If you catch anything strange in Florida waters over the next week, you might be eligible to win a prize.
The Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest starts Saturday and runs through March 1, with prizes offered for the most species of non-native fish caught and the strangest one. All you have to do is photograph the fish with your smartphone and submit it via the contest app.
The contest, for freshwater catches only, is being organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and several other groups to gather information on non-native fish in Florida and to provide early detection of any new ones.
The contest “offers anglers the opportunity to assist natural resource managers in finding nonnative species by doing what they enjoy – fishing!” said Kelly Gestring, a biologist with the wildlife service.
Top prizes in the adult category are $75 gift certificates to Bass Pro Shop and a lionfish T-shirt. Top prizes in the youth category are $50 gift certificates and a T-shirt.
At least 34 species of nonnative fish have established reproducing populations in Florida waters.
To register and start submitting reports on your mobile device, visit IveGot1.org or download the reporting app by searching for IveGot1 in the app store. For more information, go to FloridaInvasives.org.
