Proposal to Make Tarpon & Bonefish Catch-and-Release Only

April 25, 2013 By: Erin Block

With unanimous support, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is moving forward with a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries.

Read more in the press release below.

Proposal would make tarpon, bonefish catch-and-release only

News Release

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943

(Back to Commission meeting news)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), at its April 17 meeting near Tallahassee, moved forward unanimously with a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries.

The tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only proposal includes the following potential changes for management in state and federal waters off Florida:

  • Eliminating all harvest of tarpon with the exception of the harvest or possession of a single tarpon when in pursuit of an IGFA record and in conjunction with a tarpon tag.
  • Keeping the tarpon tag price at $50 per tag but limiting them to one tag per person, per year.
  • Modifying the tarpon tag program, including reporting requirements and shifting the start and end date for when the tarpon tag is valid.
  • Discontinuing the bonefish tournament exemption permit that allows tournament anglers to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale.

The proposal will be brought back before the Commission for a final public hearing at its June meeting in Lakeland.

In a separate discussion, the Commission also reviewed how gear is being used for the tarpon fishery in Boca Grande Pass. The Commission directed staff to re-examine the definition of snagging and redefine what gear can be used in the Pass. This issue will likely be brought before the Commission at the June meeting as a draft proposal.

More information is available at MyFWC.com/Commission.