NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

June 23, 1999

CONTACT: Danon Moxley (941) 499-2421

FWC TAKES APPLICATIONS TO FISH HYDRILLA LAKE

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is accepting applications to fish Hydrilla Lake, a 46-acre phosphate pit in the Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland for September through December. For the first time, reservations must be made through a $5 non-refundable application.

"The large number of anglers interested in fishing Hydrilla Lake has made the first-come, first-served phone system obsolete and led to many unhappy customers," said Danon Moxley, Tenoroc's manager. Under the new system, anglers will be randomly selected to fish Hydrilla Lake from applications received in the Tallahassee fisheries office no later than July 15. Anglers must list on their application three preferred fishing dates in priority order from the list of open angling days provided. "You can apply as many times as you like; however, there is a $5 non-refundable application fee for each application submitted," Moxley said. Applications are available by calling the Tenoroc office at (941) 499-2421, the Division of Freshwater Fisheries office in Tallahassee at (850) 488-4068, or from the FWC Web site http://www.state.fl.us/FWC/

Anglers chosen will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline. Successful applicants will receive an invoice for the $50-per-angler special-fishing opportunity fee. Anglers must return the invoice and fee (money order only; no personal checks) to the Tenoroc Fish Management Area headquarters by 4:30 p.m., August 16. If an applicant fails to respond by the August 16 deadline, the unsold fishing date will be offered to the next applicant in the random drawing.

Each angler with a confirmed fishing date may bring up to two guests; however, each guest, unless pre-paid or exempt, must acquire a permit by paying the $50 permit fee through a money order or by cash upon arrival at Tenoroc. All anglers must have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license. Anglers with lifetime sportsman's licenses, lifetime freshwater fishing licenses or five-year freshwater fishing licenses issued before July 1, 1998 are exempt from the special-opportunity fee but are still required to obtain a permit. Each angler, including guests, will be limited to one permit during this four-month period.

Hydrilla Lake offers anglers an excellent chance to catch quality-sized bass. Anglers caught a bass every 30 minutes in this catch-and-release lake from January through April. The daily catch rate averaged 44 fish per party. Most bass caught were in the 2-5 pound range, with an occasional 8-pounder landed. Hydrilla Lake is open, on Fridays and Sundays only, to one boat with no more than three anglers.