Fish and Travel Log » Fish Facts

Snook season

nsearchofishn — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:41:37 +0000

Snook season opens again at 12:01 a.m. Monday following the summer spawning closure.

Reminder: saltwater fishing license with a snook endorsement is needed to land a fish.

Bag limit is one per person per day statewide.

Slot limits are 28-32 inches in the Atlantic and 28-33 inches in the Gulf, Everglades and Florida Keys.

Now Snook are measured by total length with the tail pinched.

Fish Mercury Warning

nsearchofishn — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:36:21 +0000

While researching our upcoming Everglades trip I saw this.

Mercury Warning!

High level of mercury have been found in Everglades Largemouth bass and in some fish species from northern Florida Bay. Do not eat bass caught north of the Main Park Road. Do not eat bass caught south of the Main Park Road more than once a week. Children and pregnant women should not eat any bass. The following salt water species caught in northern Florida Bay should not be consumed more than once ber week by adults or once per month by women of child-bearing age and children: spotted seatrout, gafftopsail, catfish, bluefish, crevalle jack, or ladyfish.

Mercury in Marine Fish

nsearchofishn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:50:26 +0000

Mercury in Marine Fish and Health Advisories

Mercury is a heavy metal that occurs naturally throughout the environment. Unlike other metals, it is a liquid at normal temperatures and is easily transformed into a gas. Many natural processes, such as volcanic activity, and human activities, such as incineration and industrial manufacturing, result in worldwide distribution of mercury.

In large enough doses, mercury is toxic to mammals, birds, and fish. Mercury can cause severe nerve and brain damage, sight and hearing loss, and birth defects. Levels that cause serious illness have only occurred in rare situations of gross pollution or accidental poisonings.
Among the dietary routes for low-level human exposure to mercury, consumption of fish is the most common. The complex relationships between mercury, the atmosphere and marine organisms indicate that mercury contamination of certain marine fish probably predates human uses. Even if all human-related sources were removed, the problem would continue to exist for several generations.

Florida’s marine fish are generally considered safe to eat.

However, certain fish can be potentially unhealthy to eat because those fish can take up contaminants from the water they live in and from the food they eat. Fish may contain different levels of contaminants based on their location, size, age, length of life, and feeding habits.

Although pesticides, algal toxins, and other man made compounds are of interest to health officials, mercury is currently the contaminant of greatest concern in Florida’s fish. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors commercial seafood for mercury. In 2004, the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended that women might wish to modify the amount and type of fish they consume if they are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, nursing, or feeding a young child. They suggest that these women should not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. The EPA and FDA has determined that five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (“white”) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.

Since 1989, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) have been actively investigating the occurrence of mercury in Florida’s marine environments. This multi-agency effort has focused on surveying important marine and freshwater bodies and species of fish throughout the state. The State of Florida has collected data on mercury levels in several species of marine fish from around Florida. Accurate species identification and location information is critical. The majority of collections have been made by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute during regular surveys and fishing tournaments.

Fish consumption advisories for specific water bodies are issued when contaminants found in fish are at levels that may pose a risk to human health. DOH, in cooperation with DEP and FWC, issues fish consumption advisories. FWC biologists collect species of concern; DEP scientists analyze fish tissue for mercury, and DOH officials conduct risk assessments and issue fish consumption advisories. Advisories for mercury in Florida waters have been issued since 1989. The advisories are not intended to discourage anglers from eating fish but should be used to choose fish lower in mercury while limiting consumption of some species of fish from certain waters.

Many Florida waters have been tested for mercury levels in fish. For these, the DOH Web site offers regularly updated consumption advisories containing specific advice about eating fish from Florida’s fresh and marine waters. Visit the DOH online at the link below to view the advisories. The DOH can also be contacted through regular mail or by telephone:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Community Environmental Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin# A08
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-1712
(850) 245-4299

Consumption advice about commercially caught fish sold in supermarkets and restaurants can be found at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website via the links below.

