2012-13FW-FishingRegs

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General

StatewideFreshwaterFishingRegulationspages 810

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Valid from July 1, 2012

to June 30, 2013
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Cmmissinrs Mssag ........................3

Nw Ruls ...............................................3

Intructin .............................................4FWC contact information & regional map

Fising licns rquirmnts & s .........5

Resident shing licenses

Nonresident shing licensesLifetime and 5-year licenses

Frswatr fsing tips

rm t prs ........................................ 6-7

Frswatr licns xmptins ................8

Mts taing rswatr fs ............8

Gam & nngam rswatr fs .............8

Pribit gar r taing

marin fs in rs watr .........................8

Mts taing bait ........................... 8

Rlas an mvmnt fs .................9

Us fs r bait ................................. 9

Taing mussls & clams ...........................9

Spcial rgulatins r

tripli grass carp, alligatr gar,

Atlantic, Gul an srtns sturgn ......9

Statwi bag & lngt limits ................10How to measure your catch

Spcial bag & lngt limits ....................10

Fis intifcatin cart ...................1112

Cr Cnsrvatin Mssag ..................... 13

From FWC

Web Site: MyFWC.com

Visit MyFWC.com/Fishingfor up-to-date information on shing,boating and how to help ensure safe,sustainable sheries for the future.

Stop the spread onon-native species

It is illegal to release any non-native sh or any other non-nativeorganism into the waters ofthe state. To nd out more visitMyFWC.com/WildlifeHabitats.

Florida Wildliemagazine online

Articles and tips for anglers, huntersand other outdoor enthusiasts.Visit FloridaWildlifeMagazine.comto subscribe to the new electronicpublication.

Instantlicense privileges

Obtain license privileges, 24 hoursa day, via License.MyFWC.com or bycalling toll-free 1-888-FISHFLORIDA(1-888-347-4356). Processing fees willapply on sales via telephoneand Internet. A unique licensenumber allows you to begin shingimmediately after the transaction.

Fish and wildlie alertreward program

Report shing, boating or huntinglaw violations by calling toll-free1-888-404-FWCC (3922); oncell phones, dial *FWC or #FWCdepending on service carrier; reportviolations online at MyFWC.com/Lawor text: [email protected]

Blac bass fsing zns ........................15

Gnral rgulatins r fs

managmnt aras ...............................16

Spcifc fs managmnt

ara rgulatins ...............................1621Northwest RegionNorth Central Region

Northeast RegionSouthwest RegionSouth Region

Crating t Nxt Gnratin

tat Cars .............................................19

Fral Ai in Sprt Fis

Rstratin (SFR) ..................................21

Big Catc Anglr Rcgnitin ..............22

Fis cnsumptin avisry .....................23Florida safe eating guidelines

Frquntly answr qustins ..............24

On the cover

Starting October 1, 2012, trophybass like this 10.5 pounder thatare caught and released will beeligible for recognition and rewardsprovided by the TrophyCatchprogram (TrophyCatchFlorida.com).Cover photo of Jason Dotson with a10-pound plus Florida largemouth.

CoNTeNTS

Photo courtesy of Glen Lau

2 20122013 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
http://-/?-http://www.myfwc.com/http://www.myfwc.com/fishinghttp://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitatshttp://www.floridawildlifemagazine.com/http://www.license.myfwc.com/http://www.myfwc.com/lawhttp://-/?-http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.flrules.org/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://-/?-http://www.myfwc.com/lawhttp://www.license.myfwc.com/http://www.floridawildlifemagazine.com/http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitatshttp://www.myfwc.com/fishinghttp://www.myfwc.com/http://-/?-


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This high-quality regulation guide is offered to

you by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commissions Division of Freshwater Fisheries

Management through its unique partnership with

J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC.

J.F. Griffin is an award-winning publishing house

that specializes in producing state fish & wildlife

regulation books. J.F. Griff in supports the FWC staff

in the design, layout and editing of the guides. They

also manage the marketing and sales of advertising

to appropriate businesses within the book.The revenue generated through ad sales

significantly lowers production costs and generates

savings. These savings translate into additional

funds for other important fisheries and habitat

programs. Promotional advertisement does not

constitute endorsement by FWC.

If you have any feedback or are interested in

advertising, please contact us at 413.884.1001

or online at www.JFGriffin.com

About this Guide

Fully searchable

Live hyperlinks toexpanded content

Email pages

One-click printing

Mobile friendly

eRegulations.com/FL/shing/freshwater

430 Main St. Suite 5 | Williamstown, MA 01267

Designers: Jon Gulley, Erin Murphy

& Evelyn Haddad

available onlinein a new Digital Edition!

J.F. Grifn Publishing, LLC is proud to print theofcial Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulationssummary on post-consumer recycled paper.

FWC plans r nsuring Flria is t

unisput bass fsing capital t wrlThe seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Com-mission (FWC) is appointed to staggered terms by the Governorand meets ve times a year to hear staff reports, consider ruleproposals, and conduct other Commission business. At these meet-ings we encourage public input, as well as listening to scientic

and other factual reports provided by FWC staff. Under Floridas Constitution, we enactrules and regulations regarding the states sh and wildlife resources and help ensure staffachieves their mission of managing sh and wildlife resources for their long-term well-beingand the benet of people.

In June of 2011, after more than a year of scientic review and citizen input, we approvedthe Florida Black Bass Management Plan. The plan recognizes that black bass (Florida large-mouth, shoal, spotted and Suwannee basses) are tremendous natural resources enhancingthe quality of life for citizens and tourists. In 2006, anglers enjoyed more than 14 milliondays shing for this premier sport sh in Florida. Moreover, they generated approximately

$1.25 billion in economic impact for Florida communities and supported approximately12,000 jobs. (Note: Over all, Florida freshwater shing accounts for $2.6 billion in economicimpact and 24,800 jobs).

Trophy Florida largemouth bass are a huge draw to resident anglers, tourists from aroundthe globe and tournaments, while sheries with high catch rates of quality bass, and sherieswith relatively rare shoal, spotted and Suwannee basses have an appeal of their own. Properlymanaging black bass sheries will provide profound ecological, economic and sociologicalbenets for Floridians.

Numerous pressures challenge sheries managers, including human population growth anddevelopment, declining water quality and current water management challenges resultingfrom multiple uses of our waters. In response, action steps identied in the new Black BassManagement Plan were divided into four sections: New Opportunities, Habitat Management,Fish Management and People Management. Among the innovative approaches promoted inthe plan is a new high-prole TrophyCatch angler recognition program to document trophycatches by rewarding anglers for releasing and reporting bass weighing more than 8 pounds,including a special hall-of-fame category for bass greater than 13 pounds. Renewed aquatichabitat enhancement efforts, including modied aquatic plant management approaches, willenhance production of these sh.

You can learn more not only about mandatory freshwater shing regulations in thispublication but also about our management philosophies, funding for conservation (largelythrough shing license sales and grants from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restorationprogram), angler recognition programs and shing tips.

Florida already is the Fishing Capital of the World. Now, we look forward to working withstakeholders to document that Florida is the undisputed Bass Fishing Capital of the World.

CmmissinrsMssag

Freshwater Rule Changes

Effective July 1, 2012 Free freshwater shing weekend has been divided into two separate free

freshwater shing Saturdays to provide anglers greater opportunities to tryrecreational shing or to introduce someone new to this exciting lifetimesport. The new dates will be the rst Saturday in April (April 6, 2013) andthe second Saturday in June (June 8, 2013). All other rules apply.

Lake Grifn Fish Management Area, Lake County A new 10-inchminimum for black crappie has been established. The bag limit for blackcrappie remains 25 sh.

Until December 31, 2012 all game sh caught on Lake Medard,Hillsborough County) must be immediately released unharmed. Castnets, bush hooks, and trot lines are prohibited. New rules may be in effectcommencing January 1, 2013 See FLrules.org (Chapter 68) for updates.

http://www.jfgriffin.com/http://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/freshwaterhttp://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/freshwaterhttp://www.jfgriffin.com/


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This free booklet is your guide to Floridasfreshwater shing laws and regulations. TheFlorida Wildlife Code is the nal authority onshing laws (www.FLrules.org). The FloridaFish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) strives to ensure this information isaccurate but assumes no liability for errorsthat may occur. In addition, rules can changebetween publications. Contact the FWC ifyou have questions not adequately covered inthis booklet; see contact list and map below.This publication is valid from July 1, 2012,to June 30, 2013.

