FWC seeks input from anglers regarding bass fishing rules
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FWC is proposing changes to bass fishing rules Video by fox4now.com
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NAPLES, Fla.- Florida Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of open houses to get input from anglers regarding bass fishing regulations.
Captain Shane Procell embraces everything the Everglades offers. He has fished in South Florida for nearly 15 years and runs bass fishing charters in the Everglades. He often posts his trips on YouTube.
"Originally, I am from Louisiana. I tell ya, there's more bass down here than anywhere else in the world and that's why I'm here," said Captain Shane, Everglades Bass Fishing Guide.
"Any given day you can catch 100 bass down here, we've caught as many as 300 or as few as 10. It depends on the weather conditions," added Captain Shane.
In South Florida (specifically Collier County), bass fishing regulations only allow fishermen to catch 5 fish daily and only one can be more than 14 inches long.
"Those under 14 are the most plentiful fish and there's plenty of them for people to harvest and ones that are the bigger fish are more rare," said Allen Martin, FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/Regional Fisheries Administrator.
But is it time to change those rules? That's something FWC is asking anglers now. As a tour guide, Captain Shane says he's fine with the rules, but recreational fishermen might want the bag limit to increase.
"People out there fishing to take them home and eat why not keep 10 fish or 15 fish. There are millions and million of bass in the Everglades," said Captain Shane.
FWC has not looked at these regulations for nearly 20 years and now the agency is hosting a series of open houses statewide and wants feedback. Then FWC might come up with proposed changes.
The next 2 open houses are as follows:
March 11 – Okeechobee
C. Scott Driver Park
Park Pavilion
3950 SW 99th Drive
March 12 – Dania Beach
Bass Pro Shops
Seminar area near the aquarium
200 Gulf Stream Way
For more information, go to the Largemouth Bass Regulations Review page at MyFWC.com/Fishing
Anglers can also mail in a survey. Please find more information in the links attached to this article.
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