Florida anglers might soon find their weekend hobby turning into a profitable side hustle. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is officially rolling out a pilot research program dubbed “Cast for Cash: It Pays to Fish for Science,” a project designed to gather hard data on recreational fish releases in the Tampa Bay area.
The initiative isn’t just about catching fish; it’s about watching them go back into the water. For years, scientists have looked for better ways to track the survival and frequency of reef fish releases.
This program aims to bridge that gap by paying private boat owners to let cameras do the talking. Selected participants can earn $250 per trip, with the opportunity to log up to six trips. Over a three-month period, a single angler could walk away with as much as $1,500…