These rule changes would revert black crappie fishing regulations to the statewide regulation of no minimum length limit and a 25 fish bag limit at specific Fish Management Areas. This would allow additional harvest opportunities ....

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68A-20.005Specific Fish Management Area Regulations

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: These rule changes would revert black crappie fishing regulations to the statewide regulation of no minimum length limit and a 25 fish bag limit at specific Fish Management Areas. This would allow additional harvest opportunities that would not negatively impact black crappie populations.

SUMMARY: Following a review of biological data and engagement with stakeholders, staff determined that the current suite of statewide regulations are still effective and that a statewide minimum length limit may actually negatively affect angler harvest opportunities. However, the proposed changes would also remove size and/or length limits from resources where analyses suggest they provide no benefit to the fishery and maintain minimum size limits on those resources where analyses suggest a benefit to the fishery or where more data is needed to justify change.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: the nature of the rule and the preliminary analysis conducted to determine whether a SERC was required.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: the ADA Coordinator, at [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Martin

Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

3377 E US Hwy 90

Lake City, Florida 32055

[phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

68A-20.005 Specific Fish Management Area Regulations

(1)    No change

(2)    (a) through (b) no change

(c) Suwannnee lake, Suwannee County:

1. through 6. No change

7. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

7. 8. Daily bag limit of fifteen (15) black bass, none of which may be 16 inches or longer in total length.

8. 9. Circle hooks. Circle hooks are required to be used on hook and line gear when fishing with natural baits greater than 3” in length. “Circle hook” means a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point is not offset and is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a general circular or oval shape.

(d) no change

(e) Watertown Lake, Columbia County:

1. through 2. No change

3. No person shall take in any one day more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

3.4. No person shall take in any one day more than 20 panfish, in the aggregate.

(f) Montgomery Lake Columbia County

1. no change

2. No person shall take in any one day more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

2. 3. No person shall take in any one day more than 20 panfish, in the aggregate.

(g) through (s) no change

(3) (a) through (s) no change

(t) Lake Jackson, Osceola County:

1. no change

2. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie that is less than 12 inches in total length.

2. 3. Use or possession of cast nets, minnow lift nets, or minnow seines is prohibited.

3. 4. No daily bag limit for channel catfish.

(u) through (w) no change

(4) (a) through (n) no change

(o) Walsingham Park Lake, Pinellas County:

1.through 4. No change

5. No person shall kill or possess more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

5, 6. No person shall kill or possess more than four sunshine bass or palmetto bass. No person shall kill or possess any sunshine bass or palmetto bass less than 10 inches in total length.

6. 7. No person shall take in any one day more than 20 panfish, in the aggregate.

(p) Middle Lake, Pasco County:

1. through 3. No change

4. No person shall take in any one day more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

(q) no change

(r) Bobby Hicks Park Pond, Hillsborough County:

1. through 2. No change

3. No person shall take in any one day more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

3. 4. Swimming or taking of fish or wildlife with firearms is prohibited.

4. 5. No person shall operate any boat propelled by an internal combustion engine.

(s) Gadsden Park Pond, Hillsborough County:

1. through 2. No change

3. No person shall take in any one day more than 10 black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than 10 inches in total length.

3. 4. Swimming or taking of fish or wildlife with firearms is prohibited.

4. 5. No person shall operate any boat propelled by an internal combustion engine.

(t) no change

(u) Hardee County park, Hardee County:

1. General Regulations

a. through f. No change

g. Daily bag limit for black crappie shall be 10. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie that is less than 10 inches in total length.

h. through n. renumbered g. through m. no change.

(v) Largo Central Park Nature Preserve, Pinellas County:

1. though 2. No change

3. No person shall kill or possess more than ten (10) black crappie. No person shall kill or possess any black crappie less than ten inches (10'') in total length.

3. 4. Swimming, taking of fish or wildlife with firearms or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

(w) no change

(5) no change

 

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.3751, 379.3752 FS. History–New 5-5-88, Amended 2-14-89, 4-11-90, 4-14-92, 4-29-93, 7-1-94, 3-30-95, 4-1-96, 9-15-96, 4-12-98, Formerly 39-25.042, Amended 4-30-00, 5-13-02, 4-11-04, 3-30-06, 3-19-08, 3-12-09, 7-20-09, 7-20-11, 3-24-13, 8-19-14, 2-1-16,_______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Allen Martin

Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

3377 E US Hwy 90

Lake City, Florida 32055

386-754-6249

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: 7/14/22

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: 7/21/22