2
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Disclaimer: This unofficial summary has no legal effect and is provided for informational purposes only. For the official regulatory language, please refer to Chapter 379, Florida
Statutes, and Chapters 68B and 68E, Florida Administrative Code. NOTE: This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations
are subject to change. This summary does not include regulatory changes that may have occurred after publication. Visit MyFWC.com to view official rule language.
COMMISSION MEETINGS
(Dates and locations are subject to change.)
The Florida Constitution authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to enact rules and regulations regarding the state’s fish
and wildlife resources.
To do this, the 7 Commissioners meet 5 times each year to hear
staff reports, consider rule proposals and conduct other Commission
business. Because stakeholder involvement is a crucial part of the
process, we conduct Commission meetings at different locations
across the state and offer citizens the opportunity to address the
Commission about issues under consideration.
September 4-6, 2013
Pensacola
November 20-21, 2013
Ft. Lauderdale - Miami
For more information about
workgroup and advisory board
meeting dates,times and
locations, and agendas visit our
website at MyFWC.com.
The Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) ������������������������������������ 3
License Fees ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
Permit ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9
“Marine Life” Regulations (Tropical/Ornamentals) ����������� 15 & 23
Commercially Prohibited Species ������������������������������������������� 24
Industry Input is Key to Fishery Management�������������������������� 24
Planning a Move? ����������������������������������������������������������������� 24
Cover Photo taken by Bryan Fluech on a
commercial King Mackerel fishing trip.
Bryan Fluech, Collier County Extension
Director/Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent
University of Florida/IFAS Extension
SNAPPERS .................... 7
MULLET .......................11
BAITFISH .....................22
GROUPERS .................... 8
BLUE CRAB .................12
POMPANO ..................... 9
STONE CRAB ...............13
SEATROUT ..................... 9
LOBSTER .....................13
MACKEREL ..................10
REGULATION CHART ....16
SHELLFISH ..................14
16
17
Basic Commercial
Fishing Regulations
Basic
Commercial
Fishing
Regulations
Species & Area
Size Limit
Trip Limit/
Bag Limit
Closed
Season
Other Regulations
Cobia (Ling) p
33” FL
2 fish per person per
day, maximum of 6 per
vessel.
None
*RS required. May not possess a recreational bag limit and
a commercial bag limit at the same time. Size limit applies
to sale.
Dolphin p
20” FL
Directed harvest - None.
Incidental bycatch -
10 fish per person.
None
*FP & RS required. FP for Atlantic. Allowable gear: hook and
line, longline gear (federal waters only), and spearing. Size limit
applies to purchase and sale of fish.
Eels other than moray and
snake eels
None
None
None
“Marine Life” regulations p. 15 apply to moray and snake eels.
Harvest of spaghetti eels is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral
Reef State Park.
Flounder - Gulf, southern, summer,
fringed p †
12” TL
Incidental bycatch -
50 lbs. shrimp trawls
None
*RS required. Allowable gear: beach or haul seine, cast net,
hook and line, and spearing. In Volusia County, spearing with
barbed spear having more than 3 prongs prohibited. Size limit
applies to sale of fish.
Groupers p
See: “Reef Fish”
Regulations.
pgs. 8 & 9
See: “Reef Fish” Regulations. pgs. 8 & 9
Herring (blueback and river herring) None
None
None
Allowable gear: hook and line only. Spearing prohibited.
Hogfish p
12” FL
None
None
Size limit applies to imported fish
Horseshoe Crab
None
25 crab per person per
day or 100 per person
per day w/ ML#
None
Allowable gear: by hand or gig. Limits extend to docks, piers,
bridges, beaches and adjacent fishing sites. A biomedical
collection permit is required for collecting blood (crabs must be
released alive in the area where collected).
Jacks (Amberjacks) p
See: “Reef Fish”
Regulations. p. 9
See: “Reef Fish” Regulations on p. 9
Species & Area
Size Limit
Trip Limit/
Bag Limit
Closed
Season
Other Regulations
Baitfish
None
None
None
Local baitfish restrictions apply.
Ballyhoo (halfbeaks, balao, and
silver stripe halfbeaks)
None
See page 22
*Lampara Net Endorsement (L) and/or Purse Seine (PS)
endorsement may be required. Allowable gear: Cast net, hook
and line, landing or dip net, lampara net. Use of a lampara
net prohibited Aug. 1 - Aug. 31. Prohibition applies to state
and federal waters. License requirements and bag limits are
determined by the method of harvest and gear used. p. 22
Black Drum p †
14” - 24” TL
500 lbs. per person
or per vessel per day,
whichever is less.