Florida remains the Fishing Capital of theWorld, due to great resources and responsiblemanagement. We consider the quality of li fethat is associated with recreational activitiesand living in a healthy environment to be ex-tremely important to Floridians and visitorsand are also striving to make Florida the un-disputed Bass Fishing Capital of the World.

The FWC uses the best scientic manage -ment possible to help fulll its mission ofManaging sh and wildlife resources for theirlong-term well-being and the benet of people.To fund those efforts, the Legislature setsshing license fees and exemptions, as wellas penalties for violating sh and wildlifeconservation laws. State law guaranteesmoney from the sale of shing licensesgoes to the FWC and cannot be diverted.

In 1950, Congressmen Dingell and Johnson,at the request of anglers and the shing in-dustry, created the Federal Aid in Sport FishRestoration (SFR) program, wherein shingtackle was assessed an excise fee and the mon-

INTRodUCTIoN

ies returned to the states for sh restorationprojects. The Wallop-Breaux amendmentin 1984 added import duties on sport shingequipment, pleasure boats and yachts as wellas taxes on motorboat fuels. The result isone of the most successful user-pays, public-benets programs in the world, with taxesfrom the sale of outdoor recreation suppliesenhancing and promoting the resource.

The amount of money Florida receives fromSFR is based on the size of the state and thenumber of paid licensed anglers not licensesand permits, but the people who hold them. Forinstance, an angler with freshwater and salt-water licenses and a snook permit counts asone holder. Each certied holder (1.4 million)generated $8.80 more for sportsh restoration,providing $12 million for Florida in 2011.

Of those monies, 15 percent went to boat-ing access building and repairing rampsand courtesy docks. The remainder went tofresh and saltwater sheries conservationprojects such as habitat restoration, sh stock-ing, articial reefs construction and youthshing clinics.

The FWC encourages all anglers to buy alicense (License.MyFWC.com). Even if youare legally exempt, you can contribute to thefuture of our sheries resources by buying alicense and helping the FWC keep your federaltax dollars in Florida to support sportshrestoration.

Recreational shing often is portrayed inadvertising because it is an enjoyable, whole-some experience that reects a happy andhealthy lifestyle. Moreover, it is the No. 1

gateway activity to get youth connected tonature in active outdoor recreation, which canreduce obesity, improve grades and, most ofall, add enjoyment to their lives. The FWC isworking hard to ensure safe and sustainablerecreational shing for all of our citizens andguests and depends on your license fees tomake sure there are sh for tomorrow.

NORTHWEST

NORTHEAST

NORTH CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

SOUTH

FWC regional ofces

Nrtwst Rgin3911 Highway 2321Panama City, FL 32409-1658850-265-3676

Nrt Cntral Rgin3377 East U.S. Highway 90

Lake City, FL 32055-8795386-758-0525

Nrtast Rgin1239 Southwest 10th StreetOcala, FL 34471-0323352-732-1225

Sutwst Rgin3900 Drane Field RoadLakeland, FL 33811-1299863-648-3200

Sut Rgin8535 Northlake BoulevardWest Palm Beach, FL 33412-3303561-625-5122

Florida Fish and WildlieConservation Commission

620 South Meridian Street

Farris Bryant BuildingTallahassee, FL 32399-1600(850) 488-4676

(800) 955-8771 TDD

Commissioners

Kenneth W. WrightChairman, Winter Park

Kathy BarcoVice Chairman,Jacksonville

Charles W. Roberts IIITallahassee

Richard A CorbettTampa

Ronald M. BergeronFt. Lauderdale

Brian S. YablonskiTallahassee

Aliese P. Liesa Priddy

Immokalee

StaNick WileyExecutive Director

Greg HolderAssistant Executive Director

Karen Ventimiglia

Deputy Chief of Staff

Tom Champeau

Director, Freshwater Fisheries Management

http://www.flrules.org/http://www.license.myfwc.com/http://www.floridawildlifemagazine.com/http://www.license.myfwc.com/http://www.flrules.org/


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LICeNSeS

Fishing license requirements and eesLicense, permit, and issuance fees and exemptions are established by the Legislature. In addition to the cost of licenses and permits speci-ed in this section, license agents currently charge a 50-cent issuance fee for selling licenses or permits.

Licensing requirements follow the species of sh you are shing for, regardless of where you are shing. For example, anglers shingfor and possessing largemouth bass in brackish water need a freshwater license; anglers shing for saltwater species in fresh water (e.g.,spotted sea trout, red drum, snook, or American shad) need a saltwater license to possess these species. An exception is that when shingin fresh water with a freshwater license (or legal exemption) you may take mullet without a saltwater license (seasons and sizes follow thesaltwater shing rules). See Page 8 for shing license exemptions, but remember, anyone can buy a license to contribute to conservation.

Resident Freshwater Fishing Licenses

For the purpose of shing in Florida, a person is a resident if he or she has lived in Florida for six continuous months prior toapplying for licenses and claims Florida as his or her primary residence. Active military personnel stationed in Florida, includingtheir spouses and dependent children residing in the household, are considered residents when purchasing shing licenses.

Freshwater Fishing

(valid 12 months from specied start date)$17.00

5-Year Freshwater Fishing

(valid 5 years from specied start date)$79.00

Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing Combo(valid 12 months from specied start date)

$32.50

Freshwater Fishing/Hunting Combo(valid 12 months from specied start date)

$32.50

Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing/Hunting Combo(valid 12 months from specied start date) $48.00

Resident 64 or Older Sportsman's License includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and WildlifeManagement Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Deer, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl permits

(valid 12 months from specied start date)

$13.50

Sportsman's License includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Wildlife Management Area,Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Deer, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl permits


$80.50

Gold Sportsman's License includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; andWildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Deer, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl,Snook and Lobster permits


$100.00

Military Gold Sportsman's License includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses;and Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Deer, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl,

Snook and Lobster permits (sold only at tax collector's ofce)(valid 12 months from specied start date)

$20.00

Nonresident Freshwater Fishing Licenses

Freshwater Fishing(valid 12 months from specied start date)

$47.00

3-Day Freshwater Fishing(valid 3 consecutive days from specied start date)

$17.00

7-Day Freshwater Fishing(valid 7 consecutive days from specied start date)

$30.00

Lietime Licenses (or Florida residents only)

Lifetime licenses are available to Florida residents only. Funds generated from sales of these licenses are invested, creating anendowment to support long-term conservation of Floridas sh and wildlife resources. Costs of lifetime licenses are less than

what would be spent on annual licenses, permits and fees, and are valid in Florida even if you move out of state. Lifetime licenseholders are also exempt from most recreational license or permits that may be created in the future.

Lifetime Sportsman's License (includes Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and Saltwater Fishing licenses; Deer, WildlifeManagement Area, Archery, Turkey, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits)

4 years or younger $401.50

5-12 years $701.50

13 years and older $1,001.50

Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License

4 years or younger $126.50

5-12 years $226.50

13 years or older $301.50

Best

Buy



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Tips rm tPrsSg BssTerry GiBSon, Visit Florida & Fishing Insider; Editorial Director,

Fly & Light Tackle Angler Magazine (FishingCapital.com)

Fdg Bss

Glen lau,Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee,

cinematographer and author (GlenLau.com)

lk Bss

CapTain Sean ruSh, Owner/Operator of Trophy BassExpeditions of Central Florida (FloridaTrophyBass.com)

In early spring, I shift focus to bass and pansh shing, mostlyin the Everglades. I love to ysh with popping bugs, and throw

surface lures on plug gear. By April, shellcrackers and bluegills

are on the bed, and when theyre not you nd them along canal

banks or the outside of vegetation lines in open lakes. Waterlevels are typically lower, so sh are concentrated. Best of all,water temps are warm enough throughout the state for bass

to blast anything that resembles food. In April and May, espe-cially on cloudy days, water temps remain just cool enough that

sh will sometimes feed on top all day long. The morning andevening bites last all summer.

This is a great time to get kids hooked on shing maybe

the best in terms of sheer action and building a foundation ofshing skills. Our parents started my sister and me out with

ultra-light spinning gear, slinging Beetle Spins at shorelines.

