FWC approves Black Bass Management Plan

[Olebiker]

Press Release

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the long-term Black Bass Management Plan at its meeting in St. Augustine Thursday.

Tom Champeau, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, said the integrated plan will focus on expanding new opportunities, in addition to refining traditional conservation approaches dealing with habitat and fish management practices that take into consideration human needs. Implementation of the plan will create significant ecological, economic and social benefits for Florida.

“We appreciate the public support that went into developing this comprehensive plan,” Champeau said. “More than 7,500 anglers provided input, as did a technical assistance group representing a variety of fishing-related businesses, university experts, professional anglers, outdoor media and fishing guides.”

The overall goal is to ensure Florida is the Black Bass Fishing Capital of the World by:

1. Ensuring healthy lakes and rivers to benefit many species of fish and wildlife, as well as trophy bass fisheries.

2. Strengthening local economies by documenting and increasing the economic impacts derived from bass fishing, which already provides more than 14 million days of quality outdoor recreation for bass anglers and generates an economic impact of $1.25 billion.

3. Attracting events such national professional bass fishing tournaments, which have huge economic impacts, to smaller towns and cities as a result of Florida’s enhanced reputation.

Noreen Clough, the national conservation director for B.A.S.S., applauded staff for the comprehensive plan.

“This is an excellent road map for the state of Florida,” Clough said. “It will make bass fishing in Florida even more world-class than it already is, if that’s even possible.”

Encouraging youth and families to get outside and enjoy fishing improves health by reducing the potential for obesity and enhancing social interactions as well as a respect for nature. Consequently, the FWC will integrate the plan with the agency’s Creating the Next Generation that Cares initiative (MyFWC.com/Youth).

For more information on the Black Bass Management Plan and recreational fishing in Florida, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing.

[blair]

We shall see. It's unfortunate that Florida lags so far behind the more progressive bass management States, like Texas.

But it does appear to be a step in the right direction.

[ol man river]

all well and good, but it seems to me that they cant even enforce the 14 " limit now...what good are more regulations going to do.....i guess just penalize the honest fishermen a bit more....

[billfish]

Back in the 70’s and 80”s I attended similar meetings and was told the state would implement programs that would enhance the numbers and size of Fl. Largemouth bass. The result was a minimum size and no more than 1 fish over 22 inches. That didn’t help very much then and the new strategy will probably not work now.

[castoff33]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billfish &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Back in the 70’s and 80”s I attended similar meetings and was told the state would implement programs that would enhance the numbers and size of Fl. Largemouth bass. The result was a minimum size and no more than 1 fish over 22 inches. That didn’t help very much then and the new strategy will probably not work now.</td></tr></table> I believe the catch rates are just as good as they were then, and big fish are just as plentyfull. This program is not designed to punish fishermen, but to get fishermen involved by reporting their trophy catches. Of course, if noone participates, it won['t work. Get involved !!! At least this won't cost you a dime to be a part of.

[250bassFL]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ol man river &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">all well and good, but it seems to me that they cant even enforce the 14 " limit now...what good are more regulations going to do.....i guess just penalize the honest fishermen a bit more.... </td></tr></table>

+1

[Manatee Mauler]

The single most important thing they could start with is too stop all the spraying. This alone would help more then any new regs that they come up with.

[castoff33]

Therre has to be some hydrilla controll, otherwise you would't be able to get on most of these shallow lakes in Florida in the summer. The State doesn't have the money or equipment to harvest the hydrilla (the best method of controll) I know fishermen aren't willing to fund a project like that, when we can't even get the majority to write a letter, or attend a FWC meeting. Remember, there are around 2 million licenced fishermen in this State, don't you thnk you could controll any election if you could get only 10% involved !!!

[BaitFL]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Manatee Mauler &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The single most important thing they could start with is too stop all the spraying. This alone would help more then any new regs that they come up with.</td></tr></table>

You may be getting your wish. However, I dont think this is what you really want and I'm sure you'll be the first to be yelling when you cant fish your lake when it gets out of hand...BTW, the state cant afford to let more hydrilla grow because they dont have the money to get it back to current levels, especially with $6.5 of their budget being cut this year.

[BaitFL]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by castoff33 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Therre has to be some hydrilla controll, otherwise you would't be able to get on most of these shallow lakes in Florida in the summer. The State doesn't have the money or equipment to harvest the hydrilla (the best method of controll) I know fishermen aren't willing to fund a project like that, when we can't even get the majority to write a letter, or attend a FWC meeting. Remember, there are around 2 million licenced fishermen in this State, don't you thnk you could controll any election if you could get only 10% involved !!! </td></tr></table>

Actually harvesting is not the best method of control. Its more expensive, time consuming and bycatch is ridiculous. Harvesting is also not very selective, meaning everything (fish, snails, grass shrimp, turtles, alligators, native plants, etc.) in its path is taken.

[castoff33]

Harvesting has worked pretty well in Dade County Canals, I haven's seen it affect the fishing yet. Everone agrees, hydrilla is a problem, too much is no good, and too little is no good.

[210blazer]

wait until they ruin every lake around and then we will see who is bitching,control is one thing but to ruin lakes is just stupid!

[Manatee Mauler]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BaitFL &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">


You may be getting your wish. However, I dont think this is what you really want and I'm sure you'll be the first to be yelling when you cant fish your lake when it gets out of hand...BTW, the state cant afford to let more hydrilla grow because they dont have the money to get it back to current levels, especially with $6.5 of their budget being cut this year. </td></tr></table>

You wont hear me bitch. I fished Orange and Lochloosa back in the late 80's and early 90's when BOTH lakes were nothing but a mat of Hydrilla and LOVED it. Loch. was full of hydrilla from cross creek all the way to the N end. Now, your luck to find a blade of Hydrilla. When I say Hydrilla, I dont mean a little of it scattered down the bank in 2 foot of water. We want mats the length of 3 and 4 city blocks, in 6ft of water topped out with boat trails in it. Hydrilla doesnt pose much of a problem for me . When you stick a 27 Tempest with 250 and chew the chit out of it its all good Its these perch jerkers that want to drift the lake fishing for specks without getting hung up. I could see where a perch jerker with a 90 would have a problem with hrdrilla. Solution is to put 250 on his john boat and he'd be good too

[blair]

The hydrilla can be managed offshore with the trails you speak of, without negatively affecting the ability to launch at the ramps and fish camps. IMO, that would be the way to allow the grass, but the FWC wants to rid the lakes of the hydrilla. I've heard their biologists say that pepper grass is a better bass habitat........

But, they would never know, because so few, if any, are anglers............sometimes the texts you read are not the only source of data.