Give Permit Gamefish Status

Concerned anglers,

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is currently planning to rework the laws governing permit (Trachinotus falcatus). Many of you might be unaware that permit are still fished commercially in the state of Florida. Equally alarming, permit are still pursued with spearfishing tackle in federal water (just offshore).

Since there are no federal laws concerning the harvest of permit, it is literally open season out there. This is a great chance to protect the future of this species forever. The Key West and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association supports the following law changes. We want the FWC to list permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species. We also support mandating the permit fishery as catch and release only, with some provision (a stamp or tag system) for the keeping/harvest of one fish per day for those pursuing world records. Lastly, we want to see state regulations extended into federal waters to insure the success of these law changes.

A few minutes or your time could help protect these fish. Any comment in support of these law changes will go a long way. Seriously, public comment plays a very large role in the decision making/law making process.

Please, cut & paste and email a copy of the comments below to marine@myfwc.com or for those preferring more old fashioned methods, download/print and mail/fax the attachment to: Division of Marine Fisheries Management2590 Executive Ctr Circle E #201Tallahassee, FL 32301fax: 850 487-4847

Thank you very much for your time and please forward this request to all those anglers or industry people/friends that you feel would support such a proposal. Cut and paste the following below in bold, write your name at the end, enter "permit law changes" in the subject box to: marine@myfwc.com

FWC Commissioners,

In light of the proposed law changes for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), I would like to voice my opinion. I support listing Permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species. I support the creation of a catch and release fishery for the species, with some provision (stamp or tag) for possessing one a day. Lastly, I support the extension of State regulations into federal water to insure complete protection of the species. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
My name
Thank you for your support.