Florida Fishing and
Game Laws
There are many excellent locations for spearfishing and
lobstering throughout the state, but before you put your skill and prowess to the test,
you should become familiar with the game laws and regulations. Below is a brief overview
of these laws, but when you decide on a destination, you should check for local ordinances
as well. Maybe this sounds a little complex, but it isn't really. Just remember, marine
life is a depleteable resource, and laws are intended to assure that this resource will be
around for generations to come.
Florida Dive Flag Law
The dive flag must be displayed when diving or
snorkeling in any natural body of water.
State Boundaries -
Florida's state waters are all waters within 3 miles of the shoreline in the Atlantic, and
9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico
Federal Waters -
For fisheries purposes, federal waters extend 200 miles seaward from state waters.
It is unlawful to spearfish as follows:
- Within 100 yard of all public bathing beaches,
commercial or public fishing piers, and that portion of any bridge where fishing is
permitted.
- For the taking of species of ornamental reef fishes,
i.e. surgeonfish, trumpetfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, pocupine fish, cornet fish,
squirrelfish, trunkfish, damselfish, parrot fish, pipefish, sea horses and puffers.
- In Collier County and that part of Long Key north to
the Dade County line.
- In or on any body of water under the jurisdiction of
the Division of Recreation and Parks of the Florida Department of Natural Resources. The
possession of spearfishing equipment is prohibited in these areas.
- The taking of any species whereby the taking by spear
is prohibited.
You are required to have a valid Salt water Fishing
License to take fish in the state.
Resident License:
10 day - $10
1 year - $12
5 year - $60
Non-Resident:
3 day - $5
7 day - $15
1 year - $30
You DO NOT need a saltwater license if:
You are under the age of 16.
You are spearfishing from a boat that has a valid
saltwater fishing license.
There are other exemptions for Florida residents as
well. Check with us for further details.
Coral - It is
unlawful to take, possess or destroy seafans, hard corals or fire corals. If you are in
possession of corals, you must be able to produce a certified invoice that it was imported
from a foreign country.
Lobster (also
called Crawfish) - Regular Season: August 6 - March 31; Sport (Mini) Season: Last
consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Check at the time of your visit for current
bag limits
Lobster must remain in whole condition at all times
while being transported on or below the waters of the state. No egg bearing females may be
taken. Use of grains, spears, grabs, hooks or similar devices is prohibited. The
molesting, taking or trapping of spiny lobster within the Biscayne Bay Card Sound Crawfish
Sanctuary within Dade and Monroe Counties (between Miami and Key Largo) is prohibited.
Divers are required to have a carapace measuring device in their possession and to perform
each measurement in the water.
Marine Mammals (Manatees, Porposes and Whales) - Manatees, or Sea Cows and whales are endangered species. All
marine mammals or parts thereof are protected by both state and federal law. It is
unlawful to take, kill, injure, annoy or molest a marine mammal.
Marine Turtles, Nests and Eggs - It is unlawful to take, kill, molest, disturb, harass,
mutilate, destroy, cause to be destroyed, sell, offer for sale or transfer any marine
turtle, nest or egg. Marine turtles accidentally caught must be returned to the water
alive immediately.
Stone Crab Claws -
No trapping except under permit from the Florida Department of Natural Resources. Use of
spears, grains, hooks or similar devices which can puncture, crush or injure the crab body
is prohibited. Legal claw or claws may be taken but the live crab must be released. It is
unlawful to remove claws from egg bearing females.
Queen Conch - It
is unlawful to take or harvest any queen conch from the land or waters, or to possess or
transport any queen conch so taken or harvested.
Game Fish (snapper, grouper, etc..) - Check at the time of your visit as size and bag limits change
regularly.
Drugs, Poisons -
It is illegal to place drugs or poisons in the marine waters for the taking of any game.
Explosives - The
use of explosives or the discharge of firearms into the water to kill food fish is
prohibited. The landing ashore or the possession on the water by any person of any food
fish that has been damaged by explosives, or the landing of any jewfish or grouper, if the
grouper is taken for commercial use, is prohibited.
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