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Spring turkey season is here

Florida’s regular five-week spring turkey season is March 17 to April 22 By Stan Kirkland, FWC For spring turkey hunters, that magical time of the year is here. The spring gobbler season is upon us. Unlike the fall season when hunters try to bust up a flock of turkeys and then call them back together, in the spring, hunters listen for the unmistakable sounds of gobblers gobbling in the distance. Ask a dozen turkey hunters and you will hear just...

FWC seeking angler assistance in tarpon study

Tarpon genetics study ongoing    By Stan Kirkland, FWC This week I had the good fortune to attend a half-day workshop on tarpon biology and management at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in Eastpoint. There were several speakers but I particularly wanted to hear the comments of Dr. Kathryn Guindon, a research scientist  with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. There were probably 30 people in attendance, including tarpon fishing...

FWC adopts new seasons for gag grouper in Gulf

Changes will make state gag grouper season same as federal – July 1 through Oct. 31 offshore in Walton area The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted Feb. 8 to change how gag grouper is managed in Gulf of Mexico state waters (excluding Monroe County). The decision, which came during day two of the three-day February Commission meeting, will achieve consistency with federal management efforts while potentially providing a region-specific recreational season in four counties. The FWC manages...

Find a Florida boat ramp on FWC website

FWC promotes boating access with new database The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) introduced a new feature on its website. Users can now view and search a database of Florida boat ramps. “Providing safe, convenient access to Florida’s waterways is one of our goals,” said Pat Harrell, the FWC’s Boating Access Coordinator. “This database is designed to help keep boaters informed about facilities that are currently available.” Boaters can visit the Public Boat Ramp Finder site to locate...

Review of changes in the 2012 Florida fishing regulations

Redfish, speckled trout and grouper changes come into effect From the FWC – Some Changes in 2012 Marine Regulations By Stan Kirkland, FW The year 2012 brings several changes for marine anglers who fish Florida waters. In November, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) met in Key Largo and voted to increase both recreational and commercial fishing opportunities for spotted sea trout. The expanded opportunities come as a result of successful sea trout management. For recreational anglers, the...

Speckled trout season changes effective Feb. 1

Removal of all recreational spotted seatrout closures comes into effect for Northwest Florida Anglers, prepare your rods and reels; the recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout in southern Florida will reopen on Jan. 1. The opening rings in 2012, a recreational closure-free year that will include several spotted seatrout management changes effective Feb. 1. Recreational spotted seatrout management changes include: •  The removal of all recreational spotted seatrout closures, including the annual Feb. 1 closure that would have affected anglers...

Antlerless deer season Dec. 26 – Jan. 1

Season helps ensure healthy deer population By Stan Kirkland, FWC Back in the 1960s and 1970s, the idea of an antlerless deer season in Florida would have been met with skepticism. After all, it was during that time when deer were being released in different areas around the state in an effort to rebuild populations. Hunters know this better than anyone, but the recovery is long since complete and antlerless deer hunting is now an accepted and necessary deer management...

FWC changes red drum, spotted seatrout and shark regulations

Redfish, speckled trout bag limits raised By Stan Kirkland, FWC Meeting in Key Largo this week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved changes affecting red drum, spotted seatrout and several species of sharks. For red drum, which anglers sometimes refer to as redfish, there are now three management areas in the state – the Northwest, Northeast and South. Other changes included increasing the daily bag limit from one to two fish in the Northwest and Northeast areas,...