Red Tide Affects Tampa Bay Fishing, Catch-And-Release Only

TAMPA BAY AREA, FL — Fish protection has been put in place for snook, redfish and spotted seatrout with catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to the impacts from red tide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

Catch-and-release only starts Friday, July 16, and continues to September 16 for the following areas, according to FWC:

• All Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.
• All Florida waters of Hillsborough County.
• All Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay.

Regulations outside of those counties remain unchanged, including the measures south of State Road 64 in Manatee County through Gordon Pass in Collier County for snook, redfish and spotted seatrout.

“While it’s unfortunate that we must do this so close to the recent reopening of these species to harvest in this area, we know temporary catch-and-release measures such as these are successful in keeping fisheries sustainable throughout red tide events such as this one,” FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton said. “We will continue working with our partners, stakeholders and local communities to evaluate this situation.”

In working with FWC on this initiative, we’ve heard support from members and guides throughout the region who also understand the need for such a change, Brian Gorski, executive director of Coastal Conservation Association Florida, said.

Learn more at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations.”