Certain species have high contaminant levels and should be avoided, while authorities advise limited consumption of other species. Mercury testing of fish from marine and estuarine waters of Florida has included over 100 species, representing all major groups from primary consumers to apex predators. Apex predators are fish at the top of the food chain. These species include many popular sportfish collected from state waters. The majority of marine and estuarine fishes examined contained low levels of mercury, but levels in individual fish varied greatly within and among species. Examples of species with low levels include striped mullet, Florida pompano, sheepshead, common dolphin, gray snapper, gulf flounder, and southern flounder. Many other species also contain low mercury levels. The current fish consumption advisory provides specific advice regarding Florida marine fishes.

FWC conducts sampling and research programs to further understand the significance of mercury in Florida’s aquatic environments and to determine the range and extent of contamination in fish. These results will be used to update fish consumption advisories. Please refer to the DOH website for periodic updates of information about new and existing water bodies.

Fish Handling Guidelines

nsearchofishn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:26:17 +0000

Fish Handling Guidelines

Contrary to some reports, there are no new saltwater fish handling regulations in Florida. However, the FWC has recently been reminding anglers about existing rules that are meant to protect fish when they can’t be taken. Fish must be immediately released for several reasons. For example, there is no allowable harvest of goliath grouper and Nassau grouper in Florida.

Tarpon may only be taken if a special tag is clipped to the fish’s lower jaw. Several species, such as snook, redfish and spotted seatrout, can be kept only at certain times and size.

When a fish isn’t allowed to be harvested, it must immediately be returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed. However, if a fish is allowed to be taken at a certain size limit, it’s okay to temporarily possess it to measure it, as long as it is measured immediately after removing it from the water, and the fish is then immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed if it is not a legal-size fish.

Anglers should also use common sense when releasing fish.

Sometimes it’s better to safely handle a fish to carefully remove the hook so it can be released, and other times it’s best to cut the line as close to the hook as possible while the fish is in the water – especially if it’s large.

It is okay to take a picture of a fish that is not allowed to be harvested while it’s in the process of being released, but it still must be let go immediately and should not be held in lengthy poses just for the purpose of taking the picture. And it is never legal to hold on to or tow a fish that is not allowed to be harvested to a place to weigh or measure it for a fishing tournament or record.

The plain fact is that many of our most popular recreational fisheries are strictly regulated, and because of this, many fish caught must be returned to the water. Most anglers would agree that anything we can do to minimize the harm to those fish being released will benefit the resource in the long haul.

However, we also don’t want to discourage the fun and excitement of catching fish and documenting the catch, whether for records or the personal satisfaction that comes with sharing this experience with friends and family. That’s why we are attempting to inform the public about safe catch and release techniques, and the harm that can be caused to fish that are handled roughly or held out of the water too long. That is the approach our law enforcement officers are taking, and only egregious cases of mishandling or unequivocal “possession” of an illegal fish would be pursued.

Florida’s anglers should be proud of their conservation efforts. They have helped to restore or sustain valuable fisheries, including snook, red drum and spotted seatrout. As the number of anglers continues to grow and our coastal habitats come under increasing stress, it becomes more important than ever to release those fish that cannot be harvested in as good a condition as possible. The next angler will thank you for it.

Length Measurement FAQ’s

nsearchofishn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:33:42 +0000

Saltwater finfish size limits are expressed in Total Length and Fork Length

Clarification was approved for the definition of Total Length at the December 2005 Commission meeting. The rule is effective July 1, 2006.

Why did we make this change?

Previously, FWC rules did not state how to obtain total length, leaving this measurement open to interpretation by anglers and law enforcement officers. This modification should provide ease of measurement for fishermen and ease of enforcement of size limits. Anglers have also asked for consistency between marine fish and freshwater fish measurements as well as with the federal definition for total length. Better compliance with our regulations should result because visiting anglers from nearby states are currently instructed to measure total length by squeezing the tail in their home states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. Thus, this method is already familiar to them, and this could foster compliance with our regulations by out-of-state anglers. Also, many Florida saltwater anglers had already been measuring total length with a pinched tail, thus for these people there will be no change in method.

What species will be affected by the change?

Only species that are currently measured as total length will be affected. Species measured as fork length will not be affected.

