NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

April 17, 2000

CONTACT: Rich Cailteux (850) 627-9674

LAKE JACKSON FISH SIZES AND BAG LIMITS ALTERED

Due to the prolonged natural drawdown of Lake Jackson in Leon County from a sinkhole opening last fall, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will remove all bag and size limits for freshwater fish found in the remaining portion of the lake beginning April 17.

The Executive Order to alter bag and size limits and fishing methods was signed April 13 by Dr. Allan L. Egbert, the FWC's executive director. FWC fisheries biologists recommended altering bag and size limits due to the fact only an estimated 150 acres of water remain in a lake that should measure 4000 acres.

"There is a possibility of another sinkhole opening in the remaining portion of the lake and that's one of our reasons for asking that the public be able to quickly utilize the fish found there," said fisheries biologist Rich Cailteux. "Not only that, as daytime and water temperatures increase, the water that's remaining will hold less oxygen and this increases the likelihood of a fish kill due to low oxygen levels."

Cailteux said all people who catch or remove fish are required to possess a valid Florida freshwater fishing license unless exempt from license requirements. Legal methods of catching fish include hook and line, dip net and by hand. Possessing or transporting commercial quantities of freshwater game fish (150 pounds or more) is illegal.

The Executive Order is set to expire on Dec. 1 unless repealed earlier by the FWC.