NEW FISH MANAGEMENT AREAS ON THE KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES

NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

October 28, 1998

CONTACT: Adriene Furukawa (407) 846-5300

NEW FISH MANAGEMENT AREAS ON THE KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES

The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are world renowned for quality largemouth bass fishing, in part due to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) habitat restoration projects conducted on the system since 1971. Mike Hulon, project leader for the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes said, “The most recent example of a habitat restoration project is the 5 million dollar Lake Kissimmee project completed in 1996 and benefits from that effort are already paying off with an increased abundance of young sportfish”.

In order to ensure the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes continues to receive the attention needed to preserve this valuable fishery, FWC along with the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners, have established seven Osceola County lakes as four distinct Fish Management Areas (FMA).

Effective November 2, 1998 the following lakes have been approved as FWC FMA’s: lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee will be one Fish Management Area (FMA 98-8), Lake Marian (FMA 98-7), Lake Jackson (FMA 98-6) and East Lake Tohopekaliga (FMA 98-5) will be separate Fish Management Areas.

All FMA’s will observe statewide fishing regulations except for the following special rules:

A fishing license will be required for all residents from 16 to 65 years of age, and all nonresidents 16 or more years of age, to fish by any method, including cane poles, on a Fish Management Area.
Channel catfish - no bag limit.
For Lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha, Kissimmee, Marian and East Lake Tohopekaliga nongame fish may be taken by cast nets, dip nets, seines, trotlines, set lines, bush hooks, bow & arrow, gigs, and traps as specified in Rules 39-23.002, 39-23.003 and 39-23.004 F.A.C.
Lake Jackson:
- No person shall kill or possess any black bass.
- No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 12 inches in total length.
- The use or possession of cast nets, lift nets or minnow seines is prohibited.

Hulon said, “By establishing these lakes as FMA’s this will help prioritize funding requirements; thus, ensuring our ability to properly manage the resource’s habitat and sport fishery for years to come”. For more information, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (407) 846-5300.