Florida Phosphate Pits for Managed Public Fishing Areas

Several mined-out and flooded phosphate pits near a large population center in peninsular Florida have been acquired and put under management by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission for public sport-fishing purposes. Costs of making these abandoned phosphate areas accessible to the public are discussed; fishing pressure and sportfishing success on renovated ponds are reported and compared; and the relationships of size and shape of the ponds to success in fishery management are noted.