I'm heading for the Keys over turkey day. Hope to do some collecting of fish for my reef tank... Looking for inverts, and fish.. Also looking for seahorses... Any suggestions on the pest spots to look?
John
John
Collecting in the Keys
- Thread starter jpence151
- Start date
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beachdivequeenbelam
Guest
Marlin is crying now!!! Where's Nemo?
Just kidding. I am not sure but your commment just looked like Finding Nemo 2. Make sure you but your name and address on your mask!!
LOL
I hope you find what you are looking for!!
I will ask my friends and get back on here!
Just kidding. I am not sure but your commment just looked like Finding Nemo 2. Make sure you but your name and address on your mask!!
LOL
I hope you find what you are looking for!!
I will ask my friends and get back on here!
Bob3
Contributor
Be sure to buy a fishing license & check the rulebook.
Seahorses are kinda rare, but you can usually find some in the weed matts that like to float around offshore.
Leave the live rock alone, you have to farm the stuff to make it legal to take.
Seahorses are kinda rare, but you can usually find some in the weed matts that like to float around offshore.
Leave the live rock alone, you have to farm the stuff to make it legal to take.
Bob3:
I knew the live rock and coral are off limits. I plan on buying a 3 day license and hope the rules / size restrictions are still on the back of them. As far as seahorses I wasn't sure if legal at this time or not, I know that in some area they switch back and forth depending on population. I now that pennakamp is off limits as far as collecting. So have you done any collecting in the area, It's been several years for me.
John
Bob3
Contributor
They have a brand new way of issuing licences now, its all done over a special data line & the licences are basically a tiny receipt.
In fact, you may even be able to buy a license online yourself, if you can track down their ever-changing website.
I always go down to the Big Pine area; the footings around the bridges are always a good area to find all sorts of critters, but be watchful of the current switches. Catch it on the incoming ebb, that way cleaner water will be coming in with better viz & if ya get swept away winding up in the inside is better than the outside.
How are you going to get the critters back home alive, overnight FedEx in a plastic bag?
In fact, you may even be able to buy a license online yourself, if you can track down their ever-changing website.
I always go down to the Big Pine area; the footings around the bridges are always a good area to find all sorts of critters, but be watchful of the current switches. Catch it on the incoming ebb, that way cleaner water will be coming in with better viz & if ya get swept away winding up in the inside is better than the outside.
How are you going to get the critters back home alive, overnight FedEx in a plastic bag?
This thread is going to get a LOT of heat.
Hope you've invested in asbestos undies! :flame:
Hope you've invested in asbestos undies! :flame:
For Florida rules regarding ornamentals, read here.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
As for seahorses, I would not recommend collecting them. They're rare enough now as is, enough so I won't divulge some "sweet spots" in the Lower Keys for 'em. And few people can maintain them in aquaria. Unless you're an accomplished ace at it already, try your hand with something far more common first... like pipefishes. Many hobbysists actually prefer them over seahorses.
What other critters are you looking for? What sort of tank(s) will they be going into?
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
As for seahorses, I would not recommend collecting them. They're rare enough now as is, enough so I won't divulge some "sweet spots" in the Lower Keys for 'em. And few people can maintain them in aquaria. Unless you're an accomplished ace at it already, try your hand with something far more common first... like pipefishes. Many hobbysists actually prefer them over seahorses.
What other critters are you looking for? What sort of tank(s) will they be going into?
Hi
Why not just leave them in the ocean and appreciate them there, why do you have to take them out of their natural enviroment, have you seen the damage we are already doing to the oceans?
Why not just leave them in the ocean and appreciate them there, why do you have to take them out of their natural enviroment, have you seen the damage we are already doing to the oceans?
adshepard
Contributor
jpence151:
Noticed you're from Indiana. Do you plan on transporting these fish back with you? I suspect mortality would be very high and would urge you not to take anything.
My wife's cousin lives in the Keys and does some collecting from time to time. He however releases the fish and inverts back in to the wild after a few months of captivity reducing potential mortality.
Personally I would not collect tropicals unless I was collecting from say Rhode Island where they wander to once in a while. They don't survive the winter so gathering them there makes sense.
DSDO
Alan
Wouldn't it be more appropriate to purchase the desired species from captive-raised stock instead of collecting from the wild? I used to "hunt," but only for species that I would eat. Almost 30 years ago I stopped taking anything except for my scientific research (and that is very limited).
Just as in tidepooling, it isn't the single diver who takes a few specimens for their aquarium but the collective effort of all the divers who do so that causes the real problem. Don't know what kind of mortality occured for your species of interest in the recent hurricanes, but you might consider that as well and leave them there to replenish any population numbers killed by that natural disturbance.
No flame, but doesn't it make sense?
Dr. Bill
Just as in tidepooling, it isn't the single diver who takes a few specimens for their aquarium but the collective effort of all the divers who do so that causes the real problem. Don't know what kind of mortality occured for your species of interest in the recent hurricanes, but you might consider that as well and leave them there to replenish any population numbers killed by that natural disturbance.
No flame, but doesn't it make sense?
Dr. Bill
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