Regs to Change 3/22/01

ALL OTHERS

EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000

One fish over maximum

South of and including Volusia County on the Atlantic

WG

EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000

One fish over maximum.

North of   Volusia County on the Atlantic
WG

ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH AND PLANTS

Minimum Size Limit (Total Length): Spanish Hogfish 2",  Spotfin Hogfish 3",  Porkfish 1 1/2"

Maximum size Limit (Total Length): Angelfish (except rock beauty) 8", Butterfly, Jawfish 4",
Rock Beauty 5", Gobies 2", Spanish Hogfish 8", Spotfin Hogfish 8"

Bag Limit fishes/Invertebrates: 20 per person per day. no more than 5 Angelfish and no more than 6 Octocoral Colonies. Plants: 1 gallon per person per day

Live landing and live well requirements. Harvest in Biscayne National Park & John Pennekamp State Park Prohibited.
Unlawful to harvest or posses Longspine Urchin, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida Queen Conch and Bahamas Starfish.
Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited.

PROTECTED SPECIES

It is unlawful to harvest, posses, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species:
Nassau Grouper, Jewfish, Sawfish, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon,
White Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Manta Rays.

Regulations From FWC Division of Marine Fisheries "Fishing Lines" Newsletter

What you Must Know Before You Go

     This article is for all anglers.  It contains the do's and don'ts  of fishing along Florida's coastline and from off its shorelines. It explains who needs and who does not need a fishing license, and it tells what fish - and how many may be taken home. Saltwater Fishing licenses are sold at all county tax collectors' offices and at many bait-and-tackle shops. Licenses may also be obtained over the telephone by dialing Toll Free, 1-888-347-4356. An additional fee of $3.95 is charged for this service. For any recreational licensing information not contained here please call 850-488-3641.

     The law says anyone who takes, attempts to take, or possesses marine fish for noncommercial purposes must have a saltwater fishing license, except for those qualifying for exemptions listed below.

Florida Residents

     When applying for a saltwater fishing license, you are considered to be a Florida Resident if you are:

-- any person who has resided in this state for six continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and who has an intent to continue to reside in Florida as their primary residence.

-- any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is stationed in this state (includes spouse and dependent children residing in household).

     Florida residents may buy a lifetime saltwater fishing license or a lifetime sportsman license. Holders of lifetime saltwater fishing licenses may fish in saltwater as long as they live and will pay no additional fees. The license fee includes the taking of snook or crawfish - which would otherwise require a separate fee. A lifetime sportsman license allows holders to fish in fresh water or salt water and to hunt in Florida. Both of these licenses require holders to obey fishing or hunting laws in effect at any given time. Costs for the four types of licenses:

* Service charge and Snook and Crawfish permits not included

** Purchased only at county tax collectors office and
does not include snook or crawfish permits.

    Tax collectors and the bait-and-tackle shops that act as their
agents will assess an additional service charge of $1.50 or $2.00 per license. *

-- A Florida resident fishing from land or a structure fixed to the land - a pier, bridge, dock, floating dock, jetty or similar structure - but not from a boat.

-- A Florida resident who is 65 years old or older.

-- A Florida resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, who is not stationed in this state, while on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. This does not include family members.

-- A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet in fresh water--with a valid Florida fresh water license.

-- A Florida resident who is fishing for saltwater fish in fresh water from land or from a structure fixed to the land.

-- Under 16 years of age.

-- Fishing from a boat that has a valid recreational vessel saltwater fishing license. ( Offsides Fishing Charters)

-- A non-resident fishing from a pier that has a valid pier saltwater fishing license.

-- A holder of a valid commercial saltwater products license. (Only one person fishing under a vessel saltwater products license may claim the exemption on the vessel for which the saltwater product license is registered.)

-- Any person who has been accepted as a client for development services by AHCA (Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration) or any licensed provider of services through contract with AHCA, where such service involves the need, normally, for possession of saltwater fishing license and such service is provided as part of a court-decided rehabilitation program involving training in Florida's aquatic resources.

     A Florida resident who is certified permanently and totally disabled may obtain a "disabled persons certificate" which allows them to fish in both saltwater and freshwater at no charge from a county tax collector.

Other Saltwater Fishing Fees

     Vessel licenses are required for all vessels that charge a fee to take passengers out to catch marine fish.

Eleven or more customers...$801.50
Five to Ten Customers.........$401.50
Four or fewer customers.....$201.50

Optional fees include the annual Recreational Vessel fee ($2,001.50) for not-for-hire pleasure craft and the annual Pier license, ($501.50) for piers that charge an access fee.

     The money collected from saltwater fishing licenses is used to improve and restore fish habitat and for marine fisheries research, law enforcement, and public education on marine resources.

Nets

     The following types of nets may be used for recreational purposes in Florida waters: Bully nets (for lobster only), landing or dip nets, cast nets, push nets, beach or haul seines. Recreational seines may have a maximum of 500 sq. ft. of mesh area and no longer than 2" stretch mesh.

Traps

     Traps may be used in recreational fishing for stone crab, blue crab, shrimp, pinfish, and black sea bass, subject to the appropriate regulations.


Explosives, etc.

     The use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals, or the discharge of Firearms into the water to kill or harvest marine life is prohibited in State waters.

     In an effort to simplify existing spearfishing regulations, the Marine Fisheries Commission has modified Chapter 46-20, F.A.C., "Spearfishing" to be entitled "Spearing". Spearing is now defined as "the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, logging, spearfishing, or any device used to capture a fish by piercing its body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking)". The use of powerheads, bangsticks, and rebreathers remains prohibited. The following is a list of species which are prohibited for harvest by spearing. Any other species not listed which are managed by the Commission, and those not managed by the Commission are allowed to be harvested by spearing.

-- Families of ornamental reef fish (surgeonfish, trumpet fish, angelfish, butterfly fish, porcupine fish, cornet fish, squirrelfish, trunkfish, damselfish, parrotfish, pipefish, seahorse, puffers)

You May NOT Spearfish (excluding bow hunting and gigging)

-- Within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is allowed.

-- Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea - except for the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends more than 1,500 yards from the shoreline.

-- In Collier County and in Monroe County from Long Key north to the Dade County line.

-- For any fish for which spearing is expressly prohibited by law.

-- In any body of water under the jurisdiction of the DEP's Division of Recreation and Parks. (Possession of spearfishing equipment is prohibited in these areas, unless it is unloaded and properly stored.)

Fishermen who catch and/or sell fish harvested by spearing are subject to the same rules and limitations that other fishermen in the state are required to follow.