The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is calling on local anglers to assist with a new research project focused on black crappie at the Tenoroc Public Use Area. The initiative aims to gather data that will help improve fishing conditions for this species.
Since 2023, FWC has released over 130,000 hatchery-raised black crappie into six lakes at Tenoroc, with additional stockings planned for 2026. The agency now seeks help from the angling community to assess how these fish are surviving and contributing to the local fish population.
Participants in the project will receive a free fin-clip sampling kit, which includes all necessary materials and instructions. Anglers are asked to clip a small portion of fin from each crappie they catch. According to FWC, this process does not harm the fish and takes only a few seconds.
Once samples are collected, anglers can return their kits to the check-in station at Tenoroc. FWC biologists will use genetic analysis on the samples to determine whether the fish are wild or hatchery-raised. This information is expected to inform future stocking strategies.
“Anglers will play a critical role in this project as their participation will give us data that could help us improve Tenoroc’s black crappie fishery,” said an FWC spokesperson.
Those interested in participating or seeking more information can contact BlackCrappieTenoroc@MyFWC.com or call 352-800-5012.
