Fishing

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Bay scallop season opens June 15 in Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County

The 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County opens June 15 and will remain open through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020). This includes all state waters from the Suwannee River to the Fenholloway River and includes the towns of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee. The daily bag limit from June 15-30 in this area is 1 gallon of whole bay scallops in shell or 1 cup shucked per person OR 5 gallons whole or...

Try saltwater and freshwater fishing license-free

This week kicks off National Fishing and Boating Week and what better way to celebrate than to try your hand at fishing in Florida. License-free saltwater fishing weekend is June 6 and 7, and license-free freshwater fishing weekend is June 13 and 14. During these weekends a fishing license is not required for Florida residents or visitors. License-free weekends provide an excellent opportunity for non-licensed recreational anglers to experience fishing. “People are getting outdoors now more than ever,” said Eric...

Compete in the 2020 Lionfish Challenge

Now is the time to register for the 2020 Lionfish Challenge. The Lionfish Challenge is an incentive program that rewards harvesters for their lionfish removals. With a tiered system, everybody can be a winner. The participant who harvests the most lionfish will be crowned the Lionfish King/Queen. The Challenge is open now and will run through Labor Day (Sept. 7). Register online at FWCReefRangers.com at any time. There are two categories: recreational (number of lionfish) and commercial (pounds of lionfish)....

Walton County fishing report for June 3

Fishing is good! Bay: Good reports of trout, black drum, black snapper, and scattered redfish. River:  Catfish, shellcracker. Click here for fishing forecast Bay and river report brought to you by Copeland’s. “Where the locals shop and the tourists are welcome.” Click here to find out more about Copeland’s. Copeland’s Gun and Tackle Shop 17290 U.S. Hwy. 331 S, Freeport, Florida 32439 (850) 835-4277 Store hours: Mon. – Fri.: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat.: 6 a.m. – 4 p.m....

Gulf red snapper season announced for 2020

The popular 2020 Gulf red snapper recreational season is set to open for private recreational vessels June 11- July 25 (45 days). The Gulf season for federally-permitted for-hire operations is June 1-Aug. 1. “Gulf red snapper is a conservation and management success story for Florida anglers,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) chairman Robert Spottswood. “Just a few years ago, a 45-day season for red snapper in both state and federal waters was out of reach. Thank you...

FWC needs your input on future management of the flounder fishery 

FWC will be holding two virtual flounder workshops to gather public input about management of the flounder fishery. A stock status update suggests that the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend in recent years and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. These workshops will start at 6 p.m., EDT on June 2 and June 4. Connect to the meeting by going to FWC.adobeconnect.com/mfm. A number to call into will be on the...

June 1 saltwater fishing openings/closures 

Starting June 1, 2020 the following saltwater fisheries will open or close to harvest: Gag grouper opens for recreational harvest in most state Gulf of Mexico waters and all federal Gulf waters (season opening does not include Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor and Jefferson counties, which opened April 1, nor Monroe County, which follows the Atlantic state season and opened May 1.) Snook closes for recreational harvest in Atlantic state and federal waters. Greater amberjack closes for recreational harvest in Gulf state...