Once we got that tactic down, they put y rods in our hands.

Mom wanted pansh for fried sh dinners served with collardgreens and cheese grits. Yum! But for sport we loved the acro-

batic little schoolie bass that gang up in huge numbers this

time of the year.

Hardcore trophy bass hunters score this time of the year, espe-

cially during the pre- and post-spawn when big sows badly need

calories. Eight- through 10-weight yshing outts can handlethrowing big poppers and deerhair bugs, and turning big bassfrom cover. Conventional anglers can cover a lot of water with

paddle-tailed plastic buzzbaits. Walking plugs work well, as do

frog imitations. During the heat of the day, nd deeper structure

and switch to Texas- or Carolina-rigged plastic worms. Fish em

sloooow, and hang on.

Youve probably heard that old saying:Big Bait = Big Fish. Well if your goal

is to boat a trophy bass, its advice

youd be wise to heed! Think about

it like this: What do you think a 250-

pound man would rather sit down to

at dinner? Half a peanut butter and

jelly sandwich or a 16-ounce steak?

The answer is, of course, the steak,

and that is the way giant female bassapproach feeding. They would rather

eat one large bait, for example an 8- or

9-inch wild shiner, and be done, than

expend a bunch of energy chasing smaller baits.

Going large requires heavy gear. Generally the tackle consistsof 7-1/2 to 8-foot ippin sticks and stout baitcasting reels

spooled with at least 20-pound mono. It also requires patience.

Give your shing holes more time than usual if you feel youvefound a spot capable of producing a giant. They can take a little

longer to entice. They didnt get big by being easily fooled! Thisstyle of shing can pay off, I mean pay off big!!

Without a doubt the toughest

thing about catching bass is

nding them. Id say 90 percent

of the bass are in one percentof the water. Like a turkey

hunter that seeks out where

the birds are roosting beforethe season begins, a good

angler should consider putting down his

or her rod and reel and take up a notepad or shing map of thewater body. Cruise the shore mapping vegetation, look for struc-

ture like downed trees or piers and where water may be owingin or out of a lake. See where the locals are shing and talk tothem. Check a contour map, or if you have a depth nder cruisethe lake looking for sudden changes in depth that may providerefuges or ambush points for bass. If you want to catch the big

bass, pay your dues, do the research, and work promising spots

slowly and methodically. After 60 years of lming and chasingbass, Im still fascinated and still learning. If you love the sportas much as I do, youll cherish every moment on the water andwant to preserve the memories and the opportunities.

http://www.fishingcapital.com/http://www.glenlau.com/http://www.floridatrophybass.com/http://www.floridatrophybass.com/http://www.glenlau.com/http://www.fishingcapital.com/


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pcock Bss

alan ZaremBa, Owner/Operator of Worldwide Peacock Bass (FloridaPeacocks.com)

Angling enthusiasts travel from all over the world to South

America to seek the beautiful and aggressive peacock bass

that, thanks to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commissions foresightedness, we have right here in the canals

of south Florida. After extensive research and discussion,

peacock bass were stocked in box cut drainage canals of

Miami-Dade and Broward counties in the early 1980s, to help

control smaller, less desirable non-native shes and convertthem into a sport sh that anglers can enjoy.

Myself and many other shing guides, bait-and-tackle shops and

local businesses have prospered as a result. Anglers wishing to

sh for these and other exotics may want to seek the advice of

a local shing guide, but here are a few tips to get you started.

Peacock bass are different than most North American sportsh in that they are almost exclusively caught during the day.My favorite lure is a #9 oating Rapala, shed on a medium

action rod, and using

6-pound monolament.

Another option is to toss

a 3/8ths oz. jig with a

curly tail. For jig shing, I

prefer a medium-heavy

action rod, and load

15-pound braid, with

two feet of 20-pound

monolament leader.

These rigs will not only

capture peacocks,

which I release, but often entice native bass

or other non-native sh to strike. Jaquar guapote and Mayancichlids, which should be placed on ice and taken home for ameal rather than being released, are now part of Floridas BigCatchangler recognition program (see Page 22).

So you think it sure wouldbe nice to go shing and get

away from all my problems

for a day. Or, your chil-

dren are playing computergames and watching TV too

much and you want to getthem outdoors and involved

in a healthier interest. Even

without owning a boat or

fishing tackle, you can

make it happen--consider

hiring a shing guide. Witha guide, you may enjoy thetrip more because you willoften catch more sh, learn

new tricks, have proper

equipment, and less stress. It is relatively cheap when you

consider all you get.

Before hiring a guide select a destination that interests you orone that complements your Florida vacation or business trip.

For example, your family is planning a Disney vacation and you

heard the shing is great in Kissimmee. Start with an internetsearch. A slew of information will come up about the lakes,

shing trends and guide services. Talk to people about placesthey have shed and enjoyed, and guides they used.

Here are a few questions to ask your guide: What type of

shing do you specialize in and what will we be doing? How

much experience do you have and where? Do you have the

proper permits, license and insurance? What equipment willyou provide and what should I bring? How many hours will wesh and when do we start and nish? What are typical weather

conditions and what clothing should I bring? Will you teach me

to become a better sherperson? Do you practice catch andrelease? What kind of boat do you have and how many people

can it sh comfortably? Do I need a shing license? Do youhave referrals? What does the trip cost and what is includedfor the price?

Ask these questions face-to-face or by telephone, to learn

more about the guide and their personality. A lot of guides

use live bait (a great way to catch trophy bass). However, if

you want to use articials, remember it is more work and

requires more skill, so make sure the guide specializes in using

articial lures. Remember you will spend 4 to 8 hours with aperson you do not know very well. Find the right guide to helpcreate memories that will last a lifetime. Great Fishing andremember your sunscreen!

Bss GdsTerry SeGraveS, Tournament Pro, Guide and Kissimmee Tourism Spokesperson (VisitKissimmee.com)

http://www.floridapeacocks.com/http://-/?-http://www.visitkissimmee.com/http://www.visitkissimmee.com/http://-/?-http://www.floridapeacocks.com/


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game sh. Contact the Northwest Regionalofce for details (Page 4).

For personal use by any person possessinga valid freshwater shing license by the useof not more than one slat basket or one wiretrap, made as specied in Rule 68A-23.003,FAC, and used only in those waters whereuse of wire traps or slat baskets is permit-ted for commercial purposes. Refer to theCommercial Freshwater Fisheries Rulesand Regulation Summary. Passive shinggear such as slat baskets or wire basketsmust be clearly and legibly marked withthe harvesters name and address whilebeing used or possessed in or upon watersof the state.

Prohibited gear or takingmarine species in reshwater

Spearshing: Use of any hand or me-chanically propelled, single or multi-pronged spear or lance, barbed or barbless,to harvest or attempt to harvest any ma-rine species while diving in freshwater isprohibited.

Spearshing for mullet in fresh water isprohibited; however, gigging from abovewater is permitted.

Methods o taking baitFreshwater shrimp and golden shiners ofany size, or other freshwater nongame sh,including catsh, less than 8-inches total

Game and nongame reshwater fshGame Fish: black bass, crappie, bluegill,redear sunsh, warmouth, redbreast sun-sh, spotted sunsh, ier, mud sunsh,longear sunsh, shadow bass, peacock bass,white bass, striped bass and sunshine bass.

Nongame Fish: all freshwater sh are de-ned as non-game sh, except grass carp andsh dened as freshwater game sh. Note:Alligator gar require a scientic collectorspermit to take.

Methods o taking reshwater fshGame sh may only be taken with pole-and-line or rod-and-reel. There is no limit on thenumber of rods an angler may use.

Freshwater sh may not be taken by useof any free-oating, unattached device, orby taking of sh or wildlife with rearms,explosives, electricity, spear gun, poison orother chemicals. The taking of sh by under-water swimming or diving is prohibited. It isunlawful to sell, offer for sale or transport outof the state any freshwater game sh unlessspecically permitted by the FWC, except thatlicensed anglers may transport two days baglimit of legally harvested game sh.

