Tag: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Manatee migration reminder from Florida Fish & Wildlife

November 20, 2025
Staff Report
News, Sports & Outdoors

November is Manatee Awareness Month, highlighting a time when Florida’s manatees are starting their seasonal movements to warmer waters around the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation...

License-Free Fishing

October 30, 2025
Staff Report
News, Sports & Outdoors

On Saturday, Nov. 29 the saltwater fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers, including both residents and non-residents. All other rules such as seasons, bagsize apply....

One injured in boat fire at Turtle Bay Saturday

Saturday, July 26 around 9:30 a.m., a coordinated Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) activation was launched for a vessel fire in Turtle Bay, an estuary at the south end of Cape Haze near the...

Derelict vesssels get harsher state review

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is preparing to implement a new law aimed at strengthening vessel accountability and enhancing protections for Florida’s waterways....

Frequent island visitor challenges beachgoer on conch harvesting

In Florida, possession of live queen conch at any time is prohibited, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. All harvest of the Bahama starfish is also illegal. In Lee...

Cape Haze Coast Guard Auxiliary encourages non-alcohol boating

Operation Dry Water weekend, taking place July 4 to 6, is a national awareness and enforcement campaign focusing on reducing the number of alcohol-and drug-related incidents and fatalities and...

Public input on rules for Gulf lane snapper

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a series of public workshops to seek input on proposed rule changes for lane snapper in Gulf state waters. Staff will provide...

Fishing license free in June weekends

This summer’s license-free fishing weekends are on June 7-8 for saltwater and June 14-15 for freshwater. Residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the many recreational fishing...

Busy Memorial Day, but traffic just under last year on weekend

On Saturday, May 24, during the Boca H2O Festival, a teenage boy was struck by a boat propeller, breaking his leg. The festival is held in the water off the sandbar between Gasparilla Island...

EcoWatch: New trapping proposal flip-flopping at its best

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing to modernize rules to align with the updated methods, technologies and research in the Association of Florida and Wildlife...