State: FL

Highlights: The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) is a non-profit, member-based association of professional guides, tournament anglers, angler educators and sportfishing/marine industry professionals dedicated to growing the fishing industry and angler participation. CSF’s Chris Horton presented at the NPAA conference in Fort Myers, Florida on the importance of understanding the policy issues that could impact …

CSF’s Chris Horton Encourages NPAA Members to Include Advocacy in Their Careers Read More »

Why It Matters: Earlier this year, the FWC approved a limited, highly regulated season for some harvest of goliath grouper using population data that showed goliath grouper is no longer subject to overfishing. The current catch-and-release regulations in place are proving to be effective in ensuring healthy goliath grouper populations as well as for providing …

FWC Punts on Proposed Goliath Grouper Spawning Aggregation Closures Read More »

Why It Matters: The proposed rule change to close these goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites to catch-and-release fishing in hopes to reduce perceived, potential impacts on goliath grouper populations is not scientifically based. Additionally, these sites are near the heavily populated southeast Florida region, and if they were closed to recreational fishing during one of …

CSF Opposes Goliath Grouper Aggregation Closures to Fishing in Florida Read More »

Why It Matters: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a top angling destination in the United States, and anglers, as much as anyone, want to ensure this incredible marine resource is effectively managed for healthy habitats and abundant fisheries for future generations.  A previous Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed new management direction …

CSF Acknowledges Improvements, Supports Further Tweaks to Florida Keys Management Plan Read More »

Why It Matters: An increase in access would not only benefit Florida’s sportsmen and women, but it would also assist in the management of natural resources located within the Big Cypress National Preserve. Off highway vehicles can be an important tool for accessing backcountry destinations, managing wildlife habitat, and giving youth, elderly, and those with mobility limitations the opportunity to …

CSF Supports Access Expansion in Big Cypress Read More »

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On February 22, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) supporting rule proposals that would prohibit the importation and possession of Cervidae (deer family) carcasses or parts from out of state and clarifying the definition of a muzzleloader, while also …

Florida Commission Considers Important Hunting Regulations Read More »

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On January 21, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in support of a four-month seasonal closure from April through July rather than the currently proposed two-month seasonal closure of May and June at a one-square mile piece of …

Florida Keys: CSF, Anglers Support Seasonal Closure for Long-Term Health of Fishery Read More »

Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On December 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the National Park Service (NPS) in support of Alternative 5 of the Big Cypress National Preserve Backcountry Access Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (Plan). Alternative 5 is the NPS’s preferred alternative that would reopen 66 miles of …

CSF Supports Increased Access for Sportsmen and Women on Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida Read More »

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On November 17, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Chris Horton, and Southeastern States Assistant Director John Culclasure, were guest panelists on a University of South Florida Honors College Hunting and Conservation Panel. Horton and Culclasure spoke to students about the work …

CSF Staff Participate in College Panel Discussion about Conservation Read More »