Advertisement

Outdoors news and notes: Gag grouper rules set for state gulf waters

 
Published Feb. 15, 2013

Making news

Season set for Gag Grouper

The recreational season for gag grouper in most Florida state waters of the Gulf of Mexico will start July 1 and end Dec. 3 under new rules adopted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at a meeting in Orlando this past week.

However, state waters off Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin counties, including the Steinhatchee River, Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, will have a gag grouper season that begins April 1 and ends June 30. This four-county area will not be open during the July 1-Dec. 3 season. Monroe County is included in the Atlantic season for gags.

The season in federal waters (9 miles or more offshore) has not been finalized but is expected to start July 1 and end in late November or early December.

Red Snapper: The FWC proposed a 44-day recreational red snapper season in gulf state waters. It would start June 1 and end July 14. This state season is inconsistent with the proposed federal season, currently expected to be about 27 days long, but it may get shorter as the other state seasons around the gulf are finalized. The FWC will make a final decision in April.

Python results

At last update, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Python Challenge in South Florida had bagged 50 Burmese pythons. The official count and winners of the general public and permit holder divisions ($1,500 for most, $1,000 for longest) will be announced Saturday.

Send outdoors news to ttomalin@tampabay.com or call (727) 893-8808.

Solunar chart

AM PM

Minor Major Minor Major

2/15 9:25 3:15 9:55 3:40

2/16 10:20 4:10 10:45 4:30

2/17 11:10 5:00 11:35 5:20

2/18 11:50 5:40 0 6:05

2/19 12:20 6:30 12:40 6:50

2/20 1:05 7:10 1:20 7:35

2/21 1:50 7:55 2:05 8:20