Why did we change gray triggerfish to fork length?

Federal rules currently state that gray triggerfish should be measured as total length. However, their definition of total length specifies that tail filaments should be excluded, which is essentially a fork length measurement. Anglers often include the tail filaments in the measurement of total length for gray triggerfish, which is allowing them to harvest fish that are below the intended 12-inch size limit. Changing the measurement of gray triggerfish to fork length will also allow gray triggerfish to be measured similarly to hogfish, which are currently measured as fork length and have similar tail filament types.

How do I measure fish that have ragged-edge type tail filaments, such as scamp, yellowmouth grouper, or black sea bass?

For fish that have “ragged-edge” type filaments, these “pieces” of the tail should be included in the measurement of total length, which is implied by stating that the fish be measured to the “farthest tip of the tail” in the definition for total length.

Is there a change to sheepshead measurement?

Sheepshead and flounder are included in the same rule (68B-48, Florida Administrative Code). This rule lists a size limit of 12 inches total length for sheepshead and flounder. However, “length” was previously defined as “from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail”. This was a total length measure for flounder since they have a convex tail, but this was a fork length measurement for sheepshead since they have a slightly forked tail. However, the rule stated that sheepshead should be measured as total length. This inconsistency was part of the reason we needed to modify our rules. Thus, under the new definition sheepshead should be measured as total length with a squeezed tail.

What effect will this clarification have on fish stocks?

For species (measured as total length) with a flat or rounded tail (red drum, spotted seatrout, and tripletail) there will be little change since minimal length is gained by squeezing the tail on those species. For species with a concave or “forked” tail (measured as total length) the new interpretation will only have a small impact, but the overall effect on the stock will be negligable. Also, the new interpretation will only affect anglers who had been interpreting total length to mean total length-relaxed (unsqueezed tail).

What effect will this clarification have on snook stocks?

If you were not squeezing the tail before, there is approximately a 0.77 inch difference between a relaxed tail and a squeezed tail. However, because of the variation in size-at-age, squeezing the tail will have a small effect on the overall snook stock. Due to public concern about the status of snook stocks, the FWC voted at its June 2006 Commission meeting to shift the snook slot from 26 – 34 inches to 27 – 34 inches in order to negate any potential negative effects on snook stocks. This shift will result in a 22% harvest reduction on the Gulf coast and a 12% reduction on the Atlantic coast according to the most recent snook stock assessment. The change is predicted to result in an increase in spawning potential ratio (SPR) by 7% on the Gulf coast and 5% on the Atlantic coast.

Should you pinch the tail at both ends of the slot for fish that have a slot limit?

Yes

History of Finfish Measurement in Florida

The State of Florida has wrestled with how to measure saltwater finfish since 1925. In 1925 the Legislature first enacted length measurements for marine finfish. Many different methods have been used over the years (1925-1973) including: tip of nose to fork of tail, tip of nose to tip of tail, tip of nose to end of tail, and tip of nose to rear center edge of tail. At any one time, one or all of these definitions were used. In the late 1980s both a total length and a fork length size limit were listed in rule for some species. By the mid 1990s, only one measure was chosen for most species primarily based on the way federal regulations specified how the species should be measured.

Why Aren’t all Fish Measured by a single Method?

At the present time most of the regulated species in Florida are measured by either a total length or fork length method. The method chosen depends on the shape of the tail and primarily on the consistency with federal regulations. Consistency with federal regulations is very important for the enforcement of state and federal size limits.

If you have further questions please contact the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554.

How to measure your fish

nsearchofishn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:29:00 +0000

Earlier I went down to my local fishing pier and of course there is a well meaning family about to kill a short mangrove snapper. Many people to look at fishing laws before they go out fishing. People really need to learn the regulation first. Fishing regulations often change yearly for different species of fish and sealife.

I went to the http://myfwc.com/marine/Fishing_Measurement.htm FWC website and got these rules on how to measure saltwater fish. hopefully this save someone from a ticket one day.

How to Measure Saltwater Fish

Most finfish size limit regulations of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) use either Fork Length or Total Length.

