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New Hogfish Rules To Take Effect In 2017 In Florida Keys

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KEY WEST (AP) — In the Florida Keys, fishing for hogfish will soon be limited to taking one hogfish per day during a six-month season.

The Keynoter reports the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners have signed on to pending federal regulations aimed at curtailing harvest of South Florida hogfish, a popular food fish for anglers and spearfishers.

Under the plan, all hogfish in the Florida Keys will be grouped into the Keys-Florida East Coast stock, which now is considered a distinct population that is being overfished.

Several Florida Keys harvesters contend the estimates of the regional hogfish population are inaccurate and should be revised upward.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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