FWC seeks input on possible changes to red drum rules

News Release

November 29, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is continuing a series of public workshops, including a special multi-location video workshop, to review its analysis of the latest red drum (redfish) stock assessment and discuss possible red drum rule changes. In addition, the FWC encourages people to take an online survey

http://www.surveyroom.com/surveymach...rveyID=88MK695

The FWC wants to hear what you think about its proposals to create regional management areas for red drum and to raise the daily bag limit from one fish to two per person in northern Florida. The Commission also wants to receive comments on possible red drum rule changes in southeastern Florida.

The FWC invites interested people to attend the workshops, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. as follows:
Monday, Dec. 13
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Ave., S.E.
Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium
St. Petersburg Tuesday, Dec. 14
City Hall Council Chambers
123 N.W. Hwy. 19
Crystal River

Note that the dates originally announced for these workshops have been changed because of FWC scheduling conflicts. Previous red drum workshops were held in Panama City, Tallahassee and Cocoa in September and in Fort Myers and Jacksonville in November.

The Commission also has scheduled a special red drum video workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 15, where you can participate at one of the videoconferencing sites listed below or via voice-only telephone line from 6-8 p.m. EST (5-7 p.m. CST). Please contact the FWC at 850-487-0554 to confirm which of the following locations you plan to go to or to find out how to join the meeting via the voice-only line.
FWC Headquarters
Farris Bryant Building
2nd Floor Conference Room
620 S. Meridian St.
Tallahassee
FWC Northwest Regional Office
3911 Hwy. 2321
Panama City
FWC North Central Regional Office
3377 E. U.S. Hwy. 90
Lake City
FWC Northeast Regional Office
1239 S.W. 10th St.
Ocala
FWC Southwest Regional Office
3900 Drane Field Road
Lakeland
FWC South Regional Office
8535 Northlake Blvd.
West Palm Beach
FWC South Florida Regional Lab
Marathon Government Center
2796 Overseas Highway
Mile Marker 48.5
Marathon FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Ave., S.E.
St. Petersburg

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshops should advise the FWC at least five days prior to the workshop by calling 850-488-6411. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired, please contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

More information regarding the FWC's management for red drum and the red drum survey is available at MyFWC.com/Rules (click on "Fishing - Saltwater").