None
*RS required. Prohibition on multiple or snatch hook applies
to state and federal waters. Maximum size limit applies to
sale. Bag limit applies regardless of the possession or use of
additional vessels. Harvest prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral
Reef State Park.
Blue Crab
5”
Regional
p. 12
(VH,VS,VN) and*RS required. Gear and harvest specifications
and size and bag limits differ for the various fishery segments
(bycatch, peeler crabs, or live bait).
Bluefish p
12” FL
Atlantic north of Monroe
County - 7,500 lbs. per
vessel per day. Other
state and federal waters
- None.
None
*RS required. Limits and gear restrictions apply in state and
federal waters of the Atlantic north of Monroe Co. Nets must be
tended. May set no more than 1 net per vessel. No more than
2 nets may be on a vessel, unless nets differ by 1/4” mesh size
and 25 meshes in depth. Nets may not be soaked more than 1
hr. Specific gear restrictions and net marking requirements apply
to nets other than purse seines. In Atlantic waters, nets must be
no more than 600 yards long (connected or unconnected) with
stretched mesh size no less than 3 inches. Size limit applies to
sale of fish.
Blue Land Crab
None
20 crabs per person
possession limit.
July 1 -
Oct. 31
Allowable gear: by hand or landing or dip net Use of bleach
or other chemical solutions prohibited. Harvest from road or
right-of-way or state park prohibited. Prohibitions do not apply
to imported crabs. Possession, stripping, purchase, and sale of
eggbearing crabs prohibited.
Clams, Hard
1” thickness
across hinge
Sorted – None.
Unsorted -
1 bushel per vessel.
None
Allowable gear: use of feet, hands, rakes, tongs. Rakes and
tongs with more than 7/8” space between teeth or bars or
dividers in basket prohibited. Wire or net may not be used in
basket of manual rakes and tongs. A Brevard County Clam
License is required to harvest hard clams in Brevard County.
See: Hard Clam Regulations on p. 14.
Basic Commercial Fishes Regulation Chart
Table of Contents
pg�5
pg�12
pg�10
MyFWC @MyFWC MyFWC
videos MyFWC MyFWC MyFWC
media
Saltwater
Products
License
Information
page
4
Saltwater
Products
License
Information
page
4
Commercial
Saltwater Regulations
Commercial
Saltwater Regulations
July 2013
WET YOUR LINES...
Here is your complete guide to commercial fishing in Florida
King Mackerel
Trap Marking
Requirements
Blue Crab
17
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Disclaimer: This unofficial summary has no legal effect and is provided for informational purposes only. For the official regulatory language, please refer to Chapter 379, Florida
Statutes, and Chapters 68B and 68E, Florida Administrative Code. NOTE: This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations
are subject to change. This summary does not include regulatory changes that may have occurred after publication. Visit MyFWC.com to view official rule language.
COMMISSION MEETINGS
(Dates and locations are subject to change.)
The Florida Constitution authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to enact rules and regulations regarding the state’s fish
and wildlife resources.
To do this, the 7 Commissioners meet 5 times each year to hear
staff reports, consider rule proposals and conduct other Commission
business. Because stakeholder involvement is a crucial part of the
process, we conduct Commission meetings at different locations
across the state and offer citizens the opportunity to address the
Commission about issues under consideration.
September 4-6, 2013
Pensacola
November 20-21, 2013
Ft. Lauderdale - Miami
For more information about
workgroup and advisory board
meeting dates,times and
locations, and agendas visit our
website at MyFWC.com.
The Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) ������������������������������������ 3
License Fees ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
Permit ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9
“Marine Life” Regulations (Tropical/Ornamentals) ����������� 15 & 23
Commercially Prohibited Species ������������������������������������������� 24
Industry Input is Key to Fishery Management�������������������������� 24
Planning a Move? ����������������������������������������������������������������� 24
Cover Photo taken by Bryan Fluech on a
commercial King Mackerel fishing trip.
Bryan Fluech, Collier County Extension
Director/Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent
University of Florida/IFAS Extension
SNAPPERS .................... 7
MULLET .......................11
BAITFISH .....................22
GROUPERS .................... 8
BLUE CRAB .................12
POMPANO ..................... 9
STONE CRAB ...............13
SEATROUT ..................... 9
LOBSTER .....................13
MACKEREL ..................10
REGULATION CHART ....16
SHELLFISH ..................14
16
17
Basic Commercial
Fishing Regulations
Basic
Commercial
Fishing
Regulations
Species & Area
Size Limit
Trip Limit/
Bag Limit
Closed
Season
Other Regulations
Cobia (Ling) p
33” FL
2 fish per person per
day, maximum of 6 per
vessel.
None
*RS required. May not possess a recreational bag limit and
a commercial bag limit at the same time. Size limit applies
to sale.
Dolphin p
20” FL
Directed harvest - None.