It is illegal to possess any freshwater shalong with gear that cannot legally be usedto take freshwater sh, including gear typeslisted above and below for taking nongamesh or bait. An exception is game sh may bepossessed together with cast nets having astretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch;minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet in diam-eter; minnow seines having a stretched meshsize not greater than 1 inch, a length not morethan 20 feet and a depth not more than 4 feet;and minnow traps not more than 24 inches inlength and 12 inches in diameter, with a fun-nel entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.

Black bass, striped bass and white bassor their hybrids, peacock bass, or crappieand pansh (for crappie and pansh, onlyin waters where minimum-length or slot-sizelimits for these sh apply) may not be lleted,nor their head or tail n removed, until youare done shing for the day.

*NOTE: Statutory provisions (790.052(3),F.S.) made it lawful for persons to own, pos-sess, and lawfully use rearms and otherweapons, ammunition, and supplies for lawfulpurposes including shing, camping, or lawfulhunting or going to or returning from a sh-ing, camping, or lawful hunting expedition.Consequently, although rearms maynot beused to take sh, they can be in possession ofsomeone with legally taken sh.

Nongame fsh may be taken: With pole-and-line, or rod-and-reel, andby bush hook, setline or trotline baitedwith cut bait or other substance; but notincluding live game sh or any part of anygame sh; bush hooks, setlines or trotlines(limited to 25 hooks total) are permitted fortaking nongame sh for personal use, butonly in those areas where trotlines may belawfully used in accordance with the Wild-life Code of the State of Florida. Refer to theCommercial Freshwater Fisheries Rulesand Regulations Summary. Bush hooks,

setlines and trotlines must be clearly andlegibly marked with the harvesters nameand address while being used or possessedin or upon the waters of the state.

At night by bow and arrow, and gigs. During daylight hours by manually oper-

ated spears, gigs, snatch hooks, crossbowor bow and arrow from a boat or from shoreexcept at the spillways of the Eureka andRodman dams on the Oklawaha River oron the spillway of the Jim Woodruff Damon the Apalachicola River or in Dade Coun-ty canals south of the C-4 and east of theL-31N and L-31W canals inclusively.

By the use of cast nets in the South andNortheast regions, in Citrus County, andin the Southwest Region, except that pos-session or use of cast nets in waters adjoin-ing Saddle Creek Fish Management Area,Polk County, conned by Morgan CombeeRoad, U.S. Highway 92 and Fish HatcheryRoad are prohibited.

Using a bow and light at night. Nightbowshing tournaments do not require apermit in the Northwest Region.

By netting and impounding at night fromSept. 1 to May 1 in specied waters ofNorthwest Florida. Nets used to take non-game sh (typically suckers) in these speci-ed waters must be less than 100 feet inlength, have a minimum 3-inch stretchedmesh and shall be continuously attended toensure immediate release of any trapped

MeThodS oF TAkING FISh

License Exemptions: You do not need a reshwater fshing license i...

You are a child under 16 years of age.

You are a Florida resident age 65 or older possessing proof of age and residency, orpossessing a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certicate. Residents age 65 orolder may obtain, at no cost, complimentary hunting and shing certicates from county taxcollectors ofces.

You are a resident who is shing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not

equipped with a shing-line-retrieval mechanism, and you are shing for noncommercialpurposes in your home county. However, you must have a valid shing license to sh by anymethod in a sh management area. This is often referred to as the cane-pole exemption.

You freshwater sh in your county of residence on your homestead or the homestead ofyour spouse or minor child, or if you are a minor child hunting or freshwater shing on thehomestead of your parent.

You are a Florida resident certied as totally and permanently disabled and youpossess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certicate.

You are a resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you are notstationed in this state, and you are home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission oforders.

You have been accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by theDepartment of Children and Family Services. The department must furnish proof to suchclients.

You are shing in a sh pond of 20 acres or less that is located entirely within the privateproperty of its owner. A sh pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primarypurpose of shing, entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no surface waterconnection to public waters.

You are shing in a sh pond of 20 acres or more, whose owner has purchased a sh pondlicense at a fee of $3 per surface acre.

You possess a Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License.

You are shing in the St. Marys River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeksin Florida) and have a valid Georgia shing license.

You are freshwater shing on Free Freshwater Fishing Days: rst Saturday in April (April 6,2013) and the second Saturday in June (June 8, 2013).



9/24

length may be taken for bait by the follow-ing methods, unless specically prohibited:

Cast nets having a stretched mesh sizenot greater than 1 inch in fresh waters ofthe state, unless specically prohibited.

Minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet indiameter.

Minnow seines having a stretched meshsize not greater than 1 inch, a length notmore than 20 feet, and a depth not morethan 4 feet.

Minnow traps not more than 24 inches inlength and 12 inches in diameter, with a fun-nel entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.

Any game sh taken by these methodsmust be released immediately.

Taking of bait for the purpose of sale re -quires a commercial shing license.

Use o fsh or bait Black bass, peacock bass or any part there-

of may not be used as bait. Live non-native shes (including goldsh

and carp) may not be used as bait, exceptfor variable platys and fathead minnows.

Whole pickerel or pansh (e.g., bluegill,redear sunsh, redbreast sunsh, spotted

sunsh, ier, warmouth) or parts thereofmay be used as bait for sportshing by theangler who caught them. Whole pickerel orbream or parts thereof may not be used asbait for trotlines or bush hooks or any methodother than by rod and reel or pole and line.

Pansh less than 4 inches in total lengthraised by a licensed aquaculture facilitymay be purchased and used for bait.

Release/Movement o fshNon-native shes, except for peacock bass andtriploid grass carp, must not be returned to thewater nor may they be used as live bait, andshould be consumed or disposed of properly.

Northern black bass (Micropterus salmoidessalmoides) has been added to the conditionalnon-native species list. Possession, importationinto Florida, sale or transportation of any livespecimens or eggs of this subspecies of blackbass is prohibited except by special permit fromthe FWC. Hybrids of the northern black bassand Florida sub-species (Micropterus salmoidessalmoides x Micropterus salmoides foridanus)are legal to possess in the Suwannee Riverand its tributaries and north and west of theSuwannee River.

MeThodS oF TAkING FISh

It is illegal to possess grass carp or alligator gar without a permit.

Tripli grass carp are used for aquaticvegetation control and may not be stocked orharvested without a permit.They grow to over 40 pounds.

Alligatr gar are found only in the panhandlerivers and grow to more than 120 pounds.Their gatorlike snout is distinct. Due to theirlimited numbers, harvest is restricted to indi-viduals with a valid scientic collectors permit.

Certain families of freshwater mussels may be col-lected for personal use. The bag limit for freshwatermussels from these families is 10 per person (or 20half shells). The possession limit is two days bag limit(see images to right and FAQ, Page 24).

Mussels shall be taken by hand-picking only. Use ofbrailles, crowfoot bars, or other mechanical methodsis prohibited. Freshwater mussels, live or dead, maynot be taken for later sale.

Other clams

Species of freshwater mussels from other families, suchas the Asian clam, have no bag or possession limits.

Taking and possession o reshwater mussels

3 inches

Florida Shiny Spike

1 inches

3 inches

Paper Pondshell

Sizes indicated are average adult dimen-sions or identifcation purposes only.

Grass carp illustration by Ted Walke; Alligator gar by Duane Raver, Jr.

Protected Sturgeons

The species of sturgeon found in Florida Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus), Gulf (A. o.desotoi), and shortnose sturgeons (Acipenserbrevirostrum) are protected both federallyand in the state of Florida. No person shall take,possess or sell any sturgeon or parts thereof, ortheir nests or eggs, except as allowed by specic

federal or state permit or authorization. Peoplewho inadvertently catch one must immediatelyrelease it alive back to the water.



10/24

Statewide bag and length limitsSpecial bag and length limits apply to somelakes, rivers (this page) and Fish Manage-ment Areas (pages 1621). Other shesconsidered to be nongame shes have no bagor possession limits, except as noted in indi-vidual Fish Management Area regulations.

Possession limit is two days bag limit. Itis illegal to transport or possess more thantwo days bag limit of sh per licensed anglerwithout a commercial license. Exceptions aresh legally acquired from aquaculturists (shfarmers) for use in aquaria, for brood stock,pond stocking or properly marked for the mar-ket. No native freshwater sh or their eggsmay be taken or possessed except as permittedby these rules nor shall anyone wantonly orwillfully waste the same.

