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2003-2004 FLORIDA FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHING REGULATIONS

These rules are effective 1 July 2005 and end on 30 June 2006.

• Commissioners
• The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner History
• Regional Offices/Map/Address/Phone Numbers
• COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE FEES
• TROTLINES BUSH HOOKS and SET LINES
• WIRE TRAPS and SLAT BASKETS
• POUND NETS
• HOOP NETS
• MINNOW LIFT NETS
• MINNOW SEINE
• TRAPS and POTS
• MISCELLANEOUS RULES
• LICENSE APPLICATION

This summary refers to freshwater commercial fishing only.

The Division of Marine Fisheries provides separate saltwater regulations and information. Freshwater sportfishing rules are listed separately.

These commercial rules (in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format) are also available as an 8.5" x 14" brochure that can be printed from our Fisheries Publications page.  

 
Mr. Rodney Barreto,  Coral Gables--Chairman
Mr. H.A. "Herky" Huffman, Deltona--Vice Chairman
Mr. Richard A. "Dick" Corbett, Tampa
Mr. Brian S. Yablonski, Tallahassee
Ms. Sandra T. Kaupe, Palm Beach
Mr. David K. Meehan, St. Petersburg
Mr. John D. Rood, Jacksonville
 

In the 1998 General Election, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a revision to the Florida Constitution combining the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) and the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) into a single agency: the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC). This new agency will officially come into existence July 1, 1999 and have regulatory authority over all wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life and marine life.

While the Constitution Revision combined the staffs of the two agencies (990 from FWC, IO from MFC), the 1999 Florida Legislature is addressing the issue of additional staffing needs for the FWCC -- marine resources, law enforcement and administration -- as well as budget needs. As this publication went to press, the Legislature was in session and resolution of these matters was not complete.

Also unresolved at press time were the issues of chairman of the new Commission and executive and assistant executive director of the new agency.

In the meantime, staffs of both the FWC and MFC have been working together to ensure a smooth transition. We urge you to contact any regional office or visit our Web site at www.state.us/FWC/fishing/merger.html for the latest information on the structure of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and more details about its history and charge.

Please note that most browsers have the ability to search a web page for particular text. This feature is normally found under the edit menu. It provides a convenient way for you to search for a particular water body (e.g., Okeechobee), species (e.g., striped bass) or technique (e.g., trotlines).  

COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE FEES

Resident:

RC-Resident Commercial Fishing (fish or frogs).......... 25.00

RFD-Resident Freshwater Fish Dealer........................... 40.00

Nonresident:

NCF-Nonresident Commercial Fishing......................... 100.00

    (fish or frogs)

NRF - Nonresident Retail Fish Dealer........................... 100.00

NW - Nonresident Wholesale Fish Dealer.................. 500.00

NWB - Nonresident Wholesale Fish Buyer.................. 50.00

License applications are available on-line.

All commercial fishing licenses are issued only by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Any person who takes freshwater fish or frogs by any lawful method prescribed by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for purpose of sale is required to possess a Commercial Fishing License (resident or nonresident). Holders of this license may sell to anyone but may not buy fish for the purpose of sale. A valid Resident Commercial Fishing License also allows noncommercial fishing. The Resident 12-Month Sport Fishing License is not required.

The Resident Freshwater Fish Dealers License permits a resident to import, export, or sell freshwater fish or frogs, including live bait. An import permit is also required in addition to this license to import certain live freshwater fish.

The holder of a Nonresident Retail Fish Dealer License may buy freshwater fish from persons properly licensed to sell freshwater fish and may sell freshwater fish, including live bait, directly to a consumer.

The holder of a Nonresident Wholesale Fish Dealer License may buy freshwater fish for resale from persons properly licensed to sell freshwater fish and may sell fish within the state.

The Nonresident Wholesale Fish Buyer License permits a nonresident, who does not sell freshwater fish or frogs in Florida, to buy freshwater fish or frogs from resident freshwater fish dealers for resale outside the state.

A Commercial Fishing License is required for use of trotlines of 25 hooks or less when fish are taken for purpose of sale.

Senior citizens are not exempt from purchase of commercial fishing licenses.

No freshwater Commercial Fishing License or Fish Dealer License is required to take or sell live bait, other than freshwater fish or frogs.

It is unlawful for licensed freshwater fish dealers or buyers to purchase freshwater fish or frogs from any unlicensed person. All boats engaged in commercial fishing shall have at least one licensed commercial licensee on board.

LAWFUL METHODS FOR USING TROTLINES AND BUSH HOOKS OR SET LINES
 

A trotline limited to 25 hooks may be used for taking non-game fish for personal use. Persons operating more than 25 bush hooks or set lines or a trotline using more than 25 hooks are considered to be fishing commercially and must have a commercial license. All game fish taken by trotlines, bush hooks or set lines shall be immediately returned to the water and it is unlawful to possess any game fish while operating trotlines, bush hooks or set lines.

