June 18, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants everyone to know that even though some recreational and commercial saltwater fishing seasons have been temporarily extended and people can saltwater fish without a license on Father's Day weekend, all other Florida saltwater fishing regulations are still in effect.

The FWC has recently issued orders to open the recreational bay scallop season 12 days early this year (on June 19), allow additional harvest days and extend open harvest areas for Apalachicola Bay commercial oyster fishermen this summer, and establish a free fishing weekend on June 19-20 to help relieve impacts some Florida fishing communities and industries are experiencing because of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

However, all other commercial and recreational saltwater fishing regulations, including size and bag limits, fishing gear restrictions, seasons and other related provisions remain unchanged and will be enforced.  These regulations are available online at MyFWC.com/RECREATION/Saltwater_index.htm.

Source: http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_FreeFishWknd_Rules.htm