1st Nonnative Fish Contest
As part of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 23 through 28, 2015), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Florida Invasive Species Partnership, University of Georgia and Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area to host the first statewide Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest Feb. 21 through March 1, 2015!
For the event flyer, click here
The objectives of the Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest are to:
Rules and Regulations
Registration: All anglers must register with www.EDDMaps.org to submit photographs and catch data. 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest Start/Stop: The 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, and all entries must be received by midnight Sunday, March 1, 2015. All submissions must be of fish caught during the contest period.
Nonnative Fish Identification: A downloadable pictorial guide to some of Florida's nonnative fish is available at:http://www.myfwc.com/media/2986223/Freshwater-Exotic-Fish-Identifier.pdf
Additional nonnative fish pictures are available at: www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/
If a fish is caught that cannot be identified, please take pictures, submit the catch in EDDMaps and freeze the fish if possible.
Qualifying Submissions: All EDDMapS submissions, to be considered, must be complete with catch location, picture(s), and a statement indicating the submission is for the Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest. Detailed catch location or GPS coordinates are preferred. Anglers under 16 years in age should indicate that on their entries to be eligible for youth contest. An EDDMaps submission may contain photographs of multiple species if all species are caught at the same location. If nonnative fish are caught at multiple locations, then an EDDMaps submission must be made for each location.
Photo Recommendations: Take the fish out of water and, for most species, lay it flat on its side with the head pointed to the left on a light-colored background, preferably in the shade to reduce glare, and extend the fins as much as possible. If possible, include a ruler in the photo or provide a length in the report. For nonnative catfish, take a side-shot with dorsal fin extended and a photo of the belly showing the markings.
Boundaries: The boundaries are all legal freshwater fishing areas in the state of Florida.
Prizes: Prizes will be announced on March 28, 2015. All participants have a chance to win a Garmin eTrex 20 GPS and other non-cash prizes. Non-cash prizes include merchandise and promotional items with a total value up to $10.
Prize Structure:
Most Unusual Catch, Adult
Most Species, Adult
Most Unusual Catch, Youth (under 16)
Most Species, Youth (under 16)
State and Federal Regulations: All fish must be caught in compliance with all state of Florida regulations (seewww.myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/ or obtain a copy of the regulations at a local bait and tackle shop) and only within legal fishing areas. We encourage anglers to report butterfly peacock bass and grass carp. Butterfly peacock are considered a sportfish and are protected by size and bag limits; all grass carp must be immediately released. Native fish are not eligible for consideration. Members of the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes of Indians of Florida may harvest nonnative fish with traditional methods.
Additional Regulations: We encourage anglers to keep and eat all nonnative fish they catch. Please properly dispose of any unwanted fish. For additional information on consuming freshwater fish, please visit: www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/prevention/healthy-weight/nutrition/seafood-consumption/fish-advisories-page.html
Waiver disclaimer: It is expressly understood that participants in the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest enter at their own risk and that Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and all participating organizations, officers, event sponsors and committees, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said event, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel, equipment, companions and guests, boat captains, mates, or crew members, which may occur in conjunction with the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest.
Participants: Any and all participants entering the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest agree that all decisions made by the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest committee/rules committee shall be final and binding in any manner requiring their action.
The 1st Annual Statewide Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest is being held during the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 22-28, 2015. However, submissions of non-native fish (or other non-native species) can be made anytime throughEDDMapS.
As part of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 23 through 28, 2015), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Florida Invasive Species Partnership, University of Georgia and Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area to host the first statewide Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest Feb. 21 through March 1, 2015!
For the event flyer, click here
The objectives of the Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest are to:
- 1) Document the distribution of nonnative fish in Florida using angler-caught fish that are photographed and reported to the FWC through thewww.EDDMaps.org reporting system.
- 2) Increase public awareness of the potential negative impacts of releasing nonnative fish into Florida waters.
- 3) Encourage anglers to target nonnative species for consumption.
Rules and Regulations
Registration: All anglers must register with www.EDDMaps.org to submit photographs and catch data. 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest Start/Stop: The 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, and all entries must be received by midnight Sunday, March 1, 2015. All submissions must be of fish caught during the contest period.
Nonnative Fish Identification: A downloadable pictorial guide to some of Florida's nonnative fish is available at:http://www.myfwc.com/media/2986223/Freshwater-Exotic-Fish-Identifier.pdf
Additional nonnative fish pictures are available at: www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/
If a fish is caught that cannot be identified, please take pictures, submit the catch in EDDMaps and freeze the fish if possible.
Qualifying Submissions: All EDDMapS submissions, to be considered, must be complete with catch location, picture(s), and a statement indicating the submission is for the Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest. Detailed catch location or GPS coordinates are preferred. Anglers under 16 years in age should indicate that on their entries to be eligible for youth contest. An EDDMaps submission may contain photographs of multiple species if all species are caught at the same location. If nonnative fish are caught at multiple locations, then an EDDMaps submission must be made for each location.
Photo Recommendations: Take the fish out of water and, for most species, lay it flat on its side with the head pointed to the left on a light-colored background, preferably in the shade to reduce glare, and extend the fins as much as possible. If possible, include a ruler in the photo or provide a length in the report. For nonnative catfish, take a side-shot with dorsal fin extended and a photo of the belly showing the markings.
Boundaries: The boundaries are all legal freshwater fishing areas in the state of Florida.
Prizes: Prizes will be announced on March 28, 2015. All participants have a chance to win a Garmin eTrex 20 GPS and other non-cash prizes. Non-cash prizes include merchandise and promotional items with a total value up to $10.
Prize Structure:
Most Unusual Catch, Adult
- First Prize - $75 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Second Prize - $50 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Third Prize - $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
Most Species, Adult
- First Prize - $75 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Second Prize - $50 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Third Prize - $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
Most Unusual Catch, Youth (under 16)
- First Prize - $50 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Second Prize - $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Third Prize - $15 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
Most Species, Youth (under 16)
- First Prize - $50 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Second Prize - $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
- Third Prize - $15 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop and a Lionfish Be the Predator T-shirt
State and Federal Regulations: All fish must be caught in compliance with all state of Florida regulations (seewww.myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/ or obtain a copy of the regulations at a local bait and tackle shop) and only within legal fishing areas. We encourage anglers to report butterfly peacock bass and grass carp. Butterfly peacock are considered a sportfish and are protected by size and bag limits; all grass carp must be immediately released. Native fish are not eligible for consideration. Members of the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes of Indians of Florida may harvest nonnative fish with traditional methods.
Additional Regulations: We encourage anglers to keep and eat all nonnative fish they catch. Please properly dispose of any unwanted fish. For additional information on consuming freshwater fish, please visit: www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/prevention/healthy-weight/nutrition/seafood-consumption/fish-advisories-page.html
Waiver disclaimer: It is expressly understood that participants in the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest enter at their own risk and that Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and all participating organizations, officers, event sponsors and committees, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said event, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel, equipment, companions and guests, boat captains, mates, or crew members, which may occur in conjunction with the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest.
Participants: Any and all participants entering the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest agree that all decisions made by the 2015 Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest committee/rules committee shall be final and binding in any manner requiring their action.
The 1st Annual Statewide Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest is being held during the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 22-28, 2015. However, submissions of non-native fish (or other non-native species) can be made anytime throughEDDMapS.