CCA is an organization that is fighting for our fish and for recreational anglers

When I moved here from Texas, it was strictly for the fishing. Back then I could only imagine how great the fishing in Florida would be if I lived here full-time because it was always so great during the vacations that I had taken in the past. Today, I realize that a lot of this great fishing wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the hard work by CCA Florida.

I was approached by CCA representatives from Orlando back in 2002, and asked if I would help get the Naples chapter back on its feet. I had been involved with CCA in Texas, so it seemed like the right thing to do. I would soon find out that Florida has different issues than Texas. For example, Texas has no tarpon or snook fisheries to speak of, nor any real grouper fishery. Texas also doesn’t have a manatee problem, and as far as nets are concerned, if it isn’t a cast net, it’s illegal!

I found that things sure are different here, especially when I started looking for redfish. Florida’s redfish population pales in comparison to Texas and Louisiana, and there are several reasons why. First, Florida is home to more anglers. Second, Texas, and especially Louisiana, have far superior redfish habitat than that found in much of Florida. Third, Texas State hatcheries release more than 25 million fingerling redfish every year into that state’s estuaries.

That number alone is staggering compared to the small amount that Florida has released over the years, and the red tape that’s involved in releasing fish here-but that’s another story. What I do want to talk about is how we can effectively manage the redfish fishery when we can’t solve the issues mentioned above.

In 1986, Florida’s redfish stocks were in danger of collapse. After a protracted, three-year political fight between commercial interests and CCA (known at the time as the Florida Conservation Association) the species was finally given no-sale status in 1989. The victory, which cemented CCA’s influence as a major force within the realm of state fishery management, has provided Floridians and visiting anglers with a bountiful and exciting fishery, and has created a major economic resource for the state. Eighteen years later, after an unprecedented rebound, which was aided by Florida’s net ban in 1995, along with strict bag and size limits, redfish have become the most “fished for” inshore species.

Although redfish stocks are healthy today, and despite a one-fish bag limit and an 18- to 27-inch slot limit, increasing pressure could soon put a damper on the species’ abundance. That's the message from FWC biologists after they completed a stock assessment of the species. Research revealed redfish stocks were continuing to meet the FWC’s management goal of a 30 percent escapement rate on Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts. (The escapement rate for redfish, which is similar to the spawning potential ratio in other species, is the portion of fish that survive long enough to “escape” to the offshore schools of spawning fish.) The biologists determined, however, that even though current escapement rates are 32 percent on Florida's Gulf coast and 34 percent on the Atlantic coast, there has been a slow erosion over the years in the number of juveniles escaping to the offshore spawning stock. The replenishment of offshore redfish schools is critical for the long-term health and abundance of the species.

Although most redfish survive being caught and released, there are so many anglers taking part in the fishery, the numbers of released but later dying fish begin to add up. If we don’t act now, we could fall below the 30 percent management goal in the near future.

Following release of the stock assessment, the FWC convened a stakeholder working group of guides and recreational anglers, including representatives of CCA Florida to gather information on the future of the redfishery. After reviewing the latest scientific data, group members were inclined to suggest a cautionary management approach to ensure continued success for the fishery by possibly adjusting the slot limit or closing harvest during certain periods of the year.

Rather than wait for the species to fall below the 30 percent goal, CCA is pushing for a more proactive approach to protect redfish that are close to reaching escapement age, and it has initially recommended lowering the current 27-inch maximum size limit to 26 inches.

That single adjustment will increase escapement on the Gulf coast to 35.2 percent and to 41.3 percent on the East Coast. Reducing the maximum size by one inch will also provide more protection than increasing the minimum size by as much as two inches because juvenile redfish grow so fast that an increase from 18 to 20 inches only protects them from being taken for an additional two months. The change would also serve to protect larger fish, another CCA Florida goal

With the next stock assessments for redfish not expected until 2008, it’s important that we consider management options now. When looking at these options, we, and all of Florida’s recreational saltwater anglers, need to take into account the tremendous value that we get out of the fishery.

With all of this being said, it’s important that we pay attention to our resource, and when meetings are called for public input, get involved. By being a part of CCA, you can add your voice and your opinion to that of a 10,000-member organization right here in Florida. CCA is an organization that is fighting for our fish and for recreational anglers. To learn more about CCA Florida, log onto www.CCAFlorida.com. Remember, a $25.00 membership fee is cheap insurance to protect our inshore fisheries!