FWC PROPOSES VESSEL LIMIT FOR PERMIT AND POMPANO

February 3, 2005
CONTACT: Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today approved a rule amendment that will limit anglers to no more than two permit and pompano larger than 20 inches fork length that may be possessed aboard a vessel. This proposal is intended to protect permit when they aggregate to spawn.

Permit are a prized game fish targeted for catch and release fishing by anglers in south Florida, and they are also sought for consumption. Permit are managed together with pompano because they are difficult to distinguish at smaller sizes.

Recreational fishermen are currently allowed to harvest an aggregate of up to six permit and pompano 11-20 inches fork length daily, however one of these fish harvested under this bag limit may exceed 20 inches fork length.

Large schools of permit aggregate in late spring offshore near reefs and wrecks to spawn, making them vulnerable to local depletion. The duration of the spawning season extends from March to August, and peaks in May, June, and July. However, spawning may extend through December in south Florida waters.

The FWC has received reports that the aggregations of spawning permit are being heavily fished by head boats operating out of southwest Florida. These boats, with large numbers of anglers aboard, are able to legally harvest many large permit and remain in compliance with the current bag limit.

In order to protect spawning permit aggregations, the new FWC rule will prohibit the possession of more than two permit or pompano larger than 20 inches fork length onboard a vessel at any time. This action is expected to have a minimal effect on pompano fishermen because, while permit larger than 20 inches in length are common, pompano of this size are considered rare.

The new rule takes effect July 1 and applies statewide in both state and federal waters.

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