The St. Johns River provides one of the more unique challenges the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers face throughout the year: manatee zones. Manatees have been a protected species under federal law since the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
To protect the manatees that call the St. Johns River home, Florida has set Manatee Protection Areas as well as Boating Restricted Areas. The areas that are restricted are shown below by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and must be followed by the Elites during the St. Johns River event Feb. 11-14.
