NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

November 20, 1997

CONTACT: Danon Moxley (941) 499-2421

GFC TAKES RESERVATIONS TO FISH HYDRILLA LAKE

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin taking reservations on December 1 to fish 46-acre Hydrilla Lake, once mined for phosphate, at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland.

"Hydrilla Lake offers anglers an excellent chance to catch quality-sized bass," said Danon Moxley, Tenoroc manager. "Catch results through September reveal that 45 percent of all bass caught by anglers were 15 inches or larger. Of the 95 anglers who fished the lake, 12 caught bass 22 inches or larger (three of the 12 caught two fish over 22 inches long)," Moxley added.

Applicants can make phone reservations on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the Tenoroc Fish Management Area at (941) 499-2422, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anglers must have a valid Florida fishing licenses and pay $50 by money order made out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within seven days of the reservation. Anglers will receive their permit by mail following receipt of the $50 fee. Upon arrival at Tenoroc, additional anglers must pay $50 each cash or money order. The FWC doesn’t accept personal or business checks.

Anglers with lifetime sportsman’s licenses, lifetime freshwater fishing licenses, five-year freshwater fishing licenses, persons over 65 years of age, children under 16 years old or person with permanent hunting and fishing certificated are not required to pay the fee but are still required to obtain a permit.

Permits are transferrable prior to the reserved date, but anglers may fish Hydrilla Lake only once in each four-month period.

Moxley said the FWC recently outfitted the lake with a new boat ramp, aeration system and fish attractors. A contour map of the lake is available to anglers at the Tenoroc office.