FISH AND GAME REPLY TO MY LETTER RE: LAKE TALQUIN CRAPPIE {POPULATION.

I am posting the reply to my open letter TO florida game and fish and their unexpected response, which I find hard to completely agree with. I tried to post the initial post and the reply, but too long.---------------------------Dear Mr. Grazis,
I appreciate your concerns and thoughts regarding the crappie fishery at Lake Talquin. Coincidentally, we have an ongoing project to address many of your concerns. Currently we are looking at crappie catch harvest and angling effort, as well as exploitation (or how many crappie are harvested relative to the population). We are also looking at the impact of forward-facing sonar (FFS) relative to success of crappie anglers or crappie harvest. I have attached last year’s annual report which highlights catch rates from 2017-2024. Catch rates for crappie have remained relatively consistent during that time ranging from 1.1 to 1.6 fish per hour (Figure 3). When looking at FFS vs. non-FFS users, we detected higher catch and release rates for FFS users, but no significant difference in harvest between those that used FFS vs those that didn’t.
Our ongoing research study (2024-25) suggests a healthy crappie population in Talquin. We had an outstanding year class produced in 2021. These fish are now 4 years old and are abundant throughout the lake. We saw incredible numbers of fish back in Freeman, Ocklawaha, Harvey, Polk, and Little River this spring. We did not see as many in the back of Hammock like we have in years past, but good numbers of crappie in the pads closer to the mouth of Hammock. Preliminary results from the exploitation study suggest minimal/average harvest relative to the population. Lake Talquin continues to remain one of Florida’s most-outstanding crappie fisheries. Given the abundance of crappie in Talquin and the current amount of effort and harvest, a change in the regulation is unwarranted currently. In fact, based on the current population and effort, a regulation change could have a negative impact on the fishery, not allowing fish to be harvested that could (or should) be kept. Talquin already has one of the highest catch-and-release rates in the state through voluntary release by anglers coupled with the 10-inch minimum size limit.
We are currently taking measures to improve habitat throughout the lake. These include planting of giant bulrush, herbicide spraying of exotic plants (such as water lettuce, Cuban bulrush, and water hyacinths), and shredding of unwanted tussocks and decaying plant material in the back of many of our creeks (Blount’s, Freeman, Rocky Comfort, Little River, and the upper lake beyond the Iron Curtain). These management actions are beneficial to many of our fish communities including crappie. A drawdown has been discussed but comes with its own set of difficulties including making the lake inaccessible & closing the fishery for an extended period (which would greatly impact many business owners during the peak crappie fishing season). In addition, weather conditions during drawdowns are unpredictable and can greatly impact success (or failure). Thus, no drawdown in the immediate future is anticipated.
As for your concern regarding law enforcement presence, I will reach out to our local lieutenant and fellow officers to address this concern.
Sincerely,
Andy Strickland
Freshwater Fisheries Biologist
Joe Budd Field Office---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr. Grazis,
I appreciate your concerns and thoughts regarding the crappie fishery at Lake Talquin. Coincidentally, we have an ongoing project to address many of your concerns. Currently we are looking at crappie catch harvest and angling effort, as well as exploitation (or how many crappie are harvested relative to the population). We are also looking at the impact of forward-facing sonar (FFS) relative to success of crappie anglers or crappie harvest. I have attached last year’s annual report which highlights catch rates from 2017-2024. Catch rates for crappie have remained relatively consistent during that time ranging from 1.1 to 1.6 fish per hour (Figure 3). When looking at FFS vs. non-FFS users, we detected higher catch and release rates for FFS users, but no significant difference in harvest between those that used FFS vs those that didn’t.
Our ongoing research study (2024-25) suggests a healthy crappie population in Talquin. We had an outstanding year class produced in 2021. These fish are now 4 years old and are abundant throughout the lake. We saw incredible numbers of fish back in Freeman, Ocklawaha, Harvey, Polk, and Little River this spring. We did not see as many in the back of Hammock like we have in years past, but good numbers of crappie in the pads closer to the mouth of Hammock. Preliminary results from the exploitation study suggest minimal/average harvest relative to the population. Lake Talquin continues to remain one of Florida’s most-outstanding crappie fisheries. Given the abundance of crappie in Talquin and the current amount of effort and harvest, a change in the regulation is unwarranted currently. In fact, based on the current population and effort, a regulation change could have a negative impact on the fishery, not allowing fish to be harvested that could (or should) be kept. Talquin already has one of the highest catch-and-release rates in the state through voluntary release by anglers coupled with the 10-inch minimum size limit.
We are currently taking measures to improve habitat throughout the lake. These include planting of giant bulrush, herbicide spraying of exotic plants (such as water lettuce, Cuban bulrush, and water hyacinths), and shredding of unwanted tussocks and decaying plant material in the back of many of our creeks (Blount’s, Freeman, Rocky Comfort, Little River, and the upper lake beyond the Iron Curtain). These management actions are beneficial to many of our fish communities including crappie. A drawdown has been discussed but comes with its own set of difficulties including making the lake inaccessible & closing the fishery for an extended period (which would greatly impact many business owners during the peak crappie fishing season). In addition, weather conditions during drawdowns are unpredictable and can greatly impact success (or failure). Thus, no drawdown in the immediate future is anticipated.
As for your concern regarding law enforcement presence, I will reach out to our local lieutenant and fellow officers to address this concern.
