Florida moves for tighter fishing regulations for seatrout, blackfin tuna

CAPE CANAVERAL — Florida authorities moved forward Wednesday with a controversial proposal to tighten angler rules for an iconic saltwater fish – spotted seatrout – in response to concerns over its decline in coastal waters.

Speaking at a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in Cape Canaveral, environmental groups supported more stringent protections for a sport fish described by state experts as at the brink of a precipitous decline.

Some urged a temporary ban on fishing for seatrout along Central Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, which has been hard hit in recent years by massive outbreaks of harmful algae.

But the proposed revamping of seatrout rules was met with scorn by fishing guides and a chamber of commerce official from Florida’s Big Bend region, who said that a reduction in catch limits would be economically ruinous for rural communities.

Professional guide Mike Farmer of Steinhatchee said the proposed reduction in catch limits is based on flawed data.

“It’s unjustified. We are being hurt in the process,” he said.

Dawn Perez of the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce said the catch reduction would be a “crippling blow” for nearly 80 guide captains based in her county.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staffers are proposing to reduce recreational catch limits from five to three per day in the Western Panhandle, five to four in the Big Bend region, four to three in South Florida, four to two in Central Florida and six to five in the northeast.

The keepable size in all waters would be reduced from a range of 15 to 20 inches to a range of 15 to 19 inches. The agency, however, proposes to let anglers keep one fish per boat that is larger than 19 inches.

Also proposed by the agency ’s staff: banning guides and crews from keeping fish they catch during forhire trips, and an annual closure of seatrout fishing in November and December in Central Florida and in February in the Western Panhandle.

Gil McRae, director of the state’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, said seatrout are resilient and mature quickly, and should respond well to proposed changes.

“Small tweaks in the regulations … can have a big effect,” McRae said.

Commission members gave preliminary approval to the proposal changes and the matter will be brought back to the agency for approval as soon as December.

The commission gave final approval to new guidelines for protection of blackfin tuna, a species of increasing popularity among recreational anglers but previously without specific protections.

Commission members approved a daily limit of two blackfin tuna per person or 10 per boat, whichever is more. The limits will apply in state and federal waters.

STEVE WATERS/SUN SENTINEL Florida officials move to tighten rules for blackfin tuna.