FRESHwater Limits

2008 - 2009

Summary of Changes

Taking of fish or wildlife with firearms on 38 fish management areas (FMAs) is prohibited, rather than completely prohibiting firearms on those areas. The following lakes associated with the Fish Orlando! project have been removed from the fish management area system: lakes Lorna Doone (Orange County); Richmond (Orange County); Kirkman Pond (Orange County); and Lake Dot (Seminole County). The rule also prohibits possession and use of cast nets in lakes Ivanhoe (Orange County) and Santiago (Orange County), which remain part of the Fish Orlando! project. The dates Joe Budd Pond FMA (Gadsden County) are open to public fishing will be es­tablished by executive order to allow chang­es to be tailored to changing conditions related to fish camp dates and classroom activities at Joe Budd Aquatic Education Center. For 2008, Joe Budd Pond will be closed to fishing, except as authorized by permit for Commission-sanctioned events. Open to fishing during daylight hours on July 4, 2008 and Saturdays and Sundays from July 5th through August 31, and Labor Day (Monday, September 1) 2008, as speci­fied by order of the Executive Director. At Tenoroc FMA (Polk County), visitors may check in and out at additional desig­nated entry points and permitted alligator hunters are exempt from the requirement to enter at designated entry points. The rule also renamed lakes East Pasture and West Pasture to Pine Lakes and increased angling opportunities in these two lakes to include licensed anglers when ac­companied by a child under 16 years old. Other changes at Tenoroc include limiting discharge of firearms to the firing range or at FWC-sponsored events and requiring dogs to be leashed, except as authorized by FWC. Another rule change redefined species that may be taken with a dip net, cast net (1-inch maximum stretched mesh), trap or minnow seine for use as bait. Those species are golden shiners of any size and other freshwater nongame fish (including catfish) less than 8 inches total length, unless specifically prohibited. This replaces less-specific language that previously referred to minnows of nongame fish. Nongame freshwater fish may be taken with cast nets of any mesh size in the South and Northeast regions, in Citrus County, and in most of the Southwest Region. The exception is that possession or use of cast nets in waters adjoining Saddle Creek FMA (in Polk County) is prohibited. This rule removes the size limit on cast nets in the South Region. A new rule requires fishing gear such as hoop nets, wire traps, slat baskets, trotlines, bush hooks and setlines to be clearly and legibly marked with the fisherman’s name and address. This enables better enforce­ment and removal of abandoned gear or improperly positioned gear, such as gear that is in too shallow water, which would create a navigation hazard. The black bass length regulation on Lake Okeechobee is now an 18-inch or greater minimum length limit. Also, a new rule establishes a 10-inch or greater minimum length for black crappie on the lake. Bag limits remain unchanged. In addition, the boundary definition for Lake Okeechobee now includes that por­tion of the C-41-A Canal from the intersec­tion of the C-38 Canal upstream to the S-84 structure. The black bass regulation on Lake Trafford was changed and specifies that all bass must be 18 inches or greater in total length and only one bass may be 22 inches or greater in total length.