FWC News

Showing 1 through 10 of 568 articles for tag fishing

• Reel in Learning: School Fishing Program Registration Opens Aug. 20

  Friday, July 10, 2026 -  Schools across Florida are invited to help the next generation of anglers discover a lifelong connection to fishing and conservation through the FWC's School Fishing Program.

• Bay scallop season opens July 1 in Franklin – NW Taylor County region and Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties 

  Wednesday, July 1, 2026 -  The 2026 recreational bay scallop season from Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks) as well as portions of Levy County and all of Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa) opens July 1 and will remain open through Sept. 24.

• Florida student’s art wins Best of Show in Fish Art Contest!

  Wednesday, June 17, 2026 -  Sebastian Romo was named the Florida freshwater winner for grades 7-9 in April and advanced to the national competition, where he earned second place in the national grades 7-9 division before going on to receive Best of Show in the 2026 Fish Art Contest.

• FWC announces winners of the School Fishing Program’s Fishing & Conservation Challenge

  Monday, June 1, 2026 -  Congratulations to Independence Classical Academy for placing first in the Challenge, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy for placing second, and David L. Anderson Middle School for placing third in the FWC School Fishing Program's Fishing and Conservation Challenge.

• Recreational harvest of snook for Florida’s east coast will close June 1

  Thursday, May 28, 2026 -  The recreational harvest of snook in the Northeast, Indian River Lagoon and Southeast management regions will close June 1 and l reopen Sept. 1. 

• FWC issues executive order to close recreational harvest of gag grouper in Atlantic state waters starting August 2

  Wednesday, May 13, 2026 -  At its May meeting in Ft. Myers, the FWC issued an executive order to close the recreational harvest of gag grouper in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including all state waters off Monroe County.

• Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Expanded 2026 Red Snapper Seasons and Applauds Federal Approval of Atlantic Red Snapper State Management 

  Monday, May 11, 2026 -  Governor Ron DeSantis announced the 2026 Gulf private recreational red snapper season and applauded federal approval of Florida’s Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP).

• Recreational harvest of snook for Florida’s west coast will close May 1

  Tuesday, April 28, 2026 -  The recreational harvest of snook in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Southwest management regions will close May 1.

• 2026 FWC Lionfish Challenge expands with new categories and prize opportunities

  Friday, April 17, 2026 -  The challenge will feature several exciting new competition categories designed to recognize a wider range of participants and prize packages.

• New 10-inch minimum size limit and 20 fish per harvester bag limit effective April 1 for recreational Gulf lane snapper

  Monday, March 30, 2026 -  Last November, FWC approved rule changes for lane snapper in Florida’s Gulf state waters to reduce the risk of overfishing and align with current and pending federal regulations. The new regulations will take effect on April 1.