5 Black bass (largemouth, Suwannee,spotted, and shoal bass, individually or intotal), only one of which may be 22 inchesor longer in total length. In south Florida (see Page 15

for map): only one bass may be 14inches in total length or longer.

South and east of the Suwannee River(see Page 15 for map): black bassless than 14 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately.

In the Suwannee River (see Page15 for map), areas north and westof the Suwannee River, and in anytributary river, creek or stream ofthe Suwannee River: black bassless than 12 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately.

50 Pansh including bluegill, redear sun-sh (shellcracker), ier, longear sunsh,mud sunsh, shadow bass, spotted sunsh(stumpknocker), warmouth and redbreastsunsh, individually or in total.

25 Crappie (speckled perch).

20 Striped bass, white bass, and sun-shine bass (individually or in total), ofwhich only 6 may be 24 inches or longerin total length. In the Suwannee River, areas north

and west of the Suwannee River, andin any tributary, creek or stream ofthe Suwannee River: the bag limitfor striped bass is 3, each of whichmust be at least 18 inches in totallength (20 sh combined bag limit).

2 Buttery peacock bass, only one of whichmay be 17 inches or longer in total length.

NOTES: It is illegal to possess grass carpor alligator gar without a permit; these shmust be released immediately (see Page9). Black bass, striped bass and whitebass or their hybrids, peacock bass, or crap-pie and pansh (for crappie and pansh,only in waters where minimum-length orslot-size limits for these sh apply) may notbe lleted, nor their head or tail n removed,until you are done shing for the day.

Special bag and length limitsSee Fish Management Area regulations forbag and length limits for lakes in the FishManagement Area system (pages 1621).

Jim Woodruff Reservoir, Lake Semi-nole:10 black bass, each must be at least 12inches or greater in total length; 15 stripedbass, white bass and sunshine bass (individ-ually or in total), of which no more than twomay be 22 inches or longer in total length; 30crappie (speckled perch), in total; 50 pansh(does not include crappie); 15 pickerel (chain,grass and redn). Possession limit is 50 shtotal, regardless of species.

St. Marys River and it tributaries: 10black bass, all of which must be at least12 inches in total length; two striped bass,sunshine bass or white bass, both of whichmust be at least 22 inches in total length;30 crappie (speckled perch); 50 total pan-sh (does not include crappie); 15 pickerel(chain, grass and redn).

Lake Talquin, Leon and Gadsden coun-ties: Black bass bag limit is ve, only oneof which may be 22 inches in total lengthor longer. Black bass less than 18 inchesin total length and crappie less than 10inches in total length must be releasedimmediately.

Lake Jackson, Leon County: Black bassbag limit is ve, only one of which may be22 inches in total length or longer. Blackbass less than 18 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately.

Lake Kerr, including Little Lake Kerr:Black bass caught from 15 to 24 inches intotal length must be released immediately.Black bass bag limit is three, of which onlyone may be 24 inches or longer in total length.

Wildcat Lake, Marion County (OcalaNational Forest): Black bass must be re-leased immediately.

Edward Medard Reservoir, Hillsbor-ough County: Until December 31, 2012all game sh caught must be immediatelyreleased unharmed. Cast nets, bush hooks,and trot lines are prohibited. New rules maybe in effect commencing January 1, 2013 See FLrules.org (Chapter 68) for updates.

St. Johns River Water ManagementArea (Farm 13, including the Stick

Marsh), Indian River and Brevardcounties: Black bass must be releasedimmediately.

S.N. Knight Tract, Indian River County(locally known as Kenansville Lake):Black bass must be released immediately.

Lake Weohyakapka (Walk-in-Water),Polk County: Black bass from 15 to 24inches in total length must be released im-mediately. Black bass bag limit is three,only one of which may be 24 inches in totallength or longer.

Lake Okeechobee: Black bass lessthan 18 inches in total length mustbe released immediately. Black bass

bag limit is ve, only one of which maybe 22 inches in total length or longer.Crappie (speckled perch) less than 10inches in total length must be releasedimmediately. Lake Okeechobee, forpurposes of these rules, is dened asany point lakeward of a boundary linedelineated by the following points:

Intersection of St. Rd. 78 and U.S. 441 U.S. 441 SE to St. Rd. 5 (80) St. Rd. 5 (80) to St. Rd. 25 (U.S. 27) St. Rd. 25 (U.S. 27) to St. Rd. 78 St. Rd. 78 to U.S. 441

Including: Harney Pond Canal (C-41) north of

St. Rd. 78 to South Florida Water

Management District (SFWMD)structure S-71.

C-41-A Canal, southeast of theSFWMD S-84 structure

Indian Prairie Canal (C-40) north ofSt. Rd. 78 to SFWMD structure S-72

All of Taylor Creek and NubbinSlough in Okeechobee County

C-38/Kissimmee River south of SF-WMD structure S-65E to St. Rd. 78

Lake Trafford (Collier County): Blackbass less than 18 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately. Black bassbag limit is ve, only one of which may be22 inches in total length or longer.

BAG & LeNGTh LIMITS

How to Measure Your CatchTotal Length is the straight line distance from the most forwardpoint of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of thetail with the tail squeezed or compressed.

Measure Girth around the fattest part of the fish

Total Length with mouth closed and tail squeezed together



11/24

FLoRIdA FReShWATeR FISh

F i s h

a r t b y D u a n e R a v e r

J r ; a n d

D i a n e

R

P e e b l e s

Florida freshwater shes are divided into game sh that have specic bag and length limits and may only be taken with pole-and-line orrod-and-reel, and nongame sh, which are all others. A license is required to take nongame sh, but additional gear types are allowed (seePage 8). Non-native sh are those that do not occur in Florida naturally; most should be harvested and never released. Exceptions arepeacock bass, which is a game sh, and triploid grass carp, which are stocked for vegetation control (see Page 9). Where applicable,state record (SR) weights and the Big Catch (BC) qualifying length for adults (see Page 22) are provided.

For details on state records and angler recognition programs visit: MyFWC.com/BigCatch

Largemouth bass:SR 17.27 lbs; BC 24"

Suwannee Bass:SR 3.89 lbs; BC 14"

Shoal bass:SR 8.75 lbs; BC 16"

Spotted bass:SR 3.75 lbs; BC 16"

GAMEF

ISH

NONGAMEF

ISH

BLACk BASS

PANFISh

TeMPeRATe BASS

CATFISh

BoWFIN, ShAd, PICkeReL & GAR

CIChLId

Warmouth:SR 2.44 lbs; BC 9"

Redear sunsh:SR 4.86 lbs; BC 11"

Spotted sunsh:SR 0.83 lbs; BC 7"

Redbreast sunsh:SR 2.08 lbs; BC 9"

Bluegill:SR 2.95 lbs; BC 10"

Flier:SR 1.24 lbs; BC 8"

Striped bass:SR 42.25 lbs; BC 30"

Butterfy peacock bass:SR 9.08 lbs; BC 18"

White bass:SR 4.69 lbs; BC 15"

Channel catsh:SR 44.50 lbs; BC 25"

Chain pickerel:SR 6.96 lbs; BC 22"

Bown:SR 19.00 lbs; BC 28"

American shad:SR 5.19 lbs; BC 18"

Longnose gar:SR 41.00 lbs; BC 40"

Florida/Spotted gar:SR 9.44 lbs; BC 28"

White catsh:SR 18.88 lbs; BC 22" Yellow bullhead:SR 5.05 lbs; BC 14" Brown bullhead:SR 5.72 lbs; BC 16"

Sunshine bass:SR 16.31 lbs; BC 20"

Black crappie:SR 3.83 lbs; BC 14"

http://-/?-http://www.myfwc.com/bigcatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/bigcatchhttp://-/?-


12/24

FLoRIdA FReShWATeR FISh

Poo coury of: takMFiing.org

N

ONNATIVE-NONGAMEF

ISH Flathead catsh:

SR 55.05 lbs; BC 36"

Jaguar guapote:SR Open 2.5 lbs; BC 13"

Oscar:SR 2.34 lbs; BC 11"

Common carp:SR 40.56 lbs; BC 30"

Blue catsh:SR 64.50 lbs; BC 36"

Mayan cichlid:SR Open 2.5 lbs; BC 11"

Yellow perch:SR 1.25 lbs; BC 12"

Blue tilapia:SR 9.38 lbs; BC 18"

http://www.myfwc.com/fishinghttp://www.buyaplate.com/http://www.myfwc.com/fishing


13/24


Ask any passionate angler, hunter or

outdoors person what he or she lovesabout nature and getting outdoors, and

youll get an answer based on personalexperiences. However, certain key points

almost always come up, including spend-

ing quality time with friends and family,

being physically active while relaxing and

getting away from stress, and a love of

connecting with nature.

