FOLLOW-UP MEETING TO DISCUSS FISHING ON CARTER TRACT

CONTACT: Kelly Gamble, FWC, (850) 265-3676
Bill Cleckley, NWFWMD, (850) 539-5999

Anyone interested in helping craft fishing regulations for the Fitzhugh Carter property in south Washington County can take part by attending a Sept. 20 meeting.

The meeting will be at the Vernon Middle School cafeteria and begin at 6 p.m. The school is on State Road 279 near Vernon.

A June 27 public workshop at the same location began the process to firm up fishing rules for the area, which is near Greenhead. The Northwest Florida Water Management District, the owner of the property, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) hosted the June workshop.

“Our goal is to find a fair and equitable system for accommodating anglers on the area throughout most of the year,” said Kelly Gamble, an FWC wildlife biologist who works the area.

Based on the initial workshop and two follow-up steering committee meetings, Gamble said several proposals are on the table but managers want as much public feedback as possible.

She said proposals include a combination of a daily fishing reservation system and daily admittance of some first-come, first-served fishermen, along with ideas for open and closed seasons.