The purpose of this rule development is to modify the recreational bag limit for red drum in the Northwest management zone. The Northwest red drum management zone includes all state waters from a line due west of the western point of the Fred Howard Park Causeway just south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line to the Florida-Alabama border. The red drum bag limit in the Northwest and Northeast management zones was increased from one to two fish in 2012 based on the results of the 2011 stock assessment. However, stakeholders in parts of the Northwest red drum management zone have expressed concerns about a decline in red drum in their area in the past 2-3 years. Specifically, Panhandle stakeholders have suggested that last year’s red tide in northwest Florida and recent drought conditions may have impacted the red drum population. Since the most recent red drum stock assessment only included data through 2013, any effects from these events are not represented in the assessment and a conservative approach to management of this iconic fishery is desired. The effect of this rule will be to reduce the red drum bag limit in the Northwest red drum management zone from two fish per person to one fish per person per day. This management measure will further ensure the sustainability of the red drum population and both the food and sport fisheries that target them.