Daily Highlights from the staff at BD

The halibut bycatch caused by Alaskan trawlers totals more than the entire sportfishing catch. You can help reduce this waste by signing a petition. Please help and add your signature today.

Ellen Peel, President of The Billfish Foundation, was recently appointed the U.S. Commissioner to ICCAT, which manages Atlantic tuna and migratory fish.

The federal ban on fishing deep-water grouper and snapper was lifted today, providing a bit of sweet relief for recational anglers in the South Atlantic.

Texas Governor Rick Perry recently sent a letter to the Dept. of the Interior, requesting protection for Gulf of Mexico oil rigs, which provide important structure for marine life.

A California lobster poacher is sentenced to jail time and hefty fines for taking three times the legal limit, keeping short lobsters and fishing in a marine protected area.

Florida Senators Nelson and Rubio sign a letter to the Department of the Interior urging a new plan to keep access to Biscayne Bay National Park open to boaters and anglers. The current plan aims to close access to 20 percent.

The state of Louisiana puts a plan in place to allow recreational anglers to fish for red snapper in state waters in 2013.

It's going to be another short red snapper season in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida sets its season June 1 through July 10. A total of 40 days, and the same as the federal season.

The IGFA is developing a new app with Columbia University that will help anglers identify their catch. To make the app a success, they're asking anglers to help out and send in some photos of several game fish.

Anglers fishing in state waters off of Florida's Atlantic coast and Monroe County will be able to harvest grouper starting on May 1. Read on for all of the bag limits and information.