02-16-2006, 03:55 PM
[font "Arial"]TALLAHASSEE, FL—Anglers who fish Florida's Lake Kerr will be able to keep smaller bass this year as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has passed a new slot limit that allows anglers to keep bass shorter than 15 inches or longer than 24 inches, and immediately release all those in between. [/font]
Anglers will be allowed keep up to three largemouths per day, only one of which can be more than 24 inches long.
FWC biologists believe a lack of food in Lake Kerr is one factor that's affecting the size structure of the lake's bass population. By allowing anglers to keep smaller fish, the new regulation will reduce the lake's population of small bass, which will free up more forage for the remaining larger fish and improve growth rates for all size and age classes.
In other Florida news, the state has knocked California out of first place in the state boat registration ranking, according to the newly released National Marine Manufacturers Association's "U.S. Recreational Boat Registration Statistics" report.
With 946,072 registered boats, Florida is now No. 1 on the state boat registration list, while Michigan has retained the No. 2 spot with 944,800 registered boats. California dropped to the No. 3 spot with 894,884 registered boats.
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Anglers will be allowed keep up to three largemouths per day, only one of which can be more than 24 inches long.
FWC biologists believe a lack of food in Lake Kerr is one factor that's affecting the size structure of the lake's bass population. By allowing anglers to keep smaller fish, the new regulation will reduce the lake's population of small bass, which will free up more forage for the remaining larger fish and improve growth rates for all size and age classes.
In other Florida news, the state has knocked California out of first place in the state boat registration ranking, according to the newly released National Marine Manufacturers Association's "U.S. Recreational Boat Registration Statistics" report.
With 946,072 registered boats, Florida is now No. 1 on the state boat registration list, while Michigan has retained the No. 2 spot with 944,800 registered boats. California dropped to the No. 3 spot with 894,884 registered boats.
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