New Bass Regulation for Lake Istokpoga (1 July 2000)--The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's, Division of Freshwater Fisheries

Regulation Change for Largemouth Bass, Effective 1 July 2000

on Lake Istokpoga Fish Management Area, and Lake Walk-in-Water.

Lake Istokpoga (28,000 acres; Highlands County) and Lake Walk-in-Water (7,500 acres; Polk County) support strong recreational fisheries for largemouth bass. With the designation of Lake Istokpoga as a Fish Management Area and angler concern over a decline in future angling quality on both lakes, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) lake management teams were directed to determine the potential for management of "high-quality" largemouth bass fisheries for these valued water bodies. After collecting biological data and talking to anglers, the FFWCC instituted a 15-inch to 24-inch protective slot limit for largemouth bass with a three-fish bag limit, of which only one bass may be 24 inches or longer, on lakes Istokpoga and Walk-in-Water. Below are some frequently asked questions concerning the regulation change.

1) What is a slot limit?

A slot limit is a protected size range, requiring the release of fish within a specific length range (the "slot"). Fish shorter or longer than the "slot" may be harvested. Slot limits are generally recommended for lakes with bass exhibiting good growth and spawning, but experience high fishing pressure.

2) What does a 15" - 24" protective slot limit/three-fish bag limit/one fish 24" or longer mean?

Anglers may keep largemouth bass which are smaller than 15 inches or 24 inches and longer, but must release all bass between those lengths. Each angler may keep up to three (3) bass per day, but only one (1) bass may be 24 inches or longer.

3) Why change the regulation from the 14" minimum size limit used on most lakes in Florida?

The largemouth bass regulation formerly used on Istokpoga and Walk-in-Water, a 14-inch minimum size limit with 5-fish bag, of which only one bass may be 22 inches or longer, was established in 1992 as part of a generic regulation for all waters south and east of the Suwanee River to provide "optimum sustained use" of Florida's black bass fishery. The Commission's goal was to maintain the fishery at a healthy population level, while allowing controlled harvest. Although the 14-inch minimum regulation for black bass provides good, sustainable fishing, it is incompatible with high-quality management objectives by focusing harvest on faster-growing females, while protecting slower-growing males. The 15" to 24" protective slot limit with a 3-fish bag limit provides protection from overharvest, especially for the larger fish most anglers prefer to catch, but not necessarily keep, while allowing anglers to harvest a reasonable number of bass.

4) What will the regulation accomplish?

The regulation will allow harvest of smaller, more abundant, primarily male largemouth bass, while protecting most adult female bass, thereby increasing the availability of quality and trophy bass for anglers. The regulation meets the desires of recreational bass anglers: limited harvest of more abundant, smaller bass which most anglers say they prefer to eat, catch-and-release of high-quality bass between 2 and 8 pounds, and harvest of "catch of a lifetime" trophy bass.

5) What is the biological basis of this regulation?

Largemouth bass in both lakes exhibit excellent growth. However, because growth of male bass "peaks" at about 15 inches, about 70% of bass harvested under the former 14-inch minimum size limit were females. Regulation under the protective slot limit will shift harvest to more abundant smaller bass composed of males of all ages and females under 4 years. Even if anglers limit themselves to harvesting only those bass between 12" and 15", more bass will be available for harvest than were available under the 14" minimum limit. Faster-growing females will be protected until they reach trophy size, providing more quality bass for angler catch.

6) How will the regulation affect tournament anglers?

"Catch-and-release" largemouth bass tournaments will be required to obtain regulation exemption permits to weigh-in bass within the protected size limit. Tournament anglers will be allowed to weigh-in three bass per angler per day. For information about the permitting process, visit the Commission web site at http://FloridaFisheries.com.

7) When did the regulation take effect?

The regulation became effective July 1, 2000.

For questions and comments concerning Lake Istokpoga, contact Beacham Furse at (863) 462-5190. For questions and comments concerning Lake Walk-in-Water, contact Tim Coughlin at (863) 648-3203.

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

Florida Fishing Capital of the World--Great Resources, Responsible Management