Collecting Near Key Largo

[sytanek]

Has anyone ever done any collecting near key largo, islamorada? going down there in 2 weeks to pick up some stuff from sealifeflorida.

Have basic snorkel gear, but no scuba equipment.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chrisstie]

I would ask Ken yourself where to go and what the regulations are with just a commercial fishing liscense he could probably help you (sealifeflorida guy) .. i think there are some very protected areas in the keys and you need to be careful, even when following the law

 

[sytanek]

christie have you bought anything from ken before? Ive talked to him via email a little bit he seems like a pretty decent guy. I may just bite the bullet and drive to keywest the day I go down there.

 

[sytanek]

Also, have you ever purchased anything from
Toms Caribbean Tropicals Inc.

He is located the same island as Sealife but his fish prices come in 2-3$ cheaper.

 

[chrisstie]

I haven't heard of toms carribbean but yeah i've bought from sealifeflorida.com In fact I was thinking of getting a few things from him again. I really enjoyed his business as an online vendor- his communication is great and he's open and honest. Sometimes hard to get from a smaller individual like that in this hobby. I really like his ricordia prices too but he gets mated pairs of neat little fish i want to try and he's got great cheap little nano things

I will have to check out the other place you mention i like staring at all the websites all the time to get an idea of what i want.

 

[sytanek]

Are there any other small vendors like him that you have heard of?

YEah his Ric prices are crazy. Im thinking about a mater pair of the rusty gobies, and the CBS, just cant decide if i want the gold ones or not.

 

[schnell76]

I have ordered from Ken 3 times in the last 6 months and everytime I order from him I like his livestock and service better and better. He sent me two great freebies along with my last order and saved me a bunch on instate fedex ground shipping. Highly recommend sealifeflorida!!!

 

[sytanek]

Awesome thanks for the review!!!

 

[cschweitzer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9262286#post9262286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisstie
I would ask Ken yourself where to go and what the regulations are with just a commercial fishing liscense he could probably help you (sealifeflorida guy) .. i think there are some very protected areas in the keys and you need to be careful, even when following the law

Yeah, they are very strict about their protected areas down there. They enforce them regularly and harshly...make sure you go to non-protected areas. I heard about one guy spending time in jail for collecting in the wrong places. If nothing else, there are a lot of nice sites on your way down/back. Many nice reefs in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, etc.

 

[sytanek]

I've been working out the details of the protected areas. Even though I am new to Saltwater Tanks, I have been a fisherman my whole life, and am very aware of the rules and regulations.

If you have any suggestions of places in Ft. Lauderdale I wouldn't mind

 

[chrisstie]

My grandparents used to live out in Deerfield beach. I know there's a big pier out on A1A around there somewhere.. maybe by Pompano? with a reef not too far off from it. I think my mom using to go snorkeling for lobster there when she was growing up.

Hope that helps. I too am thinking about a mated pair of his rustys. I just got one from SITC that we ID'd as an ascension goby and i am curious to see if they are the same fish- their habits seem to be similar but haven't seen a rusty up close. He's SO cute just hanging upsidedown under the rock all day.. we got him to go in a 3g pico but now we're debating just leaving him in there since theres a lot of creepy crawly room to hang out upside down and do whatever he does.

 

[onehundred20]

i agree, check into it deeply before you collect there..people getting arrested all the time down there for illegal collecting.