NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

December 12, 1997

CONTACT: Lt. Dewey A. Weaver (904) 758-0525

NEW FISH MANAGEMENT AREA IN HAMILTON COUNTY

Lang Lake an 86-acre reclaimed phosphate lake in Hamilton County will become a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) designated fish management area on January 1, 1998.

"The lake is expected to provide excellent fishing and to insure that fishermen continue to have a quality fishing experience on the lake several special regulations have been established for the area," said Jerry Krummrich, regional fisheries administrator for the FWC.

"In an effort to provide higher catch rates of quality size largemouth bass, the FWC has placed a 16 inch minimum size limit on the lake with a daily bag limit of five fish. Panfish fishermen can harvest 20 panfish per day," said Krummrich. "Both of these regulations are standard urban pond rules which are appropriate whenever high fishing pressure is expected to impact the quality of fishing."

Additional rules restrict boats to the use of electric motors only with gasoline engines allowed on the boat, but they may not be operated. "This rule will be strictly enforced by FWC wildlife officers," he said.

As with all fish management areas a Florida Fishing License is required to fish the area, unless the fisherman is exempt by law.