Incidental bycatch -
10 fish per person.
None
*FP & RS required. FP for Atlantic. Allowable gear: hook and
line, longline gear (federal waters only), and spearing. Size limit
applies to purchase and sale of fish.
Eels other than moray and
snake eels
None
None
None
“Marine Life” regulations p. 15 apply to moray and snake eels.
Harvest of spaghetti eels is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral
Reef State Park.
Flounder - Gulf, southern, summer,
fringed p †
12” TL
Incidental bycatch -
50 lbs. shrimp trawls
None
*RS required. Allowable gear: beach or haul seine, cast net,
hook and line, and spearing. In Volusia County, spearing with
barbed spear having more than 3 prongs prohibited. Size limit
applies to sale of fish.
Groupers p
See: “Reef Fish”
Regulations.
pgs. 8 & 9
See: “Reef Fish” Regulations. pgs. 8 & 9
Herring (blueback and river herring) None
None
None
Allowable gear: hook and line only. Spearing prohibited.
Hogfish p
12” FL
None
None
Size limit applies to imported fish
Horseshoe Crab
None
25 crab per person per
day or 100 per person
per day w/ ML#
None
Allowable gear: by hand or gig. Limits extend to docks, piers,
bridges, beaches and adjacent fishing sites. A biomedical
collection permit is required for collecting blood (crabs must be
released alive in the area where collected).
Jacks (Amberjacks) p
See: “Reef Fish”
Regulations. p. 9
See: “Reef Fish” Regulations on p. 9
Species & Area
Size Limit
Trip Limit/
Bag Limit
Closed
Season
Other Regulations
Baitfish
None
None
None
Local baitfish restrictions apply.
Ballyhoo (halfbeaks, balao, and
silver stripe halfbeaks)
None
See page 22
*Lampara Net Endorsement (L) and/or Purse Seine (PS)
endorsement may be required. Allowable gear: Cast net, hook
and line, landing or dip net, lampara net. Use of a lampara
net prohibited Aug. 1 - Aug. 31. Prohibition applies to state
and federal waters. License requirements and bag limits are
determined by the method of harvest and gear used. p. 22
Black Drum p †
14” - 24” TL
500 lbs. per person
or per vessel per day,
whichever is less.
None
*RS required. Prohibition on multiple or snatch hook applies
to state and federal waters. Maximum size limit applies to
sale. Bag limit applies regardless of the possession or use of
additional vessels. Harvest prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral
Reef State Park.
Blue Crab
5”
Regional
p. 12
(VH,VS,VN) and*RS required. Gear and harvest specifications
and size and bag limits differ for the various fishery segments
(bycatch, peeler crabs, or live bait).
Bluefish p
12” FL
Atlantic north of Monroe
County - 7,500 lbs. per
vessel per day. Other
state and federal waters
- None.
None
*RS required. Limits and gear restrictions apply in state and
federal waters of the Atlantic north of Monroe Co. Nets must be
tended. May set no more than 1 net per vessel. No more than
2 nets may be on a vessel, unless nets differ by 1/4” mesh size
and 25 meshes in depth. Nets may not be soaked more than 1
hr. Specific gear restrictions and net marking requirements apply
to nets other than purse seines. In Atlantic waters, nets must be
no more than 600 yards long (connected or unconnected) with
stretched mesh size no less than 3 inches. Size limit applies to
sale of fish.
Blue Land Crab
None
20 crabs per person
possession limit.
July 1 -
Oct. 31
Allowable gear: by hand or landing or dip net Use of bleach
or other chemical solutions prohibited. Harvest from road or
right-of-way or state park prohibited. Prohibitions do not apply
to imported crabs. Possession, stripping, purchase, and sale of
eggbearing crabs prohibited.
Clams, Hard
1” thickness
across hinge
Sorted – None.
Unsorted -
1 bushel per vessel.
None
Allowable gear: use of feet, hands, rakes, tongs. Rakes and
tongs with more than 7/8” space between teeth or bars or
dividers in basket prohibited. Wire or net may not be used in
basket of manual rakes and tongs. A Brevard County Clam
License is required to harvest hard clams in Brevard County.
See: Hard Clam Regulations on p. 14.
Basic Commercial Fishes Regulation Chart
Table of Contents
pg�5
pg�12
pg�10
MyFWC @MyFWC MyFWC
videos MyFWC MyFWC MyFWC
media
Saltwater
Products
License
Information
page
4
Saltwater
Products
License
Information
page
4
Commercial
Saltwater Regulations
Commercial
Saltwater Regulations
July 2013
WET YOUR LINES...
Here is your complete guide to commercial fishing in Florida
King Mackerel
Trap Marking
Requirements
Blue Crab
17