New Shark Protection Rules Could Affect Fishing Hot Spot

CAPE CANAVERAL

A change to rules protecting sharks could mean changes to Central Florida tourism.

Charter boat captains have paying close attention to what happens with a new federal marine fisheries study looking at ways to protect nearly 40 shark species along the East Coast.
That could include changes to where people can and can not fish for the big fish.

Currently, charters regularly take tourists to an area off Cape Canaveral known as "The Bite," which was closed for six years, and when reopened, was filled with young sharks.
Experts feared with the Bite open again, that could spell disaster for the new sharks, but

charter boat captains said most of their shark fishing was catch and release, so there was no need to shutdown the hot fishing spot.

"It definitely does not need to be closed to the recreational fishermen. Of the 100 sharks that we catch in there, we might keep four or five of them," said Greg Rapp, a charter boat captain.

The Captains News 13 spoke with did say it could be dangerous to open the hot spot for commercial fishing.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was asking for public input on the question.
You can get your opinion heard by calling or e-mailing the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.