BigBendFishing.Net

eightwt wrote:

Salty Gator wrote:Did anyone go to the trout workshop?

I did. The thing I remember most was discussion on closing during winter and the fish are in the rivers. As I remember, the discussion leaned toward closing. One charter capt. made the point, in his opinion, that trout will take a heavy loss even with proper catch and release techniques.

That captain may be correct, but
A) will fewer people fish if they can't keep?
B) will the loss be heavier than every one of those boats taking a 5 man limit, plus the normal loss of catch and release on the non-keepers?

Those are the questions that should be asked about a Feb closure.

I say do whatever the science calls for. Including commercial decrease. Is anyone making a living on selling trout?

When will these changes take place if approved?

If the changes are adopted at the May meeting, it would go to a final public hearing in July. Usually takes at least a month for law to go into effect once approved, according to FWC public affairs. So likely early fall.

guthooked wrote:I disagree with not reducing the commercial harvest. COMPLETELY DISAGREE!!!!!
As for myself, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if the did away with harvesting a plus 20 fish.
It also wouldn't bother me if they closed the season in JAN and FEB. Too damn cold for me anyway.
5 fish down to 3 is a big move, maybe 4?

It was my understanding that commercial harvest of trout comprises only 2% of overall harvest. This is also shown in the link provided by limitless. Given 98% of the harvest is recreational it makes sense to me that regulations focus on recreational limits.

Here is the text from the link...Seatrout is one of Florida’s most popular inshore fisheries. Although the seatrout fishery is primarily recreational (averaging 98% of harvest statewide), the species also supports small, regional commercial fisheries throughout the state. These commercial fisheries have minimal impact on populations but are an important economic resource to those that harvest them. Because of the limited scale of the commercial fishery, this presentation will focus on management of the recreational component of the fishery.

Not always a fan of commercial regs, but if it doesn't impact the fishery I dont agree that we should limit them and their impact their livelihood.

STMU wrote:
It was my understanding that commercial harvest of trout comprises only 2% of overall harvest. This is also shown in the link provided by limitless. Given 98% of the harvest is recreational it makes sense to me that regulations focus on recreational limits.

...

Not always a fan of commercial regs, but if it doesn't impact the fishery I dont agree that we should limit them and their impact their livelihood.

If that data is correct, then no, they should not change the commercial regs.

Anyone have a source on that?


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I believe commercial is supposed to be 2%. Not sure how it is calculated, but all of the seatrout I’ve seen in the markets were all big ( over 22”)

I went to the workshop in Tally and the two main points were close it in winter (jan and/or feb) and a lower limit.

New regs dont really bother me as I never keep more than one or two fish anyways unless I go offshore.

They are taking comments on Flounder as well.

https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/rul ... -comments/

I also heard they were considering opening up new regs on Cobia, Tripletail, and Sheephead but didnt see anything on their website.

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I’d say keep limit as is and go back to the winter closure.


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I'd like to see trout classified as a game fish. Limits stay as are, or reduced to 4 no less. A January-February closure, IMHO would be great for the fishery.

I think I am probably lumped in with a lot of people of I'm all aboard on being proactive in managing the fishery for the future and am okay with the proposed regulations. I am at the same time with a few of you on being concerned on no changes to the commercial regs. I don't understand how keeping a limit of trout once or twice a month (as I would say if average recreational saltwater fisherman has a chance to go) but a commercial fisherman going most likely daily with a 75 per person bag doesn't hurt the population. I understand the argument for not wanting to hurt their means of work, but if you limit the recreational regs, less people are buying boats, hooks, bait, fishing rods, reels, fuel, ice, and everything else we use statewide hurts the economy and those businesses probably more than economic impact of cutting commercial regs. I think the offshore with the red snapper and all the constant changes (even mid season) like with amberjack or grouper has left a bad taste in my mouth with the commercial vs rec regs.

https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/com ... -seatrout/

Does anyone know for sure if there is a commercial fishery on the west coast of Florida? If not, and they are only getting 1%, then we need to look ourselves and not blame this on the comms....this isn’t the same as red snapper

willfishforfood wrote:I think I am probably lumped in with a lot of people of I'm all aboard on being proactive in managing the fishery for the future and am okay with the proposed regulations. I am at the same time with a few of you on being concerned on no changes to the commercial regs.

No doubt that the recreational fisherman probably have impact on the fishery. We're on the same team here I personally have tried to do my part from going years ago going from catching my limit, to limiting my catch. However, if there truly is a concern with stock numbers, there should be a lower of limit across the board.

Perfect!

We were lucky. Looks like Tampa Bay down to Naples is now catch and release only for snook, red fish and trout.