Thursday May 16th Morning Farm Tour – Fish can be purchased

America’s largest breeder and shipper of freshwater aquarium animals.

https://imperialtropicals.com/ Our passion for the hobby is evident. One of Florida’s leading tropical fish farms since 1970, Imperial Tropicals is operated by Mike Drawdy in Lakeland. We specialize in breeding high quality tropical fish including a variety of community fish, American and African Cichlids, invertebrates and more.

Cost to participate is $15

Friday May 17th – Morning  Farm Tours

Segrest Farms is the industry leader for wholesale ornamental fish, supplying pet stores, public aquariums, and research institutions since 1961. Premium quality and unmatched variety of freshwater tropical & coldwater fish, saltwater specimens, aquatic plants, and reptiles, supported by first class customer service and distribution, including 24/7 web access and ordering. No purchasing is allowed.

https://consolidatedff.com/ While my dad was farming, we made the transition to form a coop of sorts. A collection of fish farmers that came together to ship their fish directly to the pet store as local distributor prices weren’t enough to make a living. Out of this Consolidated Fish Farms was formed. While we aren’t a collection of farmers anymore, my family has owned this company for the last 15 years and we continue to distribute fish to pet stores all over the country.

They have a store that is open to the public selling fish and supplies

Monday May 20

The Monday After – Local Florida Collecting Trip!

On Monday, May 20, 2024, following the Convention, we will be organizing three separate collecting trips to local Florida sites.  Each trip will be organized and headed by guides with experience in collecting Florida native fishes. We hope that this event will raise the visibility of our rich native fish and ecological diversity.

In order to properly plan, we will require participants to pre-register for this event. Reservations will be limited to 12 people for each trip, so reserve early!  All trips will depart from the Convention Hotel at 8:00am.

Trip #1 – Tampa Bay Salt and Brackish Water Habitats with special freshwater bonus site!

There is a superb site within 30 minutes of the Convention Hotel where you may encounter many of Florida’s saltwater killifish including the diamond killifish (Fundulus xenicus), goldspotted Killifish (Floridichthys carpio), rainwater killifish (Lucania parva), Seminole killifish (Fundulus seminolis), gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), marsh killifish (Fundulus confluentus), and sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), as well as livebearers such as the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) and southern mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), along with many other interesting fishes and other in the denizens of the tidal shallows. We anticipate this trip will take approximately 4-5 hours.

Trip #2 – Hillsborough River

This trip is within 30 minutes of the Convention Hotel and features stops at two County parks along different stretches of the local Hillsborough River. Common fishes encountered may include Florida bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei), golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus), pygmy sunfish (Elassoma evergladei), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) pirate perch (Aphredoderus sayanus), swamp darter (Etheostoma fusiforme), dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus), and blue-spotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), among others.

Trip #3 – Ocala National Forest

This trip is approximately two hours from the Convention Hotel and is expected to take all day with travel.  This trip will feature stops at the spring-fed Alexander Springs Run (Spring Creek) where we might encounter Florida bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei), metallic shiner (Pteronotropis metallicus), madtom catfish (Noturus spp.), and red-eye chub (Notropis harperi) among others.  The second feature stop on this trip is to a natural freshwater prairie with isolated pools.  This site is known for populations of lined topminnow (Fundulus lineolatus), golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus), banded topminnow (Fundulus cingulatus), dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) and others. 

Each group will be provided with nets and a seine so everyone can get in on the action. You are also welcome to bring your own net and collecting equipment. Transportation to and from the sites, water and snacks will be arranged at cost and shared by the participants. We anticipate that the cost will not exceed $15/person for the day.

The state of Florida requires a fishing license. Fishing licenses can be purchased online via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website. https://gooutdoorsflorida.com/