NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

March 22, 1999

CONTACT: Steve Crawford (352) 742-6438

TAGGED FISH YIELD GOOD INFORMATION

Lake Panasoffkee has long been a favorite spot for anglers, but a tagging program initiated last year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has provided information that is helping biologists understand the quality of the popular fishery and just who fishes there.

In an ongoing program, FWC biologists tagged 1,100 bluegill and shellcracker during 1998, and 1,500 in 1999 in Lake Panasoffkee to help determine numbers and sizes of fish, fish migrations within the lake, and how fish use certain spawning areas.

The first fish were tagged in March 1998, and anglers who caught any of the tagged fish were asked to return the tags to the FWC in return for the chance to win prizes. Biologists estimate that during 1998, anglers caught about 15 percent of the bluegill and 20 percent of the shellcracker that were tagged.

From the information provided on the returned tags, biologists have been able to estimate that more than 12,000 anglers harvested more than 104,000 sunfish from March through October. In addition, they estimate that at least 20 percent of those fishing the lake reside in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, compared to 26 percent from Sumter County.

The program is continuing this year so anyone catching one of these tagged fish is asked to clip off the bright yellow or orange tag and bring it to one of the five locations listed below, fill out the information envelope provided and drop it - with the tag enclosed - in the drop-off box at each site. Tags may also be returned by calling the phone number on the tag and following the directions given. The fish may be kept or released.

The tags are attached to the fish just behind the dorsal fin and will have the letters "FWC" followed by a 4-digit number and a phone number. Some tags contain the words "Reward $50" which means anyone returning those tags will receive $50 from the FWC.

Each month, beginning in March and extending through December, several tags will be randomly drawn from all returned tags, excluding $50 reward tags, and prizes will be awarded to those lucky anglers. Prizes include $50 savings bonds, a free night at a local fish camp, fishing rods, reels and tackle, gift certificates from fishing-related businesses, dinner at local restaurants and free boat launch fees.

The five drop-off sites, all located around the lake, are: Idlewilde Lodge (352-793-7057); Pana-Vista Lodge (352-793-2061); Tracy's Point Fish Camp (352-793-8060); Design Marine (352-793-1011); and Turtleback Resort (352-793-2051).

Although Lake Panasoffkee is a very popular bluegill and shellcracker fishing lake, accumulated sediment on the lake bottom has occurred over time and spawning areas have been reduced. The information gathered from returned tags will be important to biologists in their lake restoration efforts.