New Regulations In The Works

Cobia, redfish workshops: Florida anglers to help set new regulations to manage catches 

        photo courtesy of Ryan Morie

Anglers who fish for cobia and redfish in Florida waters may soon see changes in fishing regulations. Workshops conducted by federal and state fishery management officials, respectively, will take place across the state and online over the next two weeks.

Cobia

Anglers in Florida know, with all due respect to the Brad Pitt movie "Fight Club," the first rule of cobia season is to never talk about cobia season. However, according to recent fishery statistics, cobia catches may need to be reduced by as much as 33%.

And taking a cobia away from them is something anglers are going to want to fight about. 

Statistics calculated by the Southeast Data Assessment and Review 28 (SEDAR) completed in July 202 indicated cobia in the offshore federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast of Florida are deemed to be undergoing overfishing. In order to conserve stocks of the migratory pelagic fish, popular among recreational anglers and sought by commercial fishers for the seafood market, managers are in the process of potentially changing regulations for harvest.

Changes to come for recreational anglers and commercial fishers in Gulf and Atlantic waters off Florida may include an increase in minimum size for harvest from a 33-inch fork length to as large as a 42-inch fork length, a reduction in bag limit from two per person to one per person, or instituting a vessel limit. There could also be seasonal closures.

These possible changes for the document called Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 32 will be outlined in a series of workshops throughout Florida next week, each beginning at 6 p.m.:

• Oct. 18 — Harvey Governmental Center, 1200 Truman Ave., Key West
• Oct. 19 — The River Center at Burt Reynolds Park, 805 U.S. 1, Jupiter
• Oct. 20 — Hilton Cocoa Beach, 1550 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach
• Oct. 21 — Mudville Grill, 3105 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville

There will also be a webinar offered at 6 p.m. Oct. 19. Public comment can be filed in written form before 5 p.m. Oct. 21. To review the amendment documents, register for the webinar, to send comments by email or to obtain the physical address to send mail, go to SAFMC.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings.

The final decision on cobia regulations and implementation will be made by officials with NOAA Fisheries Southeast in 2022. 

Redfish

Recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission completed a stock assessment on one of the state's most popular inshore fishing targets — redfish. This week and next, the agency charged with the management of the fishery will be hosting in-person workshops and a virtual one to discuss anglers' concerns about the fishery and whether regulations need to be adjusted.

Workshops will begin at 6 p.m. local time unless noted

Oct. 13

• Steinhatchee — Community Center, 1013 Riverside Drive
• Naples — Collier County Facilities Management, Training Room, 3335 Tamiami Trail E.
• New Smyrna Beach — Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Dr.

• Redfish

  Recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission completed a stock assessment on one of the state's most popular inshore fishing targets — redfish. This week and next, the agency charged with the management of the fishery will be hosting in-person workshops and a virtual one to discuss anglers' concerns about the fishery and whether regulations need to be adjusted.

  Workshops will begin at 6 p.m. local time unless noted

  Oct. 13

  • Steinhatchee — Community Center, 1013 Riverside Drive
  • Naples — Collier County Facilities Management, Training Room, 3335
  •  Tamiami Trail E.
  • New Smyrna Beach — Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Dr.
  • Panama City — Gulf Coast State College, Language & Literature Building, 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98.
  • Viera — Brevard County Commission Chambers, Building C (first floor), 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way.
  • St. Petersburg — Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium, 100 Eighth Ave. SE.
  • 
    
  • Oct. 19
  • Pensacola — City Hall, Hagler Mason Room, 222 W. Main Street.
  • Webinar — MyFWC.com/fishing/saltwater/rulemaking/workshops.

  • People interested in participating may also contact the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554 for more information.  Webinar will begin at 6 p.m. ET. 

    Comments can be emailed to MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments and click on “Workshops” to submit comments. A recorded presentation will also be posted on this page in the future

    FWC hosted a Redfish Summit in August. To review the materials presented there go to MyFWC.com/Redfish2021.

  • report from Ed Killer @ TCPalm's outdoors writer.