Trotlines, bush hooks or set lines are permitted statewide except in that portion of the Ochlockonee River between State Road 20 and the Lake Talquin Power Dam; that portion of the Apalachicola River between U.S. Highway 90 and the Jim Woodruff Dam; Bear Gully Lake in Seminole County; the Oklawaha River upstream from the Eureka Bridge; Lake Jackson in Walton County; Silver Lake on the Withlacoochee River; Lakes Jessamine and Holden in Orange County; Triplett lakes in Seminole County; Lake Helen in Volusia County; in Martin County east of the Sunshine State Parkway; in that portion of the St. Johns River and its tributaries south of State Road 46 and north of U.S. Highway 192, including lakes Poinsett, Winder and Washington.

Trotlines are permitted in the portion of the St. Johns River lying between U.S. Highway 17-92 and State Road 46 provided that from 9 a.m. on Saturday until sunset on Sunday all trotlines shall be sunk to the bottom or to a minimum depth of four feet during daylight hours. From January 1 until March 31 trotlines shall be prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the waters of the main channel of the St. Johns River from a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46, excluding Lake Harney. Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the Oklawaha River below the Rodman Dam.

In Lakes Beauclaire, Carlton, Dora, Eustis, Griffin, Harris and Yale, no trotline shall be allowed from 9 a.m. Friday until one hour before sunset Sunday. Trotlines also shall be prohibited from 9 a.m. until one hour before sunset Monday through Thursday from May 1 through October 31. No trotline shall be secured to or fished within 50 yards of a private pier or dock.

In East Lake Tohopekaliga, trotlines are permitted only from sunset Sunday until midnight Friday of each week, and only during the period from sunset each day until 9 a.m. the following morning.

Trotlines are prohibited in Little Bay Lake in Orange County except under permit.

Trotlines are prohibited in Lake Talquin during daylight hours.

Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the waters of the following lakes:

• Lake County -- Cherry, Cook, Crescent, Hiawatha, Johns, Louisa, Minnehaha, Minneola, Palatlakaha, Susan, Wilson, and Winona.
• Orange County -- Butler, Chase, Conway, Down, Fish, Isleworth, Johns, Mable, Maitland, Misell, Osceola, Picket, Sheen, Starke, Tibet Butler and Virginia.
• Polk County -- All lakes except Arbuckle, Crooked, Hancock, Rosalie, Tiger and Walk-in-Water.
   

WIRE TRAPS AND SLAT BASKETS FOR NON-GAME FISH

Specifications for wire traps:
Maximum length — Seven feet
Maximum width — 32 inches
Mesh — Minimum one inch.
Type — Two funnels in one end.
Depth — At least three feet of clearance between the highest point on the trap and the water surface.

Specifications for slat baskets:
Maximum length — Six feet
Maximum diameter — 32 inches
Construction — Of slats with openings of at least one and one-half inch in the head or upstream end.
Depth — At least three feet of clearance between the highest point on the basket and the water surface.
Funnel opening — Maximum diameter of smallest funnel opening two inches, except under pressure.

Locations and number of traps and baskets
80 wire traps and slat baskets per licensee in Trout River east of Interstate 95, Broward River, Dunn Creek and in that portion of the St. Johns River from the Seaboard Coastline bridge in Duval County upstream to State Road 46 (Mims Bridge) including Doctors Lake, Crescent Lake, Dunns Creek and Lakes Beresford, Woodruff, Dexter, Monroe and Harney, except Lake Jessup.

Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited within 100 feet of the mouths of the St. Johns tributaries: Getout Creek, Blue Springs Run, Wekiva River, Deep Creek, Alexander Springs Creek, Spring Garden Creek, Shell Creek and DeLeon Springs Creek. Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited in the main channel of the St. Johns River from a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 (except Lake Harney) from January 1 to March 31. Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited within 25 yards of vegetation in Crescent Lake except from June 1 through August 31.

80 wire traps and slat baskets per licensee in the part of the main channel of the St. Marys River downstream from the railroad bridge paralleling U.S. Highway 17.

Regulations pertaining to wire traps fished in Lake Okeechobee are contained in FWC Rule 68A-23.012.

40 wire traps and slat baskets in the aggregate per licensee in lakes Apopka, West Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha, and Kissimmee.

20 slat baskets per licensee in the Santa Fe, Suwannee (and its tributary, the Withlacoochee) and Apalachicola rivers (except in the section between U.S. Highway 90 and Jim Woodruff Dam); and the Apalachicola River tributaries (except that portion of the Chipola River upstream from Dead Lakes Dam); and in Lake Seminole in Jackson County. No wire traps permitted.

40 wire traps per licensee in Lake Istokpoga and Red Beach Lake in Highlands County and in lakes Arbuckle, Crago, Banana, Buffum, Davenport, Henry, Gibson, Marion, Reedy, Surveyors, Vann, Effie, Hancock, Hunter, Parker, Rosalie, and Tiger in Polk County.