If you inquire about what conservation

agencies should do to help people enjoy

their experiences, youll hear similarthemes such as protect the habitat, pro-

vide public access and help create the

next generation that cares. Youll also

hear concerns expressed about other peo-

ple and especially the younger generation

not understanding the importance of sh

and wildlife conservation and the joy

and benets of participating in outdoor

recreational opportunities.

Each state has an agency dedicated to

sh and wildlife conservation and pro-

viding shing and hunting opportunities

to the 88 million Americans 16 years

of age or older who sh, hunt or enjoy

other wildlife-related recreation (2006

National Survey). In Florida, that isthe responsibility of the Florida Fishand Wildlife Conservation Commission

(FWC). Throughout 2011, the FWC made

huge inroads to address those concerns

through enhanced education, outreach

and communications efforts. See Page

19 for an overview of the Get Outdoors

Florida! Coalition (www.GetOutdoors-

Florida.org) and Florida Youth Conserva-

tion Centers Network (www.FYCCN.org).

These youth programs have gotten off to

an amazing start but need your support

to reach Floridians with key messages

about living a happier, healthier andsmarter lifestyle by getting outdoors and

enjoying active, nature-based recreation.

FWC staff recently joined educators from

37 state sh and wildlife agencies for a

North American Conservation Education

Strategy Training Academy. Seven years

of research and development in the eldof conservation education culminated

in the training session, which stressed

core concepts in education and outreach

(including outdoor skills, hunter educa-

Core Conservation Message rom FWCBob Wattendorf, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/http://www.fyccn.org/http://www.fyccn.org/http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/


14/24


tion and aquatic education programs)

to provide more valuable and relevant

messages to Americans of all ages. The

training was funded by a grant from theAssociation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

(AFWA) and included:

Understanding AFWAs Core Con-

servation Concepts and encourag-

ing states to adapt their own (see

Floridas below).

Formulating conservation education

benchmarks.

Implementing a kindergarten

through high school process for con-

servation education.

Using eld investigation activities

for inquiry-based learning.

Integrating outdoor skills-based edu-

cation into state education standards.

Using best practices for developing

stewardship education.

Learning about the North American

Model of Fish and Wildlife Conserva-

tion and promoting the 75th anniver-

sary of the Federal Aid in Wildlife

and Sportsh Restoration Program

in 2012 (see Page 21).

The FWCs core concepts for conservation

education have been rened and will be

part of a consistent messaging effort inFlorida and nationally. These ideas com-

municate what every citizen should know

and understand about sh, wildlife and

their conservation management.

Concept 1: The FWC is the agency re-

sponsible for leading sh and wildlife

resource management in Florida. Fish

and wildlife belong to us all, and the FWC

manages and protects these resources

on our behalf.

Concept 2: Regulations are some-times necessary to conserve naturalresources and allow for safe and sus-

tainable human use of sh and wildlife.

Regulations allow various groups to use

or observe sh and wildlife in a fair man-

ner that ensures healthy sh and wild-

life populations for current and future

generations.

Concept 3: The health and well-being

of sh, wildlife and humans depend on

the quality and diversity of their environ-

ment.All living things benet from ahealthy and diverse environment.

Concept 4: Fish and wildlife can be

sustainably used, conserved and restored

through science-informed management,

which considers the needs of humans as

well as those of sh and wildlife.Fish and

wildlife conservation and management

are solidly rooted in science and balancethe needs of people with consideration for

maintaining healthy populations of sh

and wildlife, as well as their habitats.

Concept 5:Fish and wildlife habitatconservation provides human-health, rec-

reation, aesthetic and economic benets.

Healthy habitats provide humans with

products, maintain environmental cycles,

enrich our wellbeing and maintain our

basic needs.

Concept 6: Informed, supportive and

active citizens and partners with FWC

are vital to sustaining Floridas sh and

wildlife.The future of Floridas sh andwildlife depends on citizens and part-

ners working together with FWC. Fishand wildlife are shared resources, andsustaining thriving populations depends

on us all.

Concept 7:Fishing, hunting, wildlifeviewing and boating are appropriate uses

of Floridas natural resources, and par-

ticipation in these activities contributes

to sh and wildlife management.Citizens

enjoy sh and wildlife recreational activi-

ties and have the right to engage in them

lawfully. Fish and wildlife recreation

can be managed sustainably and can

contribute to management through rev-

enue, harvest information and increased

public support.

Concept 8: To sustain our sh and wild-

life resources, participants in shing,

hunting, wildlife viewing and boating

must use safe practices, respect the rights

and property of others and understand

that sh and wildlife are a shared re-

source.Everyone has the opportunity to

participate in sh and wildlife recreation.

Along with that right comes the responsi-

bility of taking care of sh, wildlife and

their habitat. Participants must follow

safety guidelines to prevent injuries tothemselves and others. Respecting the

rights and property of others encourages

and maintains public support for sh and

wildlife recreation.

Concept 9: Knowledge of and support

for sh and wildlife funding sources is

essential for continued research, manage-

ment and conservation of these resources.

The FWC uses a variety of funding sourc-

es to manage Floridas sh and wildlife

resources for everyone. When Floridians

buy licenses and permits, register theirvehicles or buy and sell property they help

support sh and wildlife conservation.

Concept 10:Fishing, hunting, wildlife

viewing, boating and other nature-based

activities provide people with millions of

days of outdoor recreation and generatenearly $15 billion for Floridas econo-

my each year(2011-12 Programs of the

FWC).Floridas year-round sh and wild-

life recreationalopportunities provide

communities with economic benets and

contribute to human quality of life andimproved conservation of natural areas.

Concept 11: Protecting, restoring and

managing habitat is critical to manag-

ing and conserving Floridas sh and

wildlife.Habitat management, protection

and restoration help sustain and conserve

ecosystems and benet Floridas sh,

wildlife and human populations.

Concept 12: Proactive and responsiveFWC law enforcement services are neces-

sary to protect Floridas natural resources

and its citizens. Enforcement of conserva-

tion and safety laws requires an educated,

coordinated and consistent effort.

It is the FWCs hope that as people attain

a greater understanding and respect for

these core concepts of sh and wildlife

conservation, we will all work together

with a greater sense of purpose. Together

we will provide outstanding recreational

opportunities for current generations and

help create the next generation that cares.


15/24

FReShWATeR

Lee

Northwest (Blue area. Waters north and west of the

Suwannee River, including its tributaries).

Black bass less than 12 inches total length must be

released immediately. Black bass bag limit is five, only

one of which may be 22 inches in total length or longer.

Central and Northeast(White area)

Black bass less than 14 inches

total length must be released

immediately. Black bass bag

limit is five, only one of which

may be 22 inches in total

length or longer.

South (Green area)

In the St. Lucie canal, areas east of US

Hwy. 441 and south of S.R. 80, only 1

bass of the five bass daily bag limit may

be 14 inches or longer.

Black bass fshing zones

Make sure there arefsh or tomorrow

Only half of Floridas anglers arerequired to buy a license, but their li-cense fees are a vital source of fundingfor sh and wildlife conservation.

Seniors, youths and others who areexempt can contribute to sh and wild-life conservation simply by voluntarilybuying a shing license. License feeshelp with scientic management, habi-tat restoration, sh stocking, shingand boating access, law enforcementand outreach programs.

Each license bought also capturesmore Federal Aid in Sportsh Restora-tion money and brings tackle and mo-tor boat fuel taxes home to Florida.

In addition, when you buy your license,you may now make a voluntary dona-tion to youth shing and hunting pro -grams in Florida (License.MyFWC.com).

Thank you for supporting our youth!

Nt: These are general black bass shing zones. See the Specic Fish Management Area, and SpecialBag and Length Limit sections (Page 14) for more local rules, including details about Lake Okeechobee.