These measurement methods provide a consistent, well defined measurement technique. These methods encourage angler compliance with fishery management regulations.

total Length Measurement

Total Length is now measured from the most forward point of the head, with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Total Length Species Include:
Snapper Family	Tripletail
Grouper Family	Bonefish
Red Drum	Sheepshead
Black Drum	Flounder
Snook	Several ornamentals
Spotted Seatrout	(Angelfish, etc.)
Weakfish
Click here for a more detailed list

Fork Length Measurement

Fish regulated by fork length are measured from the tip of the jaw or tip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail.

Fork Length Species Include:
Amberjacks	Bluefish
Rudderfish	King Mackerel
Hogfish	Spanish Mackerel
Dolphin	Permit
Cobia	Pompano
Mullet	African Pompano
Gray Triggerfish

Lower Jaw Fork Length Measurement (Billfishes)

Fish regulated by lower jaw fork length are measured in a straight line from the anterior most part of the lower jaw (tip of the lower jaw) to the fork in the tail.

Lower Jaw Fork Length Species Include:

Sailfish
Blue Marlin
White Marlin

How to Measure Stone Crab and Spiny Lobster

Stone Crab Measurement

Stone Crab claws must measure at least 2 3/4-inches in length measured by a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable finger. The forearm (propodus) shall be deemed to be the largest section of the claw assembly that has both a moveable and immovable finger and is located farthest from the body of the crab.

Spiny Measurement

Spiny Lobster must have a minimum carapace length of greater than 3-inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding and soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace.

Tarpon Possession

nsearchofishn — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:40:04 +0000

I saw this on Tribenwater and thought it was very interesting since I have been reading so much contorversy whether it was leagal or not to pose with a tarpon for a picture.

seems like the jason guy from IGFA knows what he is talking about…BUT like with everything I read on forums I will take it with a grain of salt and do my own research.

———————————————-

I’m posting this at the request of Derek. Before coming to IGFA I worked at the FWC Division of Marine Fisheries. In fact, I was the guy that edited and wrote a lot of the regulation magazine that was published twice a year.

There’s been a lot of talk about the legality of removing tarpon from the water to take a picture. I think the following was posted before, but for clarity:
68B-32.002 Definitions.fficeffice” />p>

As used in this rule chapter:<>
(1) “Harvest” means the catching or taking of a fish by any means whatsoever, followed by a reduction of such fish to possession. Fish that are caught but immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed are not harvested.

68B-32.003 Tarpon Tags: Required for Possession; Report; Annual Issuance; Taxidermy; Limitation on Number of Tags Issued Annually; Limitation on Number of Tags Issued to Professional Fishing Guides.

(1) No person shall take, kill, or possess any tarpon, unless such person has purchased a tarpon tag and securely attached it through the lower jaw of the fish. Within 5 days after the landing of a tagged tarpon, the person possessing it shall submit a form to the Commission (Form DMF-SL3200 (3-05), incorporated herein by reference) indicating the length, weight, and physical condition of the tarpon and the date and location where the fish was caught. Additional tags may be denied to any person or guide who fails to provide the required information.

(3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to anyone who immediately returns a tarpon uninjured to the water at the place where the fish was caught. The prohibition of possession of an untagged tarpon in subsection (1) shall not apply to a taxidermist who removes the tag during the process of mounting a tarpon. The removed tag shall remain with the fish during any subsequent storage or shipment.

I’ve talked some people at FWC about this and we all agree that removing a small tarpon from the water, taking a quick picture and immediately returning it to the water unharmed does not constitute possession. In additon the official rule language above clearly supports this as well. On the other hand, if you were to lip gaff a 150 lb tarpon and drag it over the gunnel of your boat, an enforcement officer might have grounds to do something because there’s a chance that the fish was harmed in doing so.

In the end I think this all comes down to commonsense, on both our parts and the FWC. Photographs have replaced dead fish at the dock as a means of showing people what you caught. I have a lot of respect for the people in FWC managing our fisheries and hope that they realize this. Similarly, we as anglers need to do our part by not harming fish by bringing large individuals in the boat.

Hope this helps.

Attached Thumbnails