NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

June 20, 2000

CONTACT: Tim Coughlin (863) 648-3202

NEW BASS LIMITS TAKE EFFECT ON TWO CENTRAL FLORIDA LAKES

New limits on largemouth bass for Lake Walk-in-Water in Polk County and Lake Istokpoga in Highlands County will take effect on July 1, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The new regulation prohibits harvest of fish from 15 to 24 inches in length and reduces the bag limit to three largemouth bass per day, only one of which may be greater than 24 inches. The FWC instituted the regulation to preserve the quality of the fishery in two of central Florida's best bass fishing lakes.

FWC studies indicate that in both lakes, the harvest of bass greater than 18 inches is occurring at a rate much faster than the system can replace them. In fact, on Lake Walk-in-Water, fish greater than 18 inches make up only 3 percent of the population, yet they account for about 25 percent of the harvest.

"The regulation is designed to help maintain the high quality fishery, yet allow anglers to harvest a limited number of large trophy fish and abundant smaller largemouths that inhabit these two lakes," said FWC fisheries biologist Tim Coughlin.

Public meetings on the proposed rule changes were held last November during which public comment was taken and the rule was refined.

For more information about this regulation or other questions regarding freshwater fishing, call the FWC at (863) 648-3202 or visit the Freshwater Fisheries section of the FWC's Web site.