New regulations regarding land-based shark fishing put forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee were approved during the February meeting in Gainesville.
The new rules are intended to increase survival of released sharks, improve information gathering for the fishery and address some of the public safety concerns related to the fishery. The new rules include a ban on the practice of chumming, dumping fish pieces and blood as an attractant for sharks, while fishing from shore where swimmers may be present.
“For safety concerns, the goal is to reduce public concerns about anglers chumming near shore,” FWC spokesperson Jessica McCawley said. “One of the most common concerns is that chumming endangers those in the water. However, sharks regularly inhabit and feed in near-shore waters.”
The new FWC rules include:
- The creation of a mandatory, no-cost, annual shore-based shark fishing permit. This permit will be required for all shore-based shark anglers age 16 and older, including those 65 and older who are normally exempt from needing a fishing license.
- Those under 16 are required to take the educational requirement associated with the permit unless they are fishing with an adult who already holds the permit.
- Chumming when fishing for any species from the beach is prohibited.
- Prohibited shark species must be immediately released when fishing from the shore. If caught, anglers are required to cut the leader, line or hook to prevent delaying release.
- Prohibited shark species must remain in the water when fishing from either shore or from a vessel.
- Anglers must use non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks to target or harvest sharks when using live or dead natural bait when fishing from shore and from a vessel.
- Anglers must be in possession/use a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook when targeting sharks when fishing from shore or a vessel.
https://www.sharkophile.com/2017/01/01/land-based-shark-fishing-guide/