Additionally, wire traps and slat baskets may be fished in other specific areas as designated by rule of the Commission.

Miscellaneous rules
Traps or baskets not being fished shall be removed from the water.
 

POUND NETS FOR NON-GAME FISH

The use of pound nets shall be prohibited, except that established pound net sites registered with the Commission by December 31, 1982, may be fished only by the registered claimant or his designee. Such pound net registration shall not be transferable to any other person.

Specifications
Maximum size—Widest dimension—20 feet. Leads shall not exceed 200 feet in length.
Minimum mesh—Not less than two inches stretched.
Pilings—shall extend at least two feet above high water mark and shall be marked with reflective material at least six inches in width, visible 360 degrees.
Depth—In waters not less than six feet.

Locations
In the St. Johns River from the Shands Bridge in Clay County south to the southern Putnam County line and in Dunns Creek.
 

HOOP NETS FOR NON-GAME FISH

Maximum number — 100 per licensee

Specifications
Maximum diameter—Five feet
Mesh size—Not less than two inches stretched throughout, nor more than 2½ inches stretched rearward of the attachment of the second funnel.
Depth—At least three feet of clearance between the highest point of the hoop net and the water surface.
Funnels—A cross or other restrictive device shall be attached to the inside of the first funnel opening in order to exclude manatees. This device shall be constructed so as to prevent cylindrical objects seven inches or more in diameter from entering the front funnel opening.
Second funnel opening shall be designed to discourage or prevent the entrance of game fish by restricting said opening with twine or webbing.

Locations
Allowed in Trout River east of Interstate 95, Broward River, Dunn Creek and in that portion of the St. Johns River from the Seaboard Coastline bridge in Duval County upstream to State Road 46 (Mims Bridge) including Crescent Lake, Dunns Creek and Lakes Beresford, Woodruff, Dexter, Monroe and Harney, except Lake Jessup.

Hoop nets are prohibited within 100 feet of the mouths of the following St. Johns tributaries: Getout Creek, Blue Springs Run, Wekiva River, Deep Creek, Alexander Springs Creek, Spring Garden Creek, Shell Creek and DeLeon Springs Creek. Hoop nets are prohibited within 25 yards of vegetation in Crescent Lake except from June 1 through August 31. Hoop nets are prohibited in the main channel of the St. Johns River from a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 (except in Lake Harney) from January 1 to March 31.
 

MINNOW LIFT NETS FOR NON-GAME FISH

Maximum number — 10 per licensee

Specifications
Maximum dimensions — 12 feet square
Maximum mesh — One inch stretched
Markings — Poles shall be marked with reflective material at least six inches in width, visible 360 degrees.
Permanent tag bearing the name and address of the owner shall be attached to the pull pole of the lift net.

Area specific regulations
No minnow lift nets shall be fished in the St. Johns River Water Management Areas of Lake County formerly known as Long Farm, S.N. Knight Lisbon Farm (both parcels north and south of the Yale-Griffin canal), S.N. Knight Leesburg Farm, Lowrie Brown Farm, Eustis Muck Farm, and Walker Ranch.
 

MINNOW SEINE FOR NON-GAME FISH (EXCEPT CATFISH)

Specifications
Nets for use in public waters: maximum length 40 feet; no pocket permitted; maximum mesh, one inch stretched.
 

TRAPS AND POTS FOR EELS AND OTHER NON-GAME FISH

Specifications
Eel traps or pots—shall be of one inch by one-half inch wire mesh.
In waters other than those specified for wire traps or slat baskets, such eel traps and pots, in addition to having a one inch by one-half inch wire mesh, shall be of the following types and specifications:

Square “carolina”-type pots
Maximum dimensions — 24 inches by 24 inches by 18 inches. Maximum diameter of any and all funnel openings — two inches.

Cylindrical “shotgun”-type pots
Maximum dimensions — four feet by 18 inches.
Maximum diameter of any and all funnel openings — two inches.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES

Persons licensed under s. 372.65, F.S., may use certain commercial fishing devices only in the manner and in the areas specified in this section, except as specified in FWC Rule 68A-23.002(10). Any game fish taken by these devices shall be immediately returned to the water.
 

A limited number of permits may be issued by the Executive Director to authorize operation of haul seines in Lake Okeechobee and in the South Region. Contact the Commission for information on permits, application procedures, and gear specifications and use.

Blue crab traps and pots may be fished in fresh water. Trap and pot specifications and use shall be as specified in rules of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Commercial harvest or sale of freshwater mussels is prohibited.

Freshwater turtles may be taken in traps, slat baskets, pound nets, hoop nets, minnow lift nets and minnow seines as described in this brochure or by methods prescribed in FWC Rule 68A-25.002. Numbers and species taken shall be as prescribed in FWC Rule 68A-25.002.

No softshell turtles or their eggs may be taken from the wild from May 1 through July 31.