Florida

Home to the Everglades, the Florida Keys, and borders to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the Sunshine State offers a unique experience for hunters and anglers. Entering statehood in 1845, Florida is world renowned for its sportfishing opportunities. For anglers, the quarry is almost too bountiful to list. Common pursuits include everything from largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee, to snook, tarpon, redfish, and speckled trout inshore, to red snapper, sailfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi offshore. Hunters also have an abundance of opportunities to pursue including white-tailed deer, waterfowl, alligator, and the Osceola turkey (which are only native to the Sunshine State).

For more information on the elected officials protecting and promoting the sportsmen’s traditions in Florida, please contact:


Florida State Caucus Fact Sheet

Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus

Representative Gus Bilirakis
Representative Vern Buchanan
Representative Kat Cammack
Representative Neal Dunn
Representative Scott Franklin
Representative Brian Mast
Representative Bill Posey
Representative John Rutherford
Representative Greg Steube

Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership

Senator Jim Boyd
Senator Keith Perry
Representative Tommy Gregory
Representative Jason Shoaf

News Alerts

Oct 10 2023 Governors Across the Southeast Recognize the Contributions of Sportsmen and Women to Conservation

Why It Matters: On September 23, 2023, sportsmen and women across the nation celebrated...

Jul 24 2023 Battling Pelican Entanglements in Florida – Angling Regulations Adjusted at Skyway Pier in Fair Compromise

Why It Matters: Skyway Fishing Pier State Park (Skyway Pier) is a popular angling destination...

Jul 10 2023 Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Florida – Continuing its Spread Across the Southeast

Why It Matters: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a slow and progressive neurological disease occurring...

May 22 2023 In Big Win for Recreational Anglers, FWC Tables Goliath Grouper Closures

Why It Matters: Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved...

May 01 2023 Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment Headed to the Ballot in FL in 2024

Why It Matters: Right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife constitutional amendments protect the outdoor...

Apr 10 2023 Right to Hunt and Fish Gains Positive Momentum in Florida

Why It Matters: An effort to make hunting and fishing, including the use of traditional...

Mar 20 2023 Troublesome Bills Could Impact Sporting Dog Owners in Florida

Why It Matters: Do you have a canine sidekick that accompanies you during your outdoor...

Jan 09 2023 CSF’s Chris Horton Encourages NPAA Members to Include Advocacy in Their Careers

Highlights: The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) is a non-profit, member-based association of professional...

Dec 19 2022 FWC Punts on Proposed Goliath Grouper Spawning Aggregation Closures

Why It Matters: Earlier this year, the FWC approved a limited, highly regulated season...

Nov 29 2022 CSF Opposes Goliath Grouper Aggregation Closures to Fishing in Florida

Why It Matters: The proposed rule change to close these goliath grouper spawning aggregation...

Nov 07 2022 What Mississippi’s Youth Deer Season Means to Me

Why It Matters: States have recognized the importance of providing positive outdoor recreation experiences...

Oct 31 2022 CSF Acknowledges Improvements, Supports Further Tweaks to Florida Keys Management Plan

Why It Matters: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a top angling destination...

Sep 26 2022 CSF Supports Access Expansion in Big Cypress

Why It Matters: An increase in access would not only benefit Florida’s sportsmen and women, but it...

Feb 22 2021 Florida Commission Considers Important Hunting Regulations

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn February 22, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted...

Jan 25 2021 Florida Keys: CSF, Anglers Support Seasonal Closure for Long-Term Health of Fishery

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn January 21, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted...

Dec 21 2020 CSF Supports Increased Access for Sportsmen and Women on Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn December 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted...

Nov 23 2020 CSF Staff Participate in College Panel Discussion about Conservation

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn November 17, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior...

Nov 09 2020 FWC Commission Developing Rules for Establishing Restricted Hunting Areas

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission (Commission)...

Aug 10 2020 Airgun Sunset Legislation Signed into Law in Georgia

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn August 5, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Brian...

Jul 27 2020 Florida FWC Commission Approves Draft Changes to Flounder Regulations to Rebuild Fishery

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn July 22, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation...

Jul 06 2020 Florida: Hunter Harassment Legislation Signed Into Law

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn June 29, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill...

