05-06-2010, 11:10 AM
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments on Thursday to provide more protection for bonefish, a premier saltwater game fish in Florida.
"These rules bolster our management measures to preserve bonefish so that Florida anglers and visitors can continue to enjoy fishing for this terrific marine game fish," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
The new rules include all bonefish species in the FWC's bonefish management rules to help ensure that all bonefish in Florida waters are protected, extend FWC bonefish regulations into adjacent federal waters to aid enforcement and enhance bonefish protection, and require that bonefish be landed in whole condition to help officers in the field identify bonefish and aid in enforcement of bag and size limits.
It has been illegal to commercially harvest and sell bonefish in Florida since 1988, and a daily recreational bag limit of one bonefish 18 inches or greater in fork length applies. Bonefish may be taken by hook and line only.
The new bonefish rules take effect on July 1, and the FWC will continue to work with stakeholders to further examine the concept of making bonefish a catch-and-release fishery only.
More information about bonefish is available online in the Saltwater area of MyFWC.com/Fishing.
Media Contact
Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554
"These rules bolster our management measures to preserve bonefish so that Florida anglers and visitors can continue to enjoy fishing for this terrific marine game fish," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
The new rules include all bonefish species in the FWC's bonefish management rules to help ensure that all bonefish in Florida waters are protected, extend FWC bonefish regulations into adjacent federal waters to aid enforcement and enhance bonefish protection, and require that bonefish be landed in whole condition to help officers in the field identify bonefish and aid in enforcement of bag and size limits.
It has been illegal to commercially harvest and sell bonefish in Florida since 1988, and a daily recreational bag limit of one bonefish 18 inches or greater in fork length applies. Bonefish may be taken by hook and line only.
The new bonefish rules take effect on July 1, and the FWC will continue to work with stakeholders to further examine the concept of making bonefish a catch-and-release fishery only.
More information about bonefish is available online in the Saltwater area of MyFWC.com/Fishing.
Media Contact
Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554