Cast for Cash - It Pays to Fish for Science
Collaborate with FWC to collect data on released fish
Want to get paid to go fishing? FWC is looking for private recreational anglers willing to record fishing trips using a camera system and help the agency collect critical information on recreational releases in exchange for $250 per trip for up to six trips. That’s a total of $1,500!
Who?
Fifteen recreational anglers will be randomly selected each research period to record trips catching the species of interest listed below.
- Participants must hold a recreational fishing license with the State Reef Fish Angler designation.
- Participants must live in a household in possession of a boat.
- Participants must launch from the Tampa Bay region (Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties).
- Participants cannot have a resource violation.
- Participants must be 18 years or older.
If this sounds like you, please apply below!
When?
- May to July 2026
- August to October 2026
- November 2026 to January 2027
- February to April 2027
- May to July 2027
- August to October 2027
What?
Selected participants will take up to two trips per month (up to 6 trips total) during the research period and record their trip using a camera system temporarily installed on their boat.
Participants will need to regularly communicate with FWC biologists, plan their fishing trips in advance, and have experience fishing for reef fish species in the Tampa Bay area.
Participants will also need to ensure they adhere to all instructions and requirements and keep a detailed record of all fish of interest that were released.
- This includes Gag, Black Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Black Grouper, Greater Amberjack, Scamp, Red Grouper, Gray/Mangrove Snapper, Gray Triggerfish, and Hogfish.
Why?
Typical recreational fishing surveys happen back at the dock after fishing, which can make it difficult to remember details about fish that are released. Therefore, this study will try to answer the following key questions:
- How well do camera systems actually work when it comes to identifying released fish species and counting how many are caught and released on recreational fishing trips?
- For popular target species, how do the number or size of released fish change with things like season, location, weather, water depth, or seasonal closures?
- Are released fish similar between charter boats and private anglers?
- How closely does the number of released fish observed in private recreational fishing match up with the number of released fish estimated by the State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS)?
This is a pilot project run by FWC and is not intended for immediate use in fisheries management.
Submit an Application
Submit an application via the link below. You may select more than one research period of interest. Please only submit one application per household.
Applications for each research period will close 14 days prior to the start of the research period.
Deadline for next research period: April 17, 2026.
Image from fishing footage collected as part of the Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit project. Camera setups and footage for this project will be similar.
Selected applicants will be notified 10 days before the start of a research period. Qualifying applicants will be selected randomly. We want all interested anglers to have a chance to participate and are happy to answer any questions about the application process. Please email fishstats@myfwc.com.