Susan Anthony holds a dolphinfish she caught off Palm Beach County in July 2021. Florida regulators reduced the daily bag limit for the fish to five per angler, but the limit remains 10 in federal waters, beyond 3 miles offshore. Willie Howard/The Coastal Star
By Willie Howard
The new daily bag limit for dolphinfish (mahi mahi) caught in state waters is five per person, down from 10, effective May 1.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the change in March after anglers expressed concerns about seeing fewer mahi, especially large ones, in the waters off southeastern Florida and the Florida Keys.
The daily boat limit for recreational boats also dropped to 30 fish, down from 60.
The FWC’s rule also clarifies that the captain and crew on charter boats do not count in the bag limit.
The change could cause some confusion because the bag limit for federal waters (beyond 3 miles offshore) remains 10 per person.
During the summertime, many, if not most, of South Florida’s mahi are found more than 3 miles offshore in federal waters.
When boaters travel from federal waters toward land with more than five mahi per angler, they should transit through state waters directly to shore without stopping to fish in state waters, the FWC says.
The minimum size for mahi remains 20 inches to the fork of the tail.
FWC approves limited goliath grouper harvest
Also in March, the FWC gave final approval to a limited harvest of goliath grouper, a slow-growing fish that was harvested down to low numbers during the 1980s and has been a no-take fish in Florida since 1990.
After years of discussion and public workshops that included opposition from scuba divers and dive charter operators, the FWC agreed to allow recreational anglers to harvest up to 200 goliath groupers annually in state waters.
Notably excluded from the harvest area are the waters from Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of southeast Florida and the Florida Keys.
The harvest will be limited to anglers who obtain a harvest permit through random-draw lottery and pay the tag fee: $150 for Florida residents, $500 for nonresidents.
Goliath grouper harvest will be limited to hook-and-line fishing only during the open season (March 1 through May 31 beginning in 2023). To be legal to keep, the groupers must measure between 24 and 36 inches in total length.
Anglers who obtain a tag will be allowed to harvest only one goliath grouper per year. Tag holders must report harvest data and submit a fin clip for genetic analysis.
“Post-harvest data reporting will help guide future management decisions for this species,” FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood said.
Fishing club yard sale scheduled for April 9
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s annual yard sale, featuring fishing rods, reels, tackle, lures, outdoor apparel and boating accessories, is set for 8 a.m. to noon on April 9.
Admission is free to the sale at the fishing club’s headquarters at 201 Fifth St. (at the corner of Fifth Street and North Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach).
Proceeds benefit the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, which funds the club’s annual Kids Fishing Day summer program.
Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Email tiowillie@bellsouth.net.
Upcoming fishing tournaments
Warm-weather fishing tournament season begins in April, a month known for stout breezes and just a hint of lingering cool air. Here’s a partial list of tournaments planned in Palm Beach and northern Broward counties.
April 23: The KDW (kingfish, dolphin, wahoo) tournament season in Palm Beach County kicks off with the Boynton Beach Firefighters Fishing Tournament and Chili Cook-off at Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park. Captain’s meeting for the tournament is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 21 at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, 3001 Old Boynton Road. Entry fee: $250 per boat by April 10 and $300 thereafter.
May 14: Lantana Fishing Derby. Captain’s meeting set for 6 p.m. May 12 at the Lantana Recreation Center, 418 S. Dixie Highway. The awards party is set for May 15 at the recreation center. Entry fee $200 per boat by May 1 or $250 thereafter. Register at www.lantanafishingderby.com. For more details, call the Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce at 561-585-8664.
May 14: Saltwater Shootout based in Pompano Beach. Captain’s meeting 6 p.m. May 12 at Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St. Weigh-in at Alsdorf Park. Entry fee $401.25 by April 29 and $508.25 thereafter. Register at www.bluewatermovements.com.
June 4: The Palm Beach County KDW Classic organized by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and based at Riviera Beach Municipal Marina. Entry fee $225 per boat ($200 for fishing club members) by May 20 or $300 thereafter. Captain’s meeting 6 p.m. June 3 at Riviera Beach marina, 200 E. 13th St. Register at https://westpalmbeachfishingclub.org. For more details, call 561-832-6780.
June 11: Saltwater Slam based in Pompano Beach. Captain’s meeting 6 p.m. June 9 at Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St. Entry fee $401.25 per boat by May 27 or $508.25 thereafter. Weigh-in at Sullivan Park in Deerfield Beach. Register online at www.bluewatermovements.com.
June 25: Big Dog, Fat Cat KDW Shootout based at Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores. Kickoff party 7 p.m. June 7 at Sailfish Marina. Captain’s meeting 6 p.m. June 24 at Sailfish Marina. Weigh-in at Sailfish Marina. Early entry fee $150 per boat. Register at www.bigdogfatcat.org.
July 16: Lake Worth Fishing Tournament based at Palm Beach Yacht Center in Hypoluxo. Check the Tuppen’s Marine & Tackle website at www.tuppensmarine.com for updates.
Aug. 13: Mark Gerretson Memorial Fishing Tournament. Captain’s meeting Aug. 11 at Delray Beach Elks Lodge. Weigh-in at Palm Beach Yacht Center. Check www.mgmft.net for updates.
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