At meeting in Key Largo, the seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had decided to open season of trout as the topic drew plenty of interest from the angling public, professional fishing guides and commercial fishermen, as well. FWC Chairman Kathy Barco said that they are dealing with a success story. He added that touting robust stock assessment numbers for spotted seatrout, the FWC voted to make six changes in trout rules, upping the take for recreational and commercial fishing sectors.
He informed that from February, there will no longer be closed seasons for harvest for recreational anglers and anglers in northeast Florida will have a bag limit of six per person instead of five. The state will be divided into four management zones for trout — instead of three. Commercial fishermen will have a trip limit of 150 trout caught by hook and line if two licensed fishermen are on board.
The commission also informed that the fishermen will be allowed to sell trout for 30 days following a closed season, not throughout the year as was one proposal considered. The new set of rules was praised by groups such as the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. Recreational anglers were concerned ambiguity in proposals would open the door for future regulation changes that might allow drift gill nets in state waters.
