13
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Size limits and closed seasons are found in
the “Basic Commercial Saltwater Fishing
Regulations” chart on pages 16-22.
An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) and
Crawfish (C#) or (CD#) endorsement is required
to commercially harvest and sell any spiny
lobster.
Additional requirements apply to harvest by
diving and with traps.
Spiny lobster retained as an incidental bycatch
in a net or trawl other than a hand-held net
may not exceed five percent of the total whole
weight of all species possessed (all license
requirements apply). Spiny lobster may only
be sold by or purchased from persons who hold
the required licenses and endorsements. A
federal permit is required to possess “wrung”
tails in or on state waters. Tails must be
at least 5 ½ inches in length (not including
muscle tissue). Possession of undersized
lobster is prohibited, except as provided for in
the Spiny Lobster Trap Fishery section below.
Undersized lobster may not be sold. Possession
of any egg-bearing lobster is prohibited. Use
of any device that could puncture or crush the
lobster is prohibited.
The vessel limit for harvest with a bullynet is
250 lobster per vessel per day statewide.
Spiny Lobster Trap Fishery
Trap certificates and tags are required for all
traps. A valid tag must be securely attached to
each trap. Spiny lobster trap specifications and
trap, buoy, and vessel marking requirements
apply. Traps, buoys, and vessels must display
the C#. Traps must be constructed of wood or
plastic and be no larger than three feet by two
feet by two feet or the volumetric equivalent
(12 cubic feet) with the entrance (throat)
located on top of the trap. Each plastic trap
must have a degradable panel. Refer to the
official rules before building or buying traps.
Traps may be baited and placed in the water
beginning Aug. 1. Traps may be worked
during daylight hours only. Traps may not
be placed within 100 feet of the intercoastal
waterway or any bridge or seawall. Pulling
another person’s trap without the express
written consent of the owner and FWC Law
Enforcement is prohibited. Traps must be
removed from the water by April 5 each year.
Harvest is prohibited in designated areas of
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A person aboard a vessel with a C# and trap
certificates may harvest and possess while on
the water 50 undersized spiny lobster (shorts)
and one short per trap aboard the boat. Shorts
must be released alive and unharmed upon
leaving trap lines (livewell specifications
apply). The allowance for shorts applies to the
trap fishery only and sale is prohibited.
Spiny Lobster Dive Fishery
All vessels used by persons commercially
harvesting lobster by diving, scuba or snorkel
must display the Commercial Dive Permit
(CD#) on the vessel. A dive permit was issued
to divers with trip ticket landings between July
1, 2000 and June 30, 2003. Trap certificates
cannot be held by a person with a CD#. No
dive permits will be issued, renewed or replaced
except those that were active in 2004-05.
Dive permits not renewed by September
30, of each year are forfeited to the FWC.
A 250 lobster per day vessel limit applies
in Broward, Dade, Monroe, Collier and Lee
counties and adjoining federal waters. Divers
must permanently and conspicuously display
a “divers down flag” placard on the vessel and
affix the CD# to the diagonal stripe with 10”
numbers visable from the air and 4” numbers
visable from the water. Harvest from artificial
habitat is prohibited. Divers must possess a
carapace measuring device and measure lobster
in the water. The use of bleach or chemical
solutions or simultaneous possession of spiny
lobster and any plastic container capable of
ejecting liquid is prohibited. The recreational
bag limit applies when diving at night.
Size and bag limits, closed seasons and license requirements are found in the chart on pages 16-22. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) and
Stone crab (X#) endorsement is required to commercially harvest and sell any stone crab. Only legal sized claws may be possessed, transported, or
sold. Crabs must be kept alive and damp in containers that do not compress them until the claws can be removed. Transport of intact stone crabs or
bodies is prohibited. Spears, grains, grabs, or hooks that can puncture or crush crabs are prohibited. Removal of claws from egg-bearing females is
prohibited.
Trap certificates and tags are required for all stone crab traps. A valid tag must be securely attached to each trap. Stone crab trap specifications
and trap, buoy, and vessel marking requirements apply. Traps, buoys, and vessels must display the X#. Traps must be constructed of wood, plastic,
or wire and be no larger than two feet by two feet by two feet or a volume of 8 cubic feet with the entrance (throat) located on a horizontal side
of wire traps and on the top of wood and plastic traps. Each plastic trap must have a degradable panel. Each wire trap must have at least three
unobstructed escape rings (2 3 /8” inside diameter) located on a vertical side of the trap as specified in rule. Refer to the official rules before building
or buying traps. Traps may be worked during daylight hours only. Traps may be baited and placed in the water 10 days before the season begins.
Stone crab traps are prohibited in all navigation channels of Inland Coastal Waterways
or channels marked by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, USCG, state, county or local
governments. Pulling another person’s trap without express consent of the owner and FWC
Law Enforcement is prohibited. Traps must be removed from the water within 5 days after
the end of the season.
STONE CRAB
SPINY LOBSTER (CRAWFISH)
Trap theft or molestation is a felony crime; penalties
include permanent loss of license and trap
certificates in addition to court assessed penalties.
Trap theft or molestation is a felony crime;
penalties include permanent loss of license
and trap certificates in addition to court
assessed penalties.
