JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

Florida statewide consumption advisory
Frequently answered questions
Do I need a freshwater or saltwater fishing license or both?
Answer: In general, you need a freshwater license to take freshwater
fish and a saltwater license to take saltwater fish, unless one of the
exemptions specified on page 8 applies. If you are fishing in fresh water
where no saltwater species live, you need a freshwater license and likewise
if you are fishing in the ocean or gulf you need a saltwater 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, saltwater 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 saltwater) 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 saltwater species), you must
immediately release the red drum. An exception is you may take mullet
from fresh water with only a freshwater fishing license.
F.A.Q.
Based on extensive testing over many years, DOH recommends limited consumption of bass, bowfin and gar
from all Florida waters not listed on the Web site:
■ Adults, except women of childbearing age and young children, should not eat more than ONE 6-OUNCE MEAL OF
COOKED FISH PER WEEK.
■ Women of childbearing age and young children should not eat more than ONE 6-OUNCE MEAL OF COOKED FISH
PER MONTH.
Top level predators tend to have more mercury.
Bowfin Largemouth Bass Gar
Smaller, shorter-lived species that feed lower on the food chain tend to have less mercury.
Black Crappie Bluegill Redear Sunfish Redbreast Sunfish
Warmouth Spotted Sunfish Catfish
What regulations apply to frogs?
Answer: 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 the provisions outlined in 68A-26.002, Florida Administrative
Code (FAC), including the use of gigs–provided that gigs are not
specifically prohibited in the area.
What regulations apply to freshwater crayfish?
Answer: 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?
Answer: Wildlife regulations (68A-25.002 FAC) allow turtles to be
taken manually or by baited hooks, bow, dip nets, traps so designed
that any freshwater fish taken therein may escape, or by spearing
only during daylight hours. They prohibit bucket traps, snares, and
shooting with firearms for taking turtles. No person shall buy, sell, or
possess for sale any alligator snapping turtle, box turtle, Barbour’s map
turtle, Escambia River map turtle, diamondback terrapin, river cooter,
or loggerhead musk turtle, or parts thereof. No person shall possess
more than two Barbour’s map turtles, two Escambia River map turtles,
two diamondback terrapins, two river cooters, two box turtles, two loggerhead
musk turtles, or one alligator snapping turtle unless authorized
by permit from the Executive Director. River cooters may not be taken
(continued on page 30)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2008-2009 29