FISHING

Stone crab season opens Oct. 15 and remains open through May 1.

No fishing license, no worries -- at least for this weekend.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says license-free fishing days are a great way for residents and visitors to get out on the water and find out why the state is known as the Fishing Capital of the World.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Oct 15th marks the opening of stone crab season, meaning that a few days later we can enjoy the tasty delicacy. Florida’s stone crab fishery has experienced a long-term decline in harvest and is likely undergoing overfishing. FWC staff worked with stakeholders on these changes that are intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery. All plastic and wood stone crab traps will need to be outfitted with a 2 3/16-inch escape ring before the 2023/2024 season. For more information on harvesting stone crabs for recreation, trap specifications, commercial stone crab regulations and licensing information, go online to MyFWC.com/Marine.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At its July Commission meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved draft changes to the management of Florida’s flounder fishery. A stock status update suggests that the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend in recent years and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Establish a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 flounder when using allowable gear for all months outside of November. Establish a November commercial trip and vessel limit of 50 pounds when using allowable gear. Extend ALL FWC flounder regulations into federal waters.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Zach Crabtree’s catch on Friday ran away with the 40th anniversary event of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. Crabtree, fishing aboard the Vamoose, weighed the tournament’s only fish above the 50-pound mark and brought home the title on Friday afternoon. RESULTS FROM THIS WEEK’S GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNEYCrabtree’s 50.53-pound catch knocked Day 1 leader Jack Lairsey (43.06) out of the top spot and delivered him the top prize, a Contender 24 Sports with a 300 Yamaha outboard and trailer package worth $141,300. Hayden Englert’s 47.81-pound king aboard the Four Reel was tops in the single engine largest division, which paid out $11,500 prize. Lauren Stevens aboard the 904Reel out of Jacksonville claimed the lady angler division with a catch of 38.1 pounds and a $2,000 top prize.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rep John Rutherford tweeted that NOAA announced a four day red snapper fishing season for 2020 for the South Atlantic, which includes Georgia and Florida. Today, @NOAA announced there will be a four day Recreational Red Snapper season in the South Atlantic on July 10th, 11th, 12th, and 17th. This four day season will benefit our fishing industry which has been hit especially hard during the coronavirus pandemic. He points out that the four day season will help the hard hit fishing industry which has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic. Rutherford followed his initial tweet with a promise to push for more days to fish for red snapper in the future.

No fishing license, no worries -- at least for this weekend.

Snook closes for recreational harvest in Atlantic state and federal waters. Capt Don Dingman, of Hook The Future TV, releases a healthy snookGreater amberjack closes for recreational harvest in Gulf state and federal waters. If you plan to fish for gag grouper in Gulf state or federal waters (excluding Monroe County) from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a Gulf Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required) before July 1 or as a State Reef Fish Angler after July 1. To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Reef Fish Survey” or “State Reef Fish Survey” under “Reef Fish” tab. Learn more about recreational fishing at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations.”

The largest single-day bass tournament in the US and the largest bass tournament in Florida looks to grow even more this year. · Now in its 31st year, the tournament is recognized as the largest bass fishing tournament in Florida and the largest single-day bass tournament in the United States. · Proceeds from the tournament will support the hospital’s heart surgery program, a collaboration between Wolfson Children’s Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Palatka City Docks· Saturday, May 16: 31st Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament. The bass tournament has helped Wolfson Children’s Hospital fund specialized treatments, lifesaving technology and capital improvements.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Anglers are disappointed that the only shot to fish for red snapper in the Atlantic this year might be reduced to three days. If a recreational season is allowed this year for red snapper, the season would last for three-days with a one fish per person daily bag limit. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for determining if a season can be allowed each year, based on the annual catch limits for red snapper. The decision from NOAA Fisheries regarding the length of the recreational season is based on recreational landings data from 2019. The red snapper commercial season will begin the second Monday in July as scheduled with a 75-pound trip limit.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax viewer, Danny Kueser, sent in this picture of a massive catch Sunday. Kueser reeled in a 52-inch redfish while fishing from the shore near Mayport. He posed for a quick photo as proof then let the big fish go. Florida state law requires any redfish larger than 27 inches be released back to the wild.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s popular Gulf red snapper recreational season this year will open June 11 and run through July 25, with a possible fall reopening if quota is available. Earlier this month, Florida was delegated authority to manage recreational red snapper harvest from private vessels in Gulf federal waters. “I’m pleased to announce that our state’s good conservation practices are allowing us to have a 45-day Gulf red snapper season this year,” Gov. “Gulf red snapper season is always an exciting time for anglers and is just another reason why Florida remains the Fishing Capital of the World.”Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission chairman Robert Spottswood said Gulf red snapper season is a conservation and management success for Florida anglers. “Just a few years ago, a 45-day season for red snapper in both state and federal waters was out of reach," Spottswood said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The smalltooth sawfish, the only sawfish found in Florida, has been protected in Florida since 1992 and became federally listed under the U.S. As sawfish recovery efforts continue, we expect there to be more sawfish sightings, especially in Florida. The smalltooth sawfish, the only sawfish found in Florida, has been protected in Florida since 1992 and became federally listed under the U.S. As sawfish recovery efforts continue, we expect there to be more sawfish sightings, especially in Florida. Small toothed sawfish (wjxt)In addition to capture on hook-and-line, sawfish can easily become entangled in lost fishing gear or nets.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Snook is slated to reopen for recreational harvest on Feb. 1 in Florida’s Atlantic coastal and inland waters (from the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line north), including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. Snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World. To learn more about fish handling, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Fish Handling.”The season will remain open through May 31. This program allows anglers to participate in the collection of data, such as the size, age, maturity and sex, of one of Florida's premier inshore fish. For a county-by-county list of drop-off locations, go to MyFWC.com/Research and click on “Saltwater,” “Snook” under the heading “Saltwater Fish,” and “Snook Anglers Asked to Help with Research.”Capt Don Dingman, of Hook The Future TV, releases a healthy snookFor more information about snook, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The recreational harvest season for snook closes Dec. 15 in Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, and will remain closed through Jan. 31, 2020, reopening to harvest Feb. 1. Anglers may continue to catch and release snook during the closed season. Snook also has a regular season closure that runs May 1 through Aug. 31. At its February meeting, FWC anticipates discussing whether to reopen snook harvest in this area on March 1. For more information on snook, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.” Improve data and report your catch on the Angler Action Foundation iAngler app at AnglerActionFoundation.com.