Florida wants to map weird catches

State biologists want to know about your weird, exotic catches.

By letting them know about them online, you could win up to a $75 gift certificate or other prizes.

Starting Saturday (Feb. 21), Florida wildlife officials will hold the first-ever statewide Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest.

You can submit lionfish or other saltwater species, but biologists mostly want to know about what invasive fish lurk in Florida's lakes, rivers and canals.

"Specifically we're trying to raise awareness in fresh water because we don't get reports very often," said Liz Barraco, a spokeswoman with the Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Scientists and wildlife managers use the information to learn more about where invasive species thrive and where to focus control efforts.

FWC hopes to hold the event annually.

To participate, anglers photograph and report their nonnative fish catches during the contest, which runs Feb.21 to March 1.

Participants must register with EDDMaps.org to submit photographs and catch data. They can submit their catches using the smartphone app, called IveGot1, or directly on EDDMaps.org.

There is no entry fee. Entries can be submitted throughout the contest period: 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 to 12 a.m. Sunday, March 1. All submissions must be complete with catch location and picture to be considered.

Prizes, which will be announced March 28, will be given for the most invasive fish species caught and for the most unusual invasive fish catch.

All participants are entered for a chance to win a Garmin eTrex 20 GPS.

Other prizes include Bass Pro Shop gift certificates ranging from $15 to $75 and merchandise and promotional items.

Florida is home to at least 34 invasive fish species. New invaders continue to arrive, often out-competing native fish for food and habitat.

The contest helps to detect invasive species early.

"Anglers can help protect their waterways by finding and reporting these fish before they get out of control," FWC biologist Kelly Gestring said in a release.

The contest is open to all licensed or legally exempt anglers in Florida.

The contest is part of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, which runs Feb. 22-28.

FWC's partners in the project include the U.S. Geological Survey; National Park Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Florida Invasive Species Partnership; University of Georgia; and the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @JWayEnviro

Nonnative Fish Catch, Click and Submit Contest

•For information, visit FloridaInvasives.org and click on the contest under Quick Links.

•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.