Good Fishing Depends on Clean WaterMany of our rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are experiencing algae blooms that cover ourfavorite shing spots with green slime and cause sh kills and dead zones where no aquaticlife can survive. The cause is usually nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that comes from farmand lawn fertilizers, septic systems, animal waste, and sewage treatment plants. Everyonecan do their part for clean water by reducing fertilizer use, preserving plants along shorelines,and picking up pet waste. Supporting water quality protection supports great shing! Learnmore at: www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/.

http://www.license.myfwc.com/http://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/http://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/http://www.license.myfwc.com/


16/24

Regulations or FishManagement Areas1.A shing license is required for residents

from 16 to 64 years of age, and for non-residents 16 or more years of age, to sh byany method, including cane poles, on a FishManagement Area. Refer to Fishing LicenseFees for exemptions (Pages 5 and 8).

2. The possession of shing tackle is prohib-ited on any Fish Management Area thatis closed to shing.

3. Bag limits and methods of taking fresh-water sh apply except as provided for aparticular Fish Management Area.

4. The possession of nets (other than legalminnow seines, cast nets or dip nets), shtraps, trotlines or setlines is prohibitedunless specically authorized by rulesestablished for a particular Fish Manage-ment Area.

5. Persons entering or leaving Fish Manage-ment Areas that have designated entrypoints shall enter or leave only at suchdesignated points.

6. Any vehicle, boat or other transportationdevice may be searched while in, enteringor leaving a Fish Management Area.

7. Fish Management Areas may be temporarilyclosed to accommodate management projects(e.g., drawdowns), or if unsafe conditions ex-ist, or as otherwise specied in a specic FishManagement Area rule.

8. Intentional release of wildlife or freshwatersh on Fish Management Areas is pro-hibited.

Northwest Region(see map on Page 4 for regions)Junipr Bay Lak, Walton County:open toshing. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

La Piny Z, Ln Cunty: open to shing. Black bass must be released immediately. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife

with rearms or possession of alcoholicbeverages are prohibited.

Watercraft shall be allowed only as autho-rized by the City of Tallahassee.

Access is prohibited from sunset untilsunrise.

Use or possession of cast nets or minnowseines is prohibited.

No motor vehicles on dams, spillways andshing ngers.

La Victr, hlms Cunty: open to shing. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Channel catsh bag limit: 6 No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and

shing ngers.

Mrritts Mill Pn, Jacsn Cunty:open toshing. The taking of sh and wildlife with ries

is prohibited. Gigs are prohibited. Trotlines may be used.

Redear sunsh (shellcracker) bag limit: 10 Redear sunsh less than 10 inches in total

length must be released immediately. No bag limit for channel catsh.

hurrican La, oalsa Cunty:open to shing. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Channel catsh bag limit: 6 No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and

shing ngers.

karic La, oalsa Cunty:open to shing. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Channel catsh bag limit: 6 No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and

shing ngers.

La Stn, escambia Cunty: open to shing. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.

Channel catsh bag limit: 6 No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and

shing ngers.

Bar La, Santa Rsa Cunty:open to shing. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.

Channel catsh bag limit: 6 No motor vehicles on dams, spillways and

shing ngers.

Jo Budd Pond, Gadsdn County: Closedto shing, except as authorized by permitfor Commission-sanctioned events (seeMyFWC.com/shing for details). Open to sh-ing during daylight hours on Saturdays andSundays during July, August and Septemberor as specied by order of the Executive Di-rector.

No motor vehicles on dams, spillways andshing ngers.

Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Sunshine bass bag limit: 10 Black bass less than 16 inches in total

length must be released immediately.

North Central Region(see map on page 4 for regions)St. Augustin Ra pns (Nrt an Sut),duval Cunty:open to shing from 30 minutesbefore sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.

Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife withrearms or possession of alcoholic bever-ages, and use of cast nets are prohibited.

Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass less than 16 inches in total


ocanway Pn, duval Cunty:open to shingfrom 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutesafter sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife with

rearms or possession of alcoholic bever-ages, and use of cast nets are prohibited.



hanna Par pns, duval Cunty:open to sh-ing from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Taking of sh or wildlife with rearms or

possession of alcoholic beverages, and useof cast nets are prohibited.



Pp duval east an Wst pns, duval Cunty:

open to shing from 30 minutes before sunriseuntil 30 minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife with




Btsa Pn, duval Cunty: open to sh-ing from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife with




hugunt Pn, duval Cunty: open to sh-ing from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife with




FMA ReGULATIoNS

(Continued on Page 17)

http://www.myfwc.com/fishinghttp://www.myfwc.com/fishing


17/24

FMA ReGULATIoNS

Crystal Springs Par, duval Cunty: open toshing from 30 minutes before sunrise until30 minutes after sunset. No person between the ages of 16 years

and 64 years shall sh unless accompa-nied by an angler less than 16 years ofage; by an angler 65 years of age or older;by angler who has been certied by theU.S. Veterans Administration, U.S. SocialSecurity Administration, by any branch ofthe U.S. Armed Services, or by a licensedphysician in this State to be totally andpermanently disabled and has obtaineda permanent license issued pursuant toSection 379.352(5), F.S.; or by an anglerwith proof of acceptance as a client for de-velopmental services by the Department ofChildren and Family Services.

Swimming, taking of sh or wildlife withrearms or possession of alcoholic bever-ages, and use of cast nets are prohibited.

Boats are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass less than 16 inches in total


Camp Blaning ara, Clay Cunty: Indenitelyclosed by the Army National Guard for secu-rity reasons. If the area is reopened to shing,the following rules are in effect: Magnolia andLowry Lakes will be open to shing on daysand times determined by Camp BlandingPost Commander. Openings may be changedat discretion of Post Commander to accom-modate military training. All anglers willbe required to check into and out of area at amanned check station. Guns are prohibited for taking of sh or

wildlife except during designated hunt-ing seasons for Camp Blanding WildlifeManagement Area.

Boat launching permitted only at desig-nated areas.

Camping is prohibited. During periods closed to hunting, vehicles

may be operated only on roads to designatedaccess areas.

Use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited. All watercraft shall be operated at idle

speed only. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Alligatr La, Clumbia Cunty: open to shing. Fishing is prohibited in Ponderosa Pond

except for authorized groups permitted byFWC.

Channel catsh bag limit: 6

eagl Lak, hamilton County: open to sh-ing from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30minutes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Swimming and taking of sh or wildlife with

rearms are prohibited. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Ronni Vanzant Park, Clay County: open toshing from 30 minutes before sunrise until30 minutes after sunset. Boats or any oating vessel apparatus are

prohibited.

No swimming or camping. No person 16 years of age or older shall sh

unless accompanied by an angler less than16 years of age.

Fishing permitted only with hook and lineor rod and reel.

Nets are prohibited, except for dip nets. Black bass less than 16 inches in total

length must be released immediately. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6

La Lclsa, incluing Tapl an Lc-lsa crs; orang La, incluing orangLa prpr, an watrs sut an ast CR346, an wst U.S. higway 301; an CrssCr; Alacua an Marin cuntis: open toshing. Black bass 15 inches or more in total length

and less than 24 inches must be releasedimmediately.

Black bass bag limit: 3; of which only 1 maybe over 24 inches.

No bag limit for channel catsh. Trotlines having a gallon-sized plastic oat

at each end may be used, provided thatsuch lines are sunk to the bottom or to aminimum depth of 4 feet.

Nwnans La, Alacua Cunty: open to shing. Trotlines having a gallon-sized plastic oat

at each end may be used, provided thatsuch lines are sunk to the bottom or to aminimum depth of 4 feet.

No bag limit for channel catsh.

Suwann La, Suwann Cunty: open toshing. No camping. No motor vehicles on dam and shing n-

gers. Taking of sh or wildlife with rearms or

possession of alcoholic beverages is pro-hibited.

Access to the area from 30 minutes aftersunset until 30 minutes before sunrise forany use other than shing and launchingand loading of boats is prohibited.

Black bass less than 18 inches in totallength must be released immediately.

