"This 8-pound spotted seatrout taken by Bryan McGowan fell for a MerrOdine twitchbait. - FLORIDA TODAY file
A groundswell of opposition from recreational anglers is centering on a new state plan that expands commercial harvesting of spotted seatrout, including the use of limited size haul seines and beach seines for taking 75-fish "by-catches" of Florida's No. 1 recreational prize.
In part, the detailed trout management plan by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) also would extend statewide commercial seasons to five months from three months, increase the commercial vessel limit with two people on board to 150 trout from 75 trout, and allow the sale of seatrout year round. It also would eliminate closed seasons for recreational fishermen and would increase the daily bag limit to six trout in the Northeast section of the state.
The plan is scheduled to be considered by the FWC on Wednesday, when it meets in the Florida Keys starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Key Largo Grande Resort and Beach Club at mile marker 97.
The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida (CCA) is among organizations opposing the plan and it organized a recent email campaign by its members to the FWC commissions, which caused the FWC's electronic system to overload and shut down. More than 1,000 emails were sent within a matter of days.
"Needless to say, a lot of people don't want to see full-fledged commercial fishing back in the trout fishery," said Ted Forsgren, the CCA's executive director for Florida. "They're really upset with the matter of doubling the commercial limit to 150 for two fishermen, and the 75-trout by-catch allowed by seiners."
Under Florida's fisheries laws instituted after the 1994 net ban, a haul seine or beach seine cannot exceed 500 square feet in size and the netting cannot measure larger than 2 inches stretch mesh. Also, it cannot be constructed of Monofilament.
"What's to stop two guys from tying together their two seines?" Forsgren asked. "Besides, 75 fish is not a by-catch."
"By-catch" under most commercial fishing regulations pertains to an allowable number or percentage of incidental catches when targeting other primary species. Current Florida law allows beach and haul seines to be used only for Florida pompano, redfish, black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, weakfish and shrimp.
Much of the concern over the use of the seines centers on the winter months, when seatrout form into large schools in dredge holes and deep-water canals, making them easier targets.
The FWC is justifying the plan based on a recent stock assessment, which biologists say showed abundant numbers of healthy trout. There are some who would argue that point in the Indian River Lagoon system.
"Stocks are exceeding the commission's seatrout management goal," said Carly Canion, an FWC spokeswoman. "Because of this, the commission is looking into relaxing both commercial and recreational regulations in order to increase fishing opportunities for fishers in Florida."
The FWC said in 2009 the commercial harvest made up only two percent of the statewide trout take. Most of the harvesting is done during the current three-month commercial season.
Understandably, commercial fishermen are supporting the plan with hopes the additional fishing will generate greater profits for their work.
"Based on calculations by scientists at FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, we believe that the proposed regulations are precautionary and should not harm the overall spotted seatrout population in Florida," Canion said. "In addition, a new seatrout stock assessment is planned for 2014 and if it shows reasons for concern, regulations can be adjusted at that time."
Other organizations opposing the changes include the Florida Guides Association and The Snook Foundation.