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A. CCA FLORIDA RECOMMENDATIONS
- 1. The Commission should increase the resource protection goal for redfish to 40 percent escapement.
2. To achieve the higher resource protection goal, the Commission should:
- Maintain the current one fish bag limit;
- reduce the slot size from the current 18-27 inches to a new 21-27 inches; and,
- restrict the month of October to catch and release only, no direct take of redfish.
B. COMMENTS
- For many years, redfish have been a major issue with CCA Florida and its members. In 1988, CCA Florida led the successful campaign to prohibit commercial sale of redfish and make it a gamefish. It was the first fish taken off the commercial market since snook in the 1950’s. At the same time major new restrictions were approved for recreational take of redfish. Gamefish status and the additional protection measures have resulted in major increases in size and abundance, making redfish one of Florida’s premier gamefish.
- Currently, FWC resource management goals for other fisheries are a 40 percent SPR (spawning potential ratio) for snook, 35 percent SPR for spotted seatrout and 35 percent SPR for mullet. The escapement goal, under which redfish are managed, equals the percentage of redfish that grow to be adults and leave the inshore waters to join the offshore breeding schools. Escapement as a goal is comparable to SPR for the species making the resource management goal recommended by CCA for redfish similar to snook, Florida’s other premier gamefish.
- 40 percent escapement is not a new management level for redfish. Following the major changes for gamefish status and more stringent recreational regulations the escapement level increased substantially. On the Gulf coast the escapement level was 40 percent until 1997 and on the Atlantic coast the escapement was above 40 percent until 2001.
- The existing redfish regulations have been in place for more than 10 years. During that time there has been a substantial increase in the amount of fishing effort directed at redfish. The FWC has indicated that the number of fishing trips for redfish has increased tremendously on both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. On the Gulf Coast from 1988 to 2003 they estimated a five-fold increase from 0.5 million trips per year to 2.5 million trips per year. The Atlantic Coast has also seen a five-fold increase in redfish trips.
- Changing the slot size from the current 18-27 inches to 21-27 inches and making the month of October limited to catch and release only and closed to direct take would achieve the resource goals. The changes would result in a 45 percent escapement on the Atlantic Coast and a 40 percent escapement on the Gulf Coast.
C. CLOSING COMMENTS
Redfish populations and redfish fishing have changed substantially since the low abundance periods in the early 1980’s. Redfish have risen in numbers and size and in angler interest to be the most sought after fish on both the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. As conservationists and as anglers we need to continue to insure the protection and long term health of this great gamefish.
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