At its meeting in Key Largo on Nov. 20, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved lowering of the red grouper recreational bag limit from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state waters, excluding Monroe County. The Commission hopes that this change will mean an increase in the length of the recreational red grouper season in federal waters, which closed early this year because the recreational catch limit was exceeded in 2013. A two-fish bag limit was initially requested by Florida anglers and for-hire captains to help maximize fishing opportunities for red grouper, especially during late fall. This change would make state regulations consistent with similar pending regulations in Gulf federal waters. Assuming the two-fish bag limit is finalized in federal waters, the state change will go into effect beginning Jan. 1, 2015. To learn more, visit www.MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings” then find the topic in the agenda. To learn more about red grouper, visit www.MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”

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