Jun 15 2020 Florida: CSF Supports Proposed Flounder Regulations

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorOn June 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted...

May 26 2020 Southeast: State and Federal COVID Restrictions Begin to Ease

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorSportsmen and women throughout the South are regaining access...

Apr 06 2020 Florida: 2020 Legislative Updates

Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States CoordinatorDue to COVID-19, the Governor’s signing deadline has been extended...

Mar 09 2020 Florida: Hunter Harassment Legislation Advances

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn March 5, legislation that would increase harassment...

Feb 24 2020 Florida: Caucus Holds Annual Dinner with Commission

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn February 18, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus...

Dec 09 2019 Florida: Hunter Harassment and Hunting and Fishing Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Legislation Pre-filed

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn November 25, Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member...

Mar 04 2019 Florida: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Host Education Event for Legislators and Staff

By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States DirectorOn February 19, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted...

Feb 04 2019 Florida: Sportsmen’s Caucus Announces 2019 Leadership

By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States DirectorThe Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus recently announced new leadership...

Feb 16 2018 Florida: Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds Annual Dinner

The Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus met for its annual Legislative Session Dinner on February...

Jun 29 2017 Florida: Recreational Fishing and Boating Groups Urge Support of Federal Funding for Everglades

In a recent letter to Congressional leaders, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined 18...

Apr 20 2017 Florida: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Hosts Caucus Dinner

On April 18, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida...

Feb 25 2016 Florida Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Event in Tallahassee

On February 10, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Florida Fish and Wildlife...

Jan 19 2016 Gulf Anglers Meet to Set Future Course on Red Snapper Management

Broad representation of recreational fishing community interests strategize on key management issuesRepresentatives of the...

Aug 06 2015 Florida Congressman Introduces Legislation to Combat Invasive Lionfish

On July 23, Congressman Curt Clawson (FL) introduced the LEAP Act of 2015, (H.R....

Jul 31 2015 Legislation Introduced to Preserve Fishing Access in Biscayne National Park

Recreational fishing and boating community praises Congressional leaders for addressing flawed marine reserve decision On...

Apr 16 2015 Florida Sportsmen’s Caucus Reflects on Legislative Session

On April 14, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, in conjunction with Ducks Unlimited and...

Mar 19 2014 Florida: Sportsmen’s Caucus Dinner a Great Success

The Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual dinner this past Monday, March 17,...

Feb 20 2014 Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Partners with Central Florida Shootout

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to partner with the Central Florida Shootout,...

Dec 11 2013 National Park Service Offers Plan to Keep Biscayne National Park Open to Boating and Fishing

The November 15 release of the supplemental General Management Plan for Biscayne Bay National...

Jul 11 2013 Recreational Fishing and Boating Community Sends Letter on Biscayne National Park

On July 1, 2013, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, along with the American Sportfishing Association,...

Apr 24 2013 Florida:Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds Caucus Dinner

The Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held a caucus dinner on Thursday, April 11 at...

Apr 11 2013 CSF Partners with Central Florida Shootout

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to partner with the Central Florida Shootout,...

Latest policy updates

Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such...

“No-Net-Loss” of public lands has become increasingly important to ensure access to...

Concerned about the uncertainty that 30x30 policies may pose for hunting and...

One important tool for protecting fish and wildlife habitat is a state-level...

Properly managed wildlife habitat is essential for supporting sustainable and healthy wildlife...

Exotic invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native to...

Preemption is the process where a higher level of government revokes the...

As with many Constitutional protections, the court system has created carve-outs and...

During atypical social and economic times that devastate communities and states, some...

During unprecedented and devastating crises, some governors, through emergency powers granted to...

Encouraging sportsmen’s involvement in the political process is an important method for...

The vast majority of states throughout the nation offer an online component...

Many state legislatures have enacted legislation to afford senior citizens, veterans, and...

Reports and Data

Mar 11 2024 Florida: American System of Conservation Funding Fact Sheet

Florida: American System of Conservation Funding Fact Sheet

Jan 01 2013 2013 Sportsmen's Economic Impact Report - Florida

2013 Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Report - Florida

Jan 01 2007 2006 Economic Impact Report — Florida

Florida squeezes more than three times the revenue from angling than from oranges ($4.4...

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