BigBendFishing.Net

Just saw this and haven't seen it posted here yet...

FWC seeks input on possible red drum regulation changes
News Release

August 27, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has scheduled a series of public workshops this fall to discuss possible fishing regulation changes for red drum (redfish).

The FWC is considering creating regional management areas for red drum and raising the daily bag limit from one fish to two per person in Northeast and Northwest Florida. The Commission is also seeking public comment on possible red drum rule changes for Southeast Florida.

The FWC encourages interested people to attend the workshops, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. local time as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 8
Gulf Coast Community College
5230 W. U.S. Highway 98
Student Union East
2nd Floor Conference Room
Panama City

Thursday, Sept. 9
FWC Headquarters
620 S. Meridian St.
Farris Bryant Building
2nd Floor Conference Room
Tallahassee

Monday, Sept. 20
Brevard Agricultural Center
3695 Lake Drive
Cocoa
Tuesday, Nov. 23
Jacksonville Public Library
Southeast Branch
10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Jacksonville

Tuesday, Nov. 30
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Ave. SE
Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium
St. Petersburg Wednesday, Dec. 1
City Hall Council Chambers
123 NW Highway 19
Crystal River

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshops should advise the FWC at least five days prior to the workshop by calling 850-488-6411. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

More information regarding these workshops is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules, click on "Marine Advisory Boards, Public Workshops, etc."

Well dang, who'da thunk they'd do that!

I know there are many more redfish in our area than ever before,it would not hurt my feelings to leave the possession at ONE for a year or two.
I will be attending the meeting in Tallahassee.
Hope to see many of you there.

i wouldn't mind seeing it go up to two a person with as many as there are out there

In your case............you have to be able to catch 2 in a day first.

[quote="Jumptrout51"]I know there are many more redfish in our area than ever before,it would not hurt my feelings to leave the possession at ONE for a year or two.
i am with jt

I agree. Leave it at one. I would rather err on the side of caution on this issue. It ain't like duck hunting, when ya kill your 6 you are done. With reds, you can catch them all day, just can only clean one. Leave it at 1.

Jumptrout51 wrote:In your case............you have to be able to catch 2 in a day first.

i catch more than 2 of em all the time .watch me not catch any now next sat as i say this.

Leaving it at one would be fine by me

mpa_72001 wrote: i catch more than 2 of em all the time

Therein lies the problem. Many of those second fish will end up in the cooler rather than be released if the bag limit is raised. That will have a direct negative impact on sustainable stocks throughout the proposed NW region.

There's been a significant shift from offshore to inshore in the last few years due to the economy, fuel prices, oil spill and the federal mismanagement of offshore stocks. Now is not the time to add to the growing pressure. My take: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Add your own .02 at the Tallahassee workshop. Also FYI: the final public hearing on this proposed rule will be in Apalachicola in February 2011.

silverking wrote:If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Yeah, or . . . If it ain't broke, don't break it.

LEAVE IT ALONE, ONE "1" IS ENOUGH at least till we see if the OIL is going to effect the fishing.

Are you guys nuts? Most people that like to fish and eat fish every now and then would love to be able to bring home enough fish for dinner. It doesn't say you have to bring home two,it just gives you the option. I don't keep one redfish every time I catch one now but it would be nice to make that choice myself. Too much government control is bad! Let people start making educated decisions on their own. Besides go farther west and you can keep 5 redfish per day and they still have plenty! I guess it goes to show that some people can't handle "CHANGE" good or bad and just get brain washed into the whole smoke and mirrors thing.Trust me ,if they give us this positive change in the law,they certainly are working on taking away something somewhere else. I say do this and start giving back control and seriously look at other flawed laws passed with flawed science.........Don't get me started!!!!

i'm with skeeter on the wanting to keep more to eat when i do keep em.its especially hard to have a dinner on one fish when the trout season is closed too.the only fish i usually keep is a red unless i know someone wanting a few trout or its a tournament day for us.i wouldn't mind seeing them maybe changing the size a few in. and letting u keep one over 27 in. like some of the other states are doing.