Florida will make Redfish catch and release

[PortlyRedhead]

The Indian River Lagoon will be catch and release only.
Anglers can still keep a redfish in the rest of Florida.

Here are the redfish regulations for Florida starting Sept 1,
2023. https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/redfish-722/

[CODCHALY]

BULLET BOB makes a good point. I only (fished) too eat. Never sold.
Fished is in (), caused I can't justify the money, to come Home, no food !!!

[bulletbob]

I was never one to place all the blame on commercials for a species getting scare. Its anyone that eats fish no matter how or where its caught.. Over the years I have noticed a trend however.. certain species decade after decade went pretty much unnoticed, and the populations were always stable..
then something happens- a species becomes wildly popular for whatever reason-Its fashionable to eat it, a hot new recipe that some chef dreams up, its super healthy, all the cool hip people are eating it, etc etc...

For years and years stores could not give Bluefish away.. People refused to buy it... Then at some point, I noticed big ugly grey Bluefish fillets on ice in all the stores, and piles of smaller blues in the round as well. people started buying it. Then not long after, we started seeing drastic drops in numbers of Bluefish... Same with Atlantic mackerel.. No one wanted them, and they there every year by the millions... Then the sushi craze hit a few decades ago, and mackerel were in big demand by sushi chefs and consumers for Saba, and other preparations... Then we all saw what happened to the Mackerel... I hope one day some big celebrity chef decides that dogfish and Ocean Pout are the next "hip" trend in the culinary world, and creates a huge demand, and that summer flounder and sea bass are out, and are no longer considered worthy species for their "creations".... bob

[Billfish715]

Florida will have to build a redfish hatchery on the East Coast to match those in other states along the Gulf. Texas has a fantastic hatchery system and their reds (and fluke/flounder) are doing fantastically. Start stocking that part of Florida with reds.

As for gourmet cooking of underutilized fish, don't forget skates and sea robins. Skates are used for lobster bait in New England and some make it to gormet French restaurants. As for dogfish and sea robins, they are already a staple food source in Great Britain. I think some dogfish is actually shipped to the UK from the states.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

Florida will have to build a redfish hatchery on the East Coast to match those in other states along the Gulf. Texas has a fantastic hatchery system and their reds (and fluke/flounder) are doing fantastically. Start stocking that part of Florida with reds.

As for gourmet cooking of underutilized fish, don't forget skates and sea robins. Skates are used for lobster bait in New England and some make it to gormet French restaurants. As for dogfish and sea robins, they are already a staple food source in Great Britain. I think some dogfish is actually shipped to the UK from the states.

I agree as there is a Salt Water License required. They bring in alot of money with tourists also. My Grandson came down last moth and i had two buy him a Salt Water and Fresh Water license. I don't mind because the use the money wisely. Our launch ramps are for free and most have a clean rest room. The money from the fresh water license is used to buy land and build new lakes. Seniors over 65 don't pay for hunting or fishing license. Children under 16 don't pay either. As long as my money goes to a good cause i have no complaints.