Martin County commissioners postponed a decision Tuesday on shark fishing rules after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed the county to align its ordinance with state regulations. The county had been reconsidering its rules following complaints that shark fishermen were using drones and remote-controlled boats to carry bait offshore and draw sharks closer to swimming areas. Commissioners asked county attorneys to review the law and return with revised ordinance language.
State law preempts counties from regulating saltwater fishing and requires a saltwater fishing license and a special permit for shark fishing. Martin County's current ordinance prohibits shark fishing within 1,000 yards of the county's four guarded beaches: Jensen, Stuart, Bathtub and Hobe Sound.
Assistant County Attorney Melissa Petrick told commissioners the state statute means the county can no longer directly control shark fishing regulations.
County attorneys said the ordinance may not need to be eliminated entirely. They could rework it to reference activities that are already illegal under state law, including chumming directly from the beach. Residents raised safety and environmental concerns during Tuesday's commission meeting, and commissioners voted to table the discussion while staff reviews those concerns and drafts new language.