If so and you would like to continue to do so, I highly recommend you tell the FWC Commissioners. At next month's meeting the FWC staff will be presenting draft definitions of "sport fish" and "game fish". After those definitions are approved, staff will be presenting which fish they recommend to add to those lists. As of today here are the draft definitions:
Game Fish:
No or limited commercial harvest
No sale or limited sale
Hook and line only
Sport Fish:
No commercial harvest
No sale
Hook and line only
NO RECREATIONAL HARVEST
Per the Sept 2012 Commission meeting here are the potential candidates for each of the lists:
Game Fish - Snook and Redfish
Sport Fish - Bonefish, Tarpon, and PERMIT
Yep, they're trying to backdoor a harvest closure on permit after all the shit we went through the last two years. Commissioner Chairman Ken Wright has made it clear that he would like additional protections for permit. Specifically he would like to see permit be designated to the sport fish category and make it catch and release only. According to FWC staff biologists, permit stocks are not even remotely in trouble per the most recent data. There is zero evidence that they have not been subject to an increase in pressure, nor have they been found to be endangered in any way.
So tell me, how is it justified for a single person to force their personal preference on all of Florida’s fishermen regardless of sound science?
In fact, this issue continues to be fueled primarily by a group of catch and release only fishermen (and now apparently Commissioner Chairman Ken Wright) who would like the FWC Commissioners to force their personal preference on all of Florida’s fishermen regardless of the lack of true need, which I believe, is unfair to the citizens and tourists of Florida. I hope you will too.
The FWC resources being spent on this permit sport fish issue would be, in my opinion, better spent on other fisheries which have documented problems, not catering to the personal preferences of Commissioner Chairman Ken Wright and a small group catch and release only fishermen.
If you feel the same way please let the Commissioners know by emailing them your thoughts via this link:
http://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-s…nior-staff/commissioners/
At the beginning of next year we will need to come together and show up at the FWC Commission meetings and tell them in person.
Spread the word through your dive/fishing/spearfishing clubs.
Thank you!!
Bryan