Okaloosa County’s tourism arm, called Destin-Fort Walton Beach, and the Coastal Conservation Association Florida conducted the release at Lion’s Park in Niceville.
This multi-year collaborative effort seeks to address the issue of declining redfish populations across Northwest Florida fisheries and enhance the population with stocking initiatives for one of Florida’s most popular inshore fish species, county officials said today in a news release.
“This species is very important to the health of Choctawhatchee Bay, benefitting the overall quality of the estuary and providing additional fishing opportunities for the future,” County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon said. “We look forward to future partnerships with CCA Florida and to see how this work will contribute to the abundance of the redfish population.”
The released redfish were about three to four inches in length and can take about three years to reach 26 inches in length. Redfish, also known as red drum, spottail, red bass, and channel bass, can live up to 40 years.
“We are thrilled to return to Choctawhatchee Bay for our second redfish release in collaboration with Okaloosa County,” CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski said. “This event is a great example of what can be achieved when partners share the same goal – to support the health and sustainability of Florida’s iconic fisheries for generations to come.”
Panhandle fishing regulations for redfish include:
Season: Open year-round
Slot Limit: Not less than 18″ and no more than 27″ total length
Daily Bag Limit: One fish per person per day; four fish vessel limit.