Florida Keys Fishing May Take Major Impact
by Captain Brian Yates, Key West, FL

Dear Friends,

I am spreading the news to alert you to a couple of issues which may have a major impact on your fishing in the Florida Keys.

The Key West and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association, Inc. was established a year ago in an effort to protect our fishing resource, preserve our environment and livelihood, and act as an educational and advocacy group.  In just one year, we have been fighting such issues as preventing the installation of channel markers in the backcountry and decreasing the bag limit on permit over 20" in length.  

In the coming months, two issues which we will be facing will require the help of you, the people who appreciate and respect this resource as much as your guides do.  

The first is establishing permit as a gamefish. Many of you may not be aware that permit are not currently categorized as a gamefish, a designation which would prevent the commercial harvest of the fish.  Currently, permit under 20" in length may be taken by net, and there is no limit to the number of permit under 20" which may be taken or sold.  Permit over 20" in length were, until recently, limited to six fish/day (recreation or commercial).  Florida Fish & Wildlife is currently debating whether a 1 or 2 fish bag-limit would be best.  The Guide Association has advocated the 1 fish limit, and we are asking our clients to send a brief e-mail to commissioners@MyFWC.com in support of a 1 fish/day limit on permit before their Feb. 2 vote.

You can help keep sport fishing alive in the Florida Keys.

The second issue promises to be a battle which will have a tremendous impact on your fishing.  The Florida State Supreme Court recently ruled that regulatory agencies could no longer discriminate between boat types in granting access to state waters.  This ruling came in response to a decade of lawsuits filed by the personal watercraft industry, which has been trying to regain access for jet skis, sea-doos, etc., in wildlife refuges and national parks. The Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Everglades National Park, and Biscayne National Park would all be required to open its waters to jet skis, air boats, etc.  In other words, everywhere in south Florida that you fish will now be open to personal watercraft. Many of you were fishing here when jet skis were allowed in the backcountry, and can attest to the detrimental effect they had on the environment and the fishing.  

The Guide Association is currently working on a plan of action in conjunction with other environmental groups in the area, and I will certainly keep all of my clients abreast of further developments.

The Association will be offering Associate Memberships in the coming months for any of you who would like to receive minutes from board of directors meetings, general membership meetings, and e-mail bulletins on issues which affect this resource, or just want to help.  Please contact me if you are interested.   


Best regards,
Bryan

Capt. Bryan Yates
3821 Eagle Ave.
Key West, FL 33040
305-393-2308