Florida cities and counties cannot make their own rules about people fishing for fish or sharks from the beach or shoreline, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Martin County is the only Treasure Coast county that has local rules. St. Lucie and Indian River follow FWC rules, with the former repealing four regulations in 2016 to align with the agency’s regulations, according to FWC.
The Martin County Commission discussed repealing its rules at a July 28 meeting, after FWC ordered the county attorney to do so. Commissioners postponed making a decision and will vote at a future meeting, after the county attorneys review the law and comments from commissioners and residents who opposed repealing the rules.
Opponents said the rules were enacted to protect swimmers and surfers from being bitten or injured by fishing gear.
Florida fishing, beach fishing, shark fishing
The rules pertain to the county’s causeway beach parks off the Indian River Lagoon and the four, full-service guarded beaches parks off the ocean at Jensen, Stuart, Bathtub and Hobe Sound.
If the rules are repealed, anglers on land and in watercraft would be allowed to:
FWC orders Martin County to repeal fishing regulations
Among the opponents were beach-goers, Hutchinson Island Preservation Initiative Director Dottie Lanci, and two surfers who said they’ve been entangled in shark fishing line off the beach.
Opponents said anglers use drones to drop chum offshore to attract sharks.
“The language in the Martin County rules is … strong language that protects the citizens of Martin County and the people that swim along our beaches,” said Robert Wolf. “Imagine a family at Bathtub Beach inside the tub while a shark fisherman is chumming because your language is taken out. Leave it in there.”
Surfer Tom John agreed.
“You put chum in the water, you will have sharks,” he warned. “They are like stray cats. … I am not afraid of sharks, but you will have shark attacks.”
Under Florida law, chumming on shore is illegal and punishable by a fine and a year in jail, Assistant County Attorney Melissa Petrick reminded the public and commissioners. Shark fishing also requires a state saltwater fishing license.
Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s St. Lucie watchdog, environment and fisheries reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida FWC orders county to repeal beach, shark fishing rules
Reporting by Timothy O’Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Timothy O'Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
