lobster rules in fl?

[rally]

What are the regs for catching lobster in florida? Do you need a license? Do they have to be a certain size? Is there a season/limit to what you can catch? Excuse my ignorance as I am new to fl diving and used to dive overseas where there was no restrictions other than diving with spearguns and tanks was illegal.

Thanks

 

[HarleyDiver]

You need a saltwater fishing license with a crayfish permit.
There is a season, & limits. See FWC website for specifics.
http://myfwc.com/license/

 

[PapaBob]

Rally:

Check out the link in Harley's post for the rules and regs. You can take bugs with scuba in Florida but cannot spear or gig them. Most hunters will use a bully net and tickle stick or a snare. Make sure you measure the lobster underwater and leave the shorts and roe bearing females behind. Any local shop down here will set you up and help with instruction.

---Bob

 

[mike_s]

You need a saltwater fishing license with a crayfish permit.

You only need a license if you are on a private boat (or shore diving). If you're on a commerical boat, that has a commercial license, you are covered under their license.

Also... Bobuba is right about the length. measure them underwater. don't
bring up short bugs. If they're on the boat and shore, it's a violation.

 

[100days-a-year]

If you dive from Stuart north,the bugs will 99% of time be way bigger than legal.You still must have guage on you in the water.

 

[scubapolly]

Also a new law this year, is you can't lobster within 100 ft of improved shoreline. Also no collecting on man made structures.

Size limit is 3' from rostrum to end of carapace.

Polly

 

[Johnoly]

If you dive from Stuart north,the bugs will 99% of time be way bigger than legal.You still must have guage on you in the water.

You and Tropicaldiver always get the best catches !!

 

[100days-a-year]

Like real estate...it's location,location,location

 

[Firebrand]

Also a new law this year, is you can't lobster within 100 ft of improved shoreline. Also no collecting on man made structures.

Size limit is 3' from rostrum to end of carapace.

Polly

What Polly meant to say is three inches, not three feet. The rostrum is right between their eyes. If you are skin diving for lobster, you can measure them at the surface, but the shorts and roe bearing females cannot be in your boat. Also, I've caught lobster where legal size was a very close call. The measurer would stay up if not touched, but if it was bumped, it would fall off the carapace. For those, it's best to play it safe and leave them in the water. If you are diving from your boat, the marine patrol will wait to check your catches at the boat ramp. If your boat is on the trailer and they find you have illegal lobster, your boat, trailer, and vehicle are confiscated. Plus, you have to pay a hefty fine and can face jail time. It's definately not worth it to bring back illegal bugs. (For what it's worth, my dad sat on the Florida Spiney Lobster Committee, so our family is pretty familiar with the laws.) Oh, don't forget to check Florida's laws on the size and placement of your dive flag.

 

[scubapolly]

What Polly meant to say is three inches, not three feet.

Thanks for catching that one Blase! That actually brings up a point worth mentioning is that as a female lobster grows she produces more eggs with each reproductive cycle. Therefore responsible sustainable harvesting suggests you should leave the super giants !