Florida’s coastal waters are home to thousands of marine
species, and the majority of these species have no specific
regulations with regard to bag limits, size limits, gear
restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often
referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name
can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any
marine species that does not have specific regulations,
harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is
the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity and
requires a commercial license. This means the recreational
harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or
two organisms if the combined weight of the two organisms
exceeds 100 pounds.
Can't find your fish in the regulations?
C C C C
Examples of "unregulated species" include:
Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish
(whiting), pinfish, Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead
catfish, gafftopsail catfish and blackfin tuna.
Jack Crevalle
Hardhead Catfish
Blackfin Tuna
Bl kfi k
T
Gulf Kingfish
G lf K
f i fi h
White Grunt
Whit G
t
Understanding Recreational
Saltwater Traps
Recreational anglers can use traps to harvest
blue crabs, stone crabs, shrimp and pinfish
within state waters of the Gulf or Atlantic.
Each licensed (or exempt) recreational angler
may fish a maximum of five blue crab traps,
five stone crab traps, and four shrimp traps
as long as the traps are properly designed and
marked. FWC regulations do not limit the
number of pinfish traps that can be used and
do not require any specific marking to identify
the owner of the trap. Design standards and
marking requirements are provided on each
illustration.
Shrimp traps cannot exceed 3’ X 2’ X 1’ in
size, cannot be equipped with external wings,
must be marked with the owners name and
address, and must be tended by the owner at all
times while the traps are deployed. Crab traps
and pinfish traps can be fished unattended.
Lost or abandoned traps can be harmful to
the environment and can become a significant navigational hazard. All traps should be
removed from the water when they are not
being fished. Traps cannot be placed within the
boundary of any marked navigational channel.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater” and “Recreational.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
July 1, 2017 15
56
species, and the majority of these species have no specific
regulations with regard to bag limits, size limits, gear
restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often
referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name
can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any
marine species that does not have specific regulations,
harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is
the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity and
requires a commercial license. This means the recreational
harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or
two organisms if the combined weight of the two organisms
exceeds 100 pounds.
Can't find your fish in the regulations?
C C C C
Examples of "unregulated species" include:
Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish
(whiting), pinfish, Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead
catfish, gafftopsail catfish and blackfin tuna.
Jack Crevalle
Hardhead Catfish
Blackfin Tuna
Bl kfi k
T
Gulf Kingfish
G lf K
f i fi h
White Grunt
Whit G
t
Understanding Recreational
Saltwater Traps
Recreational anglers can use traps to harvest
blue crabs, stone crabs, shrimp and pinfish
within state waters of the Gulf or Atlantic.
Each licensed (or exempt) recreational angler
may fish a maximum of five blue crab traps,
five stone crab traps, and four shrimp traps
as long as the traps are properly designed and
marked. FWC regulations do not limit the
number of pinfish traps that can be used and
do not require any specific marking to identify
the owner of the trap. Design standards and
marking requirements are provided on each
illustration.
Shrimp traps cannot exceed 3’ X 2’ X 1’ in
size, cannot be equipped with external wings,
must be marked with the owners name and
address, and must be tended by the owner at all
times while the traps are deployed. Crab traps
and pinfish traps can be fished unattended.
Lost or abandoned traps can be harmful to
the environment and can become a significant navigational hazard. All traps should be
removed from the water when they are not
being fished. Traps cannot be placed within the
boundary of any marked navigational channel.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater” and “Recreational.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
July 1, 2017 15
56