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JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

METHODS OF TAkING FISH
Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration Program
The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration
Program (SFR, Wallop-Breaux) is a user-pays,
user-benefits program seeking to improve
sport fishing and boating opportunities.
SFR funds are collected by the federal
government from excise taxes on fishing
tackle, motor boat fuels and import duties on tackle and yachts. The money is returned to
state agencies for sport-fishing research, management and development activities. For every
$3 of federal funds received, the state adds $1. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission depends on these funds to continually improve Florida’s fisheries, and you will see
the SFR logo on boat ramp signs, brochures or other products produced with these funds for
the benefit of anglers. For every paid fishing license holder, the state receives approximately $7
in federal funds, which is one reason why we encourage exempt anglers to purchase a license.
Not only is your license fee used for fish and wildlife conservation in Florida, but it also draws
down that additional $7 in federal support.
NOTE: A valid fishing license is required to
fish by any method in a Fish Management
Area.
Game and nongame
freshwater fish
Game Fish – black bass, crappie, bluegill,
redear sunfish, warmouth, redbreast sunfish,
spotted sunfish, flier, mud sunfish, longear
sunfish, shadow bass, peacock bass, white
bass, striped bass and sunshine bass.
Nongame Fish – all freshwater fish are defined
as non-game fish, except grass carp and
fish defined as freshwater game fish. Note:
Alligator gar require a scientific collector’s
permit to take.
Methods of taking
freshwater fish
Game fish and nongame fish may be taken
with pole and line or rod and reel. There is
no limit on the number of rods an angler may
use.
Freshwater fish may not be taken by use
of any free-floating, unattached device, or
by taking of fish or wildlife with firearms,
explosives, electricity, spear gun, poison or
other chemicals. The taking of fish by underwater
swimming or diving is prohibited. It is
unlawful to sell, offer for sale or transport out
of the state any freshwater game fish unless
specifically permitted by the FWC, except that
licensed anglers may transport two days’ bag
limit of legally harvested game fish.
It is illegal to possess any freshwater fish
along with gear that cannot legally be used
to take freshwater fish, including gear types
listed above and below for taking nongame
fish or bait. An exception is game fish may be
possessed together with cast nets having a
stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch;
minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet in diameter;
minnow seines having a stretched mesh
size not greater than 1 inch, a length not more
than 20 feet and a depth not more than 4 feet;
and minnow traps not more than 24 inches in
length and 12 inches in diameter, with a funnel
entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.
10 2008-2009
It is illegal to fillet or remove the head or tail
fin of black bass, striped bass, white bass, sunshine
bass, peacock bass, crappie and panfish
(where special crappie or panfish size or bag
limits are in effect) until you have completed
fishing for the day.
Nongame fish may be taken:
■ By bush hook, setline or trotline baited
with cut bait or other substance; but not
including live game fish or any part of any
game fish; bush hooks, setlines or trotlines
(limited to 25 hooks total) are permitted
for taking nongame fish for personal use,
but only in those areas where trotlines may
be lawfully used in accordance with the
Wildlife Code of the State of Florida. Refer
to the “Commercial Freshwater Fisheries
Rules and Regulations Summary.”
■ Nongame fish may be taken at night by
bow and arrow and gigs.
■ Nongame fish may also be taken during
daylight hours by manually operated
spears, gigs, snatch hooks, crossbow or
bow and arrow from a boat or from shore
except at the spillways of the Eureka and
Rodman dams on the Oklawaha River or on
the spillway of the Jim Woodruff Dam on
the Apalachicola River or in Dade County
canals south of the C-4 and east of the
L-31N and L-31W canals inclusively.
■ Nongame fish may be taken by the use
of cast nets in the South and Northeast
regions, in Citrus County, and in the
Southwest Region, except that possession
or use of cast nets in waters adjoining
Saddle Creek Fish Management Area, Polk
County, confined by Morgan Combee Road,
U.S. Highway 92 and Fish Hatchery Road
are prohibited.
■ Using a bow and light at night. Night
bowfishing tournaments do not require a
permit in the Northwest Region.
■ By netting and impounding at night from
Sept. 1 to May 1 in specified waters in
Northwest Florida. Nets used to take
nongame fish in these specified waters
must be less than 100 feet in length, have
a minimum 3-inch stretched mesh and
shall be continuously attended to ensure
immediate release of any trapped game
fish. Contact the Northwest Regional office
for details.
■ Fishing gear such as hoop nets, wire traps,
slat baskets, trotlines, bush hooks, and
setlines must be clearly and legibly marked
with the harvester’s name and address
while being used or possessed in or upon
the waters of the state.