Collection Diving

[Fish_Kid99]

I know this question is going to sound stupid because i live in Ohio, but is it possible to collect fish and corals when you dive in Florida?

My family and I go to Florida almost every summer and I figured that it would be an easy way to get some fish and corals. We can go to the Gulf or the Atlantic. Is there any laws against this?

 

[ace_92101]

Not a stupid question. If you do a search, there are several similar threads. My understanding is that you need a saltwater fishing license. Make sure to follow all the regulations. Like most places, corals are a no go. The diving/snorkeling is much better on the Atlantic side.

 

[Fish_Kid99]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can take most fish, almost all inverts, 5 zoa polyps, some ricordeas, no Sea fans or gorgonians. What about SPS, LPS, and soft corals? I can understand that you can't take huge corals, but what about fragging them on the spot?

 

[ace_92101]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can take most fish, almost all inverts, 5 zoa polyps, some ricordeas, no Sea fans or gorgonians. What about SPS, LPS, and soft corals? I can understand that you can't take huge corals, but what about fragging them on the spot?

SPS are prohibited, as they are in most locations. I googled regulations and this is what I found.

http://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/saltwater/marine-life-regulations/

How are you planning to transport them back to Ohio?

 

[Fish_Kid99]

Thanks for that. I am only going to pick up some zoas an soft corals. I was going to put them in big, plastic buckets and fill them with the natural seawater and put a heater and an air pump to keep them alive

 

[billsreef]

Here's the regulations hot off the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's site. Pay attention to the bag limits and total possession limits, as well as the rest of the regs.

 

[Fish_Kid99]

Ok thank you.

 

[Capt.B]

The marine police are very strict with harvesting corals and ornamental fish. Be very careful to follow the regulations, and make sure you properly identify your specimens! The fines can be huge. I've been stopped (everything was legal) and had to argue with FWC about the legality of what was on my boat. If you are in the Florida Keys there are many areas where you're prohibited from collecting.

 

[r-balljunkie]

not to be a buzzkill, it darn hard to collect fish. specialized nets (no, the ones from academy wont cut it), catch bucket, and knowledge on how to decompress a fish if you are collecting past 60'.+

slurp guns are useless. you need to net them.

it took me a whole year to get decent at it, and im not going to quit my day job anytime soon to collect full time.

 

[Reefmedic79]

+1 @r-balljunkie netting them is the best way

Live rock collecting is illegal in FL as well, so know how to get the zoos and softies off the rock is needed as well. A small sliver of rock still attached to the coral could get you in hot water as well, if you happen to get a game officer on a bad day.

 

[fyrfytr]

Would have not thought of doing this on my next drive trip there....intereting.....

 

[billsreef]

Would have not thought of doing this on my next drive trip there....intereting.....

Keep in mind, dive operators in the Keys are taking divers out to Pennekamp...no collecting allowed. Out of Miami, might be in the Biscayne Bay park boundary or outside of it, so talk to them first.