Sincerely,
Andy Strickland
Freshwater Fisheries Biologist
Joe Budd Field OfficeDear Mr. Grazis,
I appreciate your concerns and thoughts regarding the crappie fishery at Lake Talquin. Coincidentally, we have an ongoing project to address many of your concerns. Currently we are looking at crappie catch harvest and angling effort, as well as exploitation (or how many crappie are harvested relative to the population). We are also looking at the impact of forward-facing sonar (FFS) relative to success of crappie anglers or crappie harvest. I have attached last year’s annual report which highlights catch rates from 2017-2024. Catch rates for crappie have remained relatively consistent during that time ranging from 1.1 to 1.6 fish per hour (Figure 3). When looking at FFS vs. non-FFS users, we detected higher catch and release rates for FFS users, but no significant difference in harvest between those that used FFS vs those that didn’t.
Our ongoing research study (2024-25) suggests a healthy crappie population in Talquin. We had an outstanding year class produced in 2021. These fish are now 4 years old and are abundant throughout the lake. We saw incredible numbers of fish back in Freeman, Ocklawaha, Harvey, Polk, and Little River this spring. We did not see as many in the back of Hammock like we have in years past, but good numbers of crappie in the pads closer to the mouth of Hammock. Preliminary results from the exploitation study suggest minimal/average harvest relative to the population. Lake Talquin continues to remain one of Florida’s most-outstanding crappie fisheries. Given the abundance of crappie in Talquin and the current amount of effort and harvest, a change in the regulation is unwarranted currently. In fact, based on the current population and effort, a regulation change could have a negative impact on the fishery, not allowing fish to be harvested that could (or should) be kept. Talquin already has one of the highest catch-and-release rates in the state through voluntary release by anglers coupled with the 10-inch minimum size limit.
We are currently taking measures to improve habitat throughout the lake. These include planting of giant bulrush, herbicide spraying of exotic plants (such as water lettuce, Cuban bulrush, and water hyacinths), and shredding of unwanted tussocks and decaying plant material in the back of many of our creeks (Blount’s, Freeman, Rocky Comfort, Little River, and the upper lake beyond the Iron Curtain). These management actions are beneficial to many of our fish communities including crappie. A drawdown has been discussed but comes with its own set of difficulties including making the lake inaccessible & closing the fishery for an extended period (which would greatly impact many business owners during the peak crappie fishing season). In addition, weather conditions during drawdowns are unpredictable and can greatly impact success (or failure). Thus, no drawdown in the immediate future is anticipated.
As for your concern regarding law enforcement presence, I will reach out to our local lieutenant and fellow officers to address this concern.
Sincerely,
Andy Strickland
Freshwater Fisheries Biologist
Joe Budd Field OfficeDear Mr. Grazis,
I appreciate your concerns and thoughts regarding the crappie fishery at Lake Talquin. Coincidentally, we have an ongoing project to address many of your concerns. Currently we are looking at crappie catch harvest and angling effort, as well as exploitation (or how many crappie are harvested relative to the population). We are also looking at the impact of forward-facing sonar (FFS) relative to success of crappie anglers or crappie harvest. I have attached last year’s annual report which highlights catch rates from 2017-2024. Catch rates for crappie have remained relatively consistent during that time ranging from 1.1 to 1.6 fish per hour (Figure 3). When looking at FFS vs. non-FFS users, we detected higher catch and release rates for FFS users, but no significant difference in harvest between those that used FFS vs those that didn’t.
Our ongoing research study (2024-25) suggests a healthy crappie population in Talquin. We had an outstanding year class produced in 2021. These fish are now 4 years old and are abundant throughout the lake. We saw incredible numbers of fish back in Freeman, Ocklawaha, Harvey, Polk, and Little River this spring. We did not see as many in the back of Hammock like we have in years past, but good numbers of crappie in the pads closer to the mouth of Hammock. Preliminary results from the exploitation study suggest minimal/average harvest relative to the population. Lake Talquin continues to remain one of Florida’s most-outstanding crappie fisheries. Given the abundance of crappie in Talquin and the current amount of effort and harvest, a change in the regulation is unwarranted currently. In fact, based on the current population and effort, a regulation change could have a negative impact on the fishery, not allowing fish to be harvested that could (or should) be kept. Talquin already has one of the highest catch-and-release rates in the state through voluntary release by anglers coupled with the 10-inch minimum size limit.
We are currently taking measures to improve habitat throughout the lake. These include planting of giant bulrush, herbicide spraying of exotic plants (such as water lettuce, Cuban bulrush, and water hyacinths), and shredding of unwanted tussocks and decaying plant material in the back of many of our creeks (Blount’s, Freeman, Rocky Comfort, Little River, and the upper lake beyond the Iron Curtain). These management actions are beneficial to many of our fish communities including crappie. A drawdown has been discussed but comes with its own set of difficulties including making the lake inaccessible & closing the fishery for an extended period (which would greatly impact many business owners during the peak crappie fishing season). In addition, weather conditions during drawdowns are unpredictable and can greatly impact success (or failure). Thus, no drawdown in the immediate future is anticipated.
As for your concern regarding law enforcement presence, I will reach out to our local lieutenant and fellow officers to address this concern.
Sincerely,
Andy Strickland
Freshwater Fisheries Biologist
Joe Budd Field Office