Florida FWC Votes to Make Bonefish a Gamefish

Florida FWC approved new rules for for Bonefish. Effective July 1, 2011 the 1 fish daily bag limit is abolished and bonefish are catch and release only. Bonefish may be targeted only with hook and line gear and the new rule allows temporary possession for photographs and documention of a record catch. The rule changes go to public hearing in June and will become effective July 1st.

I grew up in a fising family in Gloucester, Massachusetts and began Striper fishing when I was about 10 years old. Built my first rod when I was 12. It was a cut-down bamboo smelt rod with taped on guides and glued on tip-top and used two pipe-clamps to hold the reel that I bought in Sears for about $15.00 From 1959 to 1966 I fished for Tuna out of Gloucester on my 26' Marbleheader, "Beagle". Started with keg-lines the first year, graduated to harpoon the next year and eventually to some used rods and reels. We fished commercially until about 1963, then recreationally. I got a real job in New Hampshire in '69 and moved my growing family there the next year. Started my own insurance agency in 1991, sold it in 2002, retired and moved to Cape Cod in search of my 50 pound Striper. Never caught it but had a great time trying fishing 3-5 times/week-spending many nights on Nauset with friends including Tony Stetzko. I moved to Florida in 2006 and continue to fish the surf and lagoons 3-4 times each week.