News Release

FWC holds rule change workshop

October 19, 2007
Contact: Dani Moschella, 561-625-5132

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) seeks public input on proposed changes to two Lake Okeechobee freshwater fishing rules.

The FWC will hold two public meetings in November to explain the reasons behind the proposed changes and to hear public opinion. The first meeting will be held in Clewiston on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office, 525 Ridgelawn Rd. The second meeting will be in Okeechobee on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Okeechobee Civic Center, 1750 U.S. Hwy. 90 North.

Sampling over the last few years has shown a decline in the numbers of small largemouth bass and black crappie. The first proposed change is to replace the existing 13- to 18-inch protective slot limit for largemouth bass with an 18-inch minimum size limit. Currently, the slot limit restricts the harvest of bass between 13 and 18 inches in length. The new size limit would mean anglers could not take any bass under 18 inches from the lake. This change would protect the younger largemouth bass until they grow to quality size.

The second proposed change would be to institute a 10-inch minimum size limit on black crappie, also called speckled perch. The rule change would protect the younger black crappie from being harvested and reduce pressure on the current population. This rule would remain in effect until FWC trawl data shows three successive years of normal catch rates for black crappie.

If adopted by the Commission, these rule changes would go into effect July 1, 2008.

For more information about freshwater fisheries, visit MyFWC.com and click on the fishing link. For more information about the meetings, call Regional Fisheries Biologist Jon Fury at 561-625-5122.