In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast, host Fred Bird is joined once again by Senior Director of Fisheries Policy Chris Horton to break down House Bill 443—a game-changing piece of legislation aimed at improving recreational fishing data collection in Georgia.
They dive into why federal fishery management systems are falling short, and how state-led efforts can lead to more accurate, real-time data, longer fishing seasons, and better policy decisions for anglers. The conversation covers everything from slot limits and discard mortality to the impact of artificial reefs and post-release mortality rates. If you care about sustainable fishing, angler rights, and better fishing seasons, this episode is a must-listen.
Key Takeaways:
- House Bill 443: This bill introduces a saltwater fishing license fee to fund improved data collection.
- All About Data: Federal data collection methods lack the real-time accuracy needed for today’s fishery management, while state-level management allows for localized, angler-driven decisions.
- Accurate angler reporting = longer, better fishing seasons. Poor estimates of fish harvested, as well as those that are released, can cut seasons short.
- Total mortality: Total mortality includes released fish – a percentage of which are expected to die. High release rates and slot limits can increase discard mortality.
