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FLORIDA FISHING INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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Frequently Answered Questions  Brought to you by: MyFWC

Do I need a freshwater or salt water fishing license or both? In general, you need a freshwater license to take freshwater fish and a salt water license to take salt water fish, unless one of the exemptions specified on Licenses applies. If you are fishing in fresh water where no salt water species live, you need a freshwater license and, likewise, if you are fishing in the ocean or Gulf you need a salt water license. However, when you get into estuarine areas where salt and fresh water mix and fish of both types can be found, the issue becomes less clear. The interpretation of the rule is:

You need either a freshwater, salt water or combination license, or appropriate exemption, to take fish (take is legally defined as taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing or killing any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or eggs). If you are using species-specific gear, your license should be appropriate (e.g., freshwater or salt water) to the species you are targeting. Otherwise you need an appropriate type license to keep your catch and must immediately release any species for which you are not licensed. License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where they are caught. For example, if you only have a freshwater license and are primarily fishing for largemouth bass or bream (freshwater species) in a river, but happen to catch a red drum (a salt water species), you must immediately release the red drum. An exception is you may take mullet from fresh water with only a freshwater fishing license, even though they are normally considered a salt water species.

What regulations apply to frogs? There are no seasons, bag or size limits for frogs and a recreational license is not needed. To sell frogs or take frogs to sell, a commercial fish dealers license is required. Frogs may be taken in accordance with 68A-26.002,Florida Administrative Code(FAC),including use of gigs — provided gigs are not specifically prohibited in the area.

What regulations apply to freshwater crayfish? There are no seasons, gear, bag or size limits for freshwater crayfish, and neither a recreational nor commercial license is needed. It is illegal to take Florida’s imperiled crayfish (Panama City, Sims Sink and Black Creek crayfishes) and all cave-inhabiting crayfish.

What regulations apply to freshwater turtles? Licenses and permits are not required to take a recreational bag limit of turtles in accordance with rules provided below. Turtles may be taken by hook and line, net or hand.

Freshwater turtles taken from the wild may not be sold, but freshwater turtles raised on aquaculture facilities or purchased from licensed vendors can be sold. There is a take and transportation limit of one (1) turtle per person unless the individual transporting the turtles has a receipt indicating the purchase date; quantity and species of turtles acquired; and the name and address of supplier. Snapping turtles and map turtles may not be taken from the wild. Additionally, alligator snapping turtles, Suwannee and Barbour’s map turtles may not be possessed without a Class III No-Cost Personal Pet Permit and then, only if they were obtained prior to July 20, 2009.

The following species have a possession limit of two: loggerhead musk turtles, box turtles, Escambia map turtles and Diamondback terrapins. Turtle eggs may not be possessed without a permit. Red-eared sliders may not be possessed without a conditional species permit.

Escambia map turtles and snapping turtles from the wild is prohibited because of similarity to Suwannee  Barbour’s map turtles and alligator snapping turtles, respectively. For all other freshwater turtles, take is limited to one turtle per person per day from the wild for noncommercial use. Freshwater turtles only can be taken by hand, dip net, minnow seine or baited hook. Many freshwater turtles may be taken year-round, but soft shell turtles may not be taken from the wild from May 1 to July 31. In addition, collecting of freshwater turtle eggs is prohibited. You may transport no more than one turtle at a time, unless you have proof that all turtles were purchased legally, and an importation/temporary possession permit (License.MyFWC.com) from the FWC, or a valid Aquaculture Certificate of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS: FloridaAquaculture.com).

Red-eared sliders may be harvested without a permit but not possessed alive without a conditional species permit. Those in possession of a valid Aquaculture Certificate of Registration and restricted species authorization from the FDACS (FloridaAquaculture.com) may culture and sell red-eared sliders, but only to out-of-state recipients or Floridians who have a valid conditional species permit. However, certified turtle farmers that buy red-eared sliders for direct retail sale must have a conditional species permit. The application for a conditional species permit is at License.MyFWC.com. Rules subject to change; see FLrules.org for the latest.

What regulations apply to clams, mussels and other mollusks? Regulations governing taking and possession of freshwater mussels are covered by 68A-23.015 FAC. In summary, “Taking” live or dead freshwater mussels for the purpose of sale, as well as “selling,” is prohibited. Bag Limit: No person shall take more than 10 freshwater mussels, or 20 half-shells of the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae per day. Additionally, no person may possess more than two days’ bag limit (20 individual, 40 half-shells) of any mussels of these families. Any deviation requires a permit from the Executive Director, in accordance with 68A-9.002 FAC (see illustrations, Florida Freshwater Fish).

• Freshwater mussels from families other than the two mentioned above, such as Asian clams, may be taken for bait or personal use. No recreational license is needed.
• Mussels may only be taken by “hand-picking.” Use of brailles, crowfoot bars, or other mechanical methods is prohibited.

What regulations apply to harvesting fish for home aquaria? Rules and regulations for recreational take and possession apply. You cannot be in possession, nor may your aquarium contain more than these limits. Legal methods of collecting and license requirements also apply. You need a freshwater fishing license to take (defined as “taking, attempting to take, pursuing, hunting, molesting, capturing, or killing any freshwater fish, their nests or eggs, by any means, whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such freshwater fish or their nests or eggs”). Avoid taking Florida’s endangered species. A list of them can be found at MyFWC.com/WildlifeHabitats.

How do I use total length and girth to estimate bass weight? When you don’t have a scale, you can use total length and girth to get a rough estimate of a bass’ weight. See the figure on Bag & Length Limitsfor how to measure total length and girth, then use the following formula: Total Length (in inches) squared, times girth (in inches) divided by 1200. For example, a 22″ long bass with a girth of 15″ would weigh about 6.1 pounds (22 x 22 x 15 / 1200 = 6.1). See MyFWC.com/Bass-Formula for an online calculator.

What is the penalty for fishing without a license, keeping too many fish or illegal sized fish? Generally, noncriminal infractions involve license or permit violations, or motor size issues. Second-degree misdemeanors are criminal acts and typically involve taking fish it is illegal to take, fishing in areas that are closed, using illegal gear and size or bag limit violations. Failure to pay a noncriminal penalty (similar to a traffic ticket) within 30 days escalates the charge to a second-degree misdemeanor. Forgery of a license or use of a forged license is a third-degree felony. Florida Statutes (379.41) outline the range of penalties; for instance, a second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to $500 and/or 60 days imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

What is the economic value of freshwater fishing in Florida? Although the value of recreational fisheries extends far beyond its economic impact, it is important to note that Florida’s famed fisheries continue to be a major job creator and to attract millions of tourists.

Southwick Associates published “Sport fishing in America: An Economic Force for Conservation, 2013” for the American Sport fishing Association. This report documents that Florida ranked No. 1 with 3.1 million anglers. Florida’s role as the fishing destination for travelers was reaffirmed, with 2 million nonresident anglers visiting the state. The ripple effect of these dollars was an $8.7 billion economic impact from Florida’s recreational fisheries that supported 80,211 jobs.

Specific to freshwater in 2011, Florida had 1.2 million anglers. They enjoyed 25.7 million days fishing, spending almost a billion dollars and generating an economic impact of $1.7 billion, which supported more than 14,000 jobs.

Smarter, Bolder, Faster and here to stay! Vicki & Randy Biehl – Century 21 Aztec & Associates