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Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Size limits and closed seasons are found in
the “Basic Commercial Saltwater Fishing
Regulations” chart on pages 16-22.
An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) and
Crawfish (C#) or (CD#) endorsement is required
to commercially harvest and sell any spiny
lobster.
Additional requirements apply to harvest by
diving and with traps.
Spiny lobster retained as an incidental bycatch
in a net or trawl other than a hand-held net
may not exceed five percent of the total whole
weight of all species possessed (all license
requirements apply). Spiny lobster may only
be sold by or purchased from persons who hold
the required licenses and endorsements. A
federal permit is required to possess “wrung”
tails in or on state waters. Tails must be
at least 5 ½ inches in length (not including
muscle tissue). Possession of undersized
lobster is prohibited, except as provided for in
the Spiny Lobster Trap Fishery section below.
Undersized lobster may not be sold. Possession
of any egg-bearing lobster is prohibited. Use
of any device that could puncture or crush the
lobster is prohibited.
The vessel limit for harvest with a bullynet is
250 lobster per vessel per day statewide.
Spiny Lobster Trap Fishery
Trap certificates and tags are required for all
traps. A valid tag must be securely attached to
each trap. Spiny lobster trap specifications and
trap, buoy, and vessel marking requirements
apply. Traps, buoys, and vessels must display
the C#. Traps must be constructed of wood or
plastic and be no larger than three feet by two
feet by two feet or the volumetric equivalent
(12 cubic feet) with the entrance (throat)
located on top of the trap. Each plastic trap
must have a degradable panel. Refer to the
official rules before building or buying traps.
Traps may be baited and placed in the water
beginning Aug. 1. Traps may be worked
during daylight hours only. Traps may not
be placed within 100 feet of the intercoastal
waterway or any bridge or seawall. Pulling
another person’s trap without the express
written consent of the owner and FWC Law
Enforcement is prohibited. Traps must be
removed from the water by April 5 each year.
Harvest is prohibited in designated areas of
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A person aboard a vessel with a C# and trap
certificates may harvest and possess while on
the water 50 undersized spiny lobster (shorts)
and one short per trap aboard the boat. Shorts
must be released alive and unharmed upon
leaving trap lines (livewell specifications
apply). The allowance for shorts applies to the
trap fishery only and sale is prohibited.
Spiny Lobster Dive Fishery
All vessels used by persons commercially
harvesting lobster by diving, scuba or snorkel
must display the Commercial Dive Permit
(CD#) on the vessel. A dive permit was issued
to divers with trip ticket landings between July
1, 2000 and June 30, 2003. Trap certificates
cannot be held by a person with a CD#. No
dive permits will be issued, renewed or replaced
except those that were active in 2004-05.
Dive permits not renewed by September
30, of each year are forfeited to the FWC.
A 250 lobster per day vessel limit applies
in Broward, Dade, Monroe, Collier and Lee
counties and adjoining federal waters. Divers
must permanently and conspicuously display
a “divers down flag” placard on the vessel and
affix the CD# to the diagonal stripe with 10”
numbers visable from the air and 4” numbers
visable from the water. Harvest from artificial
habitat is prohibited. Divers must possess a
carapace measuring device and measure lobster
in the water. The use of bleach or chemical
solutions or simultaneous possession of spiny
lobster and any plastic container capable of
ejecting liquid is prohibited. The recreational
bag limit applies when diving at night.
Size and bag limits, closed seasons and license requirements are found in the chart on pages 16-22. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) and
Stone crab (X#) endorsement is required to commercially harvest and sell any stone crab. Only legal sized claws may be possessed, transported, or
sold. Crabs must be kept alive and damp in containers that do not compress them until the claws can be removed. Transport of intact stone crabs or
bodies is prohibited. Spears, grains, grabs, or hooks that can puncture or crush crabs are prohibited. Removal of claws from egg-bearing females is
prohibited.
Trap certificates and tags are required for all stone crab traps. A valid tag must be securely attached to each trap. Stone crab trap specifications
and trap, buoy, and vessel marking requirements apply. Traps, buoys, and vessels must display the X#. Traps must be constructed of wood, plastic,
or wire and be no larger than two feet by two feet by two feet or a volume of 8 cubic feet with the entrance (throat) located on a horizontal side
of wire traps and on the top of wood and plastic traps. Each plastic trap must have a degradable panel. Each wire trap must have at least three
unobstructed escape rings (2 3 /8” inside diameter) located on a vertical side of the trap as specified in rule. Refer to the official rules before building
or buying traps. Traps may be worked during daylight hours only. Traps may be baited and placed in the water 10 days before the season begins.
Stone crab traps are prohibited in all navigation channels of Inland Coastal Waterways
or channels marked by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, USCG, state, county or local
governments. Pulling another person’s trap without express consent of the owner and FWC
Law Enforcement is prohibited. Traps must be removed from the water within 5 days after
the end of the season.
STONE CRAB
SPINY LOBSTER (CRAWFISH)
Trap theft or molestation is a felony crime; penalties
include permanent loss of license and trap
certificates in addition to court assessed penalties.
Trap theft or molestation is a felony crime;
penalties include permanent loss of license
and trap certificates in addition to court
assessed penalties.
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