FWC News

Showing 1 through 10 of 463 articles for tag fishing

• FWC announces winners of 2024 Florida State Fish Art Contest

  Friday, April 26, 2024 -  Students in kindergarten through 12th grade submitted their artwork in this free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes.

• Recreational harvest of Atlantic greater amberjack, red porgy, hogfish, blueline tilefish and several grouper will open May 1

  Friday, April 26, 2024 -  Several reef fish species will open to recreational harvest May 1 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic.

• Stone crab season closes May 2

  Thursday, April 25, 2024 -  This annual season closure is intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery.

• FWC issues executive order to reopen recreational harvest of greater amberjack in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from May 1 – May 31

  Tuesday, April 23, 2024 -  NOAA Fisheries is reopening Gulf federal waters because landings indicate the recreational quota for greater amberjack has not been met and the FWC is also opening state waters to be consistent with the federal season.

• Mark your calendars: 10th Annual Lionfish Festival May 17–18 in Destin

  Friday, April 19, 2024 -  This two-day outdoor festival is free, open to the public and will include conservation and art booths, live music, an interactive kid’s zone and the world’s largest lionfish tournament, the Emerald Coast Open.

• Keep silver kings reigning: FWC shares best fishing practices for tarpon anglers

  Monday, April 15, 2024 -  Recommendations focus on what gear to use, fighting techniques, handling tips and release strategies.

• Reeling in records: New saltwater state records set by Catch a Florida Memory anglers

  Thursday, April 4, 2024 -  Both new record holders will receive certificates and letters of recognition from the Director of Marine Fisheries Management, along with custom metal sculptures of their record species supplied by The Metal Edge.

• Spiny lobster season closes April 1

  Friday, March 29, 2024 -  The spiny lobster recreational and commercial seasons close to harvest in state and federal waters starting April 1, and will reopen Aug. 6.

• FWC: Splash into license-free freshwater fishing weekend April 6 and 7

  Wednesday, March 27, 2024 -  Anglers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to take advantage of this special weekend, which allows them to reel in their favorite freshwater species without the need for a fishing license.

• Permit spawning season closure inside the Special Permit Zone starts April 1

  Tuesday, March 26, 2024 -  This closure includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast, and south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast including all of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay south of Rickenbacker Causeway.