is important to Florida’s economy. Seventy percent of the state’s freshwater anglers fish for largemouth bass. Florida bass fishing generates $1.25 billion in annual economic impact, according to the FWC.
Anglers who cannot attend one of the workshops can download and mail in a bass regulations survey at: www.myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/black-bass/bass-regulations.
Kids fishing tournament: The Pahokee Rotary Club will host a Kids Fishing Tournament from 8 a.m. until noon March 16 on the fishing pier the Okeechobee Resort, formerly known as the Pahokee Marina. Awards will follow from noon to 1 p.m.
Rotary Club member Mike Garcia said several Lake Okeechobee fishing guides plan to assist in teaching the kids about fishing in what the club hopes will become an annual event.
Participating boys and girls will receive free rod and reel combinations as well as tackle boxes provided by Fish Florida, the nonprofit organization that uses proceeds from the sale of sailfish license tags to support kids’ fishing programs.
For more information about the kids fishing day in Pahokee, call Garcia at (561) 924-5238 or email him at: circlespharmacy@bellsouth.net.
For information about purchasing a sailfish license tag to support kids’ fishing programs, go to www.fishfloridatag.org.Turk
Turkey season: The spring turkey hunting season began Saturday and continues through April 7 in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area in northern Palm Beach County. Turkey hunting at Corbett is allowed on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
No quota permit is required. A valid hunting license, wildlife management area permit and turkey permit are required, unless exempt.
For information on spring turkey hunting at 41 other wildlife management areas that do not require quota permits, go to www.myfwc.com/hunting.
Tags: Fishing, largemouth bass, turkey hunting
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