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FWC Approves Proposed Redfish Rule Changes for State Waters

Today, during the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting, it approved the proposed rule changes for redfish. As stated, CCA Florida agrees with the FWC’s proposed changes except this one: increasing the bag limit from one to two fish per person in the Big Bend region.

Despite the proposal passing today, it is still only considered a draft rule and will now be open for public comment – this is where we need YOUR support. There will be 12 in-person meetings around the state, and we need everyone to turn out to their local meeting and voice opposition to increasing the daily bag limit in the Big Bend region. Your voice matters the most at these meetings. 

The Big Bend region is one of the state’s last pristine estuaries. These slot size sub-adult fish in this region will become the breeders for redfish stocks across the Gulf Coast. Why double the take of fish in this region overnight? The redfish stocks in the struggling areas of the West Coast need all the help they can get as these fish move into the Gulf to spawn. Once they do, their larvae will naturally be distributed throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida. Remember, FWC increased the bag limit in this region in 2011 only to revert back to a one-fish per person bag limit by emergency rule in 2016.

Please note, meeting dates, times and locations have yet to be determined, but while we wait for meeting information, you can voice your opposition NOW by emailing the FWC Commissioners at commissioners@myfwc.com.  

Once additional details have been confirmed, CCA Florida will provide updates. To read the proposed rule in its entirety, please click here.

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