Crappie less than 10 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately.


kn La, Laaytt Cunty: open to shing. Taking of sh or wildlife with rearms is

prohibited. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Mntgmry La, Clumbia Cunty:open toshing. Boats are restricted to idle speed no wake. Black bass less than 16 inches in total

length must be released immediately. Crappie bag limit: 10 Crappie less than 10 inches in total length

must be released immediately. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Watrtown Lak, Columbia County: open toshing. Taking of sh or wildlife with rearms is

prohibited. Watercraft shall be operated only at idle

speed before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. daily. Black bass less than 16 inches in total

length must be released immediately. Crappie bag limit: 10 Crappie less than 10 inches in total length


Lang La, hamiltn Cunty: open to shingfrom 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 min-utes after sunset. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass less than 18 inches in total

length must be released immediately. Crappie less than 10 inches in total length

must be released immediately. Taking of sh or wildlife with rearms is

prohibited, except by written permissionof the landowner.

Northeast Region(see map on page 4 for regions)east La Tpaliga, oscla Cunty:opento shing. No bag limit for channel catsh. Minnow lift nets and trotlines may be used.

La Jacsn, oscla Cunty:open to shing. Cast nets, minnow lift nets and minnow

seines are prohibited. Black bass must be released immediately. Crappie less than 12 inches in total length

must be released immediately. No bag limit for channel catsh.

La Marian, oscla Cunty:open to shing. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Minnow lift nets, sh traps and trotlinesmay be used.

Las Tpaliga (Wst La Tpaliga),Cyprss, hatcina, an kissimm, osclaan Pl cuntis:open to shing. No bag limit for channel catsh. Minnow lift nets, sh traps and trotlines

may be used.

Lak Panasoffk, Sumtr County:open toshing. Trotlines may be used. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Cain Las, La Cunty (C, Winna,Palatlaaa, Crscnt, Luisa, Minnaa, hi-awata, Minnla, Wilsn, Susan an Crry):open to shing. Trotlines may be used from sunset until

9 a.m. No bag limit for channel catsh.

La Grin, La Cunty:open to shing. Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. Friday

until one hour before sunset on Sunday.

(Continued from Page 16)



18/24

FMA ReGULATIoNS

Trotlines are also prohibited from 9 a.m. un-til one hour before sunset Monday throughThursday from May 1 through Oct. 31.

No trotline may be secured to or shedwithin 50 yards of a private pier or dock.

No bag limit for channel catsh. Black crappie less than 10 inches in totallength must be released immediately.

Pllicr Pn, Flaglr Cunty: open to shing. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

La dias, Vlusia Cunty:open to shing. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Fx La, Brvar Cunty: open to shing. No airboats for shing or frogging.


Sut La, Brvar Cunty:open to shing. No airboats for shing or frogging. Trotlines may be used. No bag limit for channel catsh.

La Ivan, orang Cunty:open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Cast nets are prohibited.

La Santiag in dmtr Par,orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Boats are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Cast nets are prohibited.

hal-Sctt La, orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Cast nets are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately.

Bar Cr Par, orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Cast nets are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Saw Bay Par, orang Cunty: open to sh-ing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Cast nets are prohibited. Bluegill bag limit: 5 Bluegill less than 12 inches in total length

must be released immediately. Channel catsh bag limit: 1 Channel catsh less than 30 inches in total

length must be released immediately. Black bass must be released immediately.

Clar La, orang Cunty:open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Cast nets are prohibited. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

La Lawn, orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Cast nets are prohibited. Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Star La, orang Cunty: open to shing. Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Tury La, orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlifewith rearms or possession of alcoholicbeverages are prohibited.

Cast nets are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately. Except for sanctioned events, gasoline mo-

tors may not be used on boats.

La Unrill, orang Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Cast nets are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately.

Scrt La, Sminl Cunty: open to shing. Swimming, and taking of sh or wildlife


Personal watercraft are prohibited. Cast nets are prohibited. Pansh bag limit: 20

Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately.

La Blu Cyprss, Inian Rivr Cunty: opento shing. Trotlines may be used. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Southwest Region(see map on page 4 for regions)La Tarpn, Pinllas Cunty: open to shing. Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9

a.m. Sunday through Thursday. No bag limit for channel catsh.

La Sminl, Pinllas Cunty: open to shing. Trotlines may be used from sunset until

9 a.m. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Bbby hics Par Pn, hillsbrug Cunty:open to shing. Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited. Swimming and taking of sh or wildlife with

rearms are prohibited. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Black bass must be released immediately. Crappie bag limit: 10

Crappie less than 10 inches in total lengthmust be released immediately.

Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Gasn Par Pn, hillsbrug Cunty: opento shing. Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited. Swimming and taking of sh or wildlife

with rearms are prohibited. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Black bass must be released immediately. Crappie bag limit: 10 Crappie less than 10 inches in total length


La Tntsassa, hillsbrug Cunty: opento shing. Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9

a.m. Sunday through Thursday. No bag limit for channel catsh.

La Parr, Pl Cunty: open to shing. Wire traps may be used for nongame sh. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Sal Cr Par, Pl Cunty: open to shing. Cast nets are prohibited. Black bass 15 inches or more in total length

and less than 24 inches in total length mustbe released immediately.

Black bass bag limit: 3 Channel catsh bag limit: 6

Las Tpaliga (Wst La Tpaliga),Cyprss, hatcina, an kissimm), Pl an

oscla cuntis: open to shing. No bag limit for channel catsh. Minnow lift nets, sh traps and trotlines

may be used.

Manat La, Manat Cunty: open to shing. Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9

a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Outboard motors more than 20 h.p. may

not be used. No bag limit for channel catsh.

Wbb La, Carltt Cunty: open to shingduring posted hours. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Pansh bag limit: 20 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Bluegill and redear sunsh less than 8

inches in total length must be releasedimmediately.

Black bass must be released immediately. Vehicles may be used only on designated

roads.

Marl Pits 1 an 3, Carltt Cunty: open toshing. Pansh bag limit: 20 Bluegill and redear sunsh less than 8

inches in total length must be releasedimmediately.

Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately.

(Continued on Page 19)



19/24

FMA ReGULATIoNS

Marl Pit 2, Carltt Cunty: open to shing. Bluegill and redear sunsh less than 10

inches must be released immediately. Bluegill and redear sunsh combined bag

limit: 10 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately.

Tnrc Fis Managmnt Ara, Pl Cunty: Fishing, hunting or trapping is allowed only

by FWC permit. All anglers and huntersmust check in and out at the Tenoroc FishManagement Area headquarters and depos-it their valid shing or hunting license withthe custodian unless otherwise instructed.Permitted alligator hunt participants areexempt from the requirement to enter atdesignated points.

Days and hours of operation and quotasshall be as designated by the FWC andposted at area headquarters (currently Fri-day through Monday only). Quotas will beestablished for each lake, and shing is per-mitted in designated lakes only. Lakes maybe closed to public access for managementpurposes or if access to the lake exposesthe public to danger, by posting notice atthe Tenoroc check station ofce. Quotas foropen lakes may be temporarily increased toaccommodate anglers during times whenother lakes are closed due to managementconstruction projects, road repair, unsafeaccess or special recreational events.

Discharge of rearms is limited to the FWCring range or at FWC sponsored events.

All dogs must be leashed, except as autho-rized by FWC.

Unlss trwis spci, Tnrc FMAarvst rstrictins ar:

Crappie bag limit: 10 Crappie less than 10 inches in total length

must be released immediately. Sunshine bass bag limit: 6 Channel catsh bag limit: 6 Black bass must be released immediately. Fish may not be lleted, nor their head

or tail ns removed, until the angler haschecked out at the area headquarters.

Cast nets and minnow seines are prohibited. No person shall have any gun under his/

her control while under the inuence ofalcohol or drugs.

Public access is prohibited in areas postedas Restricted for protection of threatenedor endangered species, or environmentallysensitive areas.

Motor vehicles may be operated only onnamed roads, designated parking areas,and shing ramps as designated in thearea use brochure.

Vehicles may not obstruct designated roads,boat ramps, gates or re lanes.

Swimming and oat tubes are prohibited.

Regulations for Tenoroc lakes are as follows:

Las A, Buttrfy, C, F, Fis h, G, hal-Mn, hrss, hyrilla, Lgs Lst, Laeast, Lst La Wst, Trn, 2, 3, an 4 (primi-tiv launc nly n Buttrfy, F, Fis h, G,hal-Mn, Lst La east, Lst La Wst,an Trn):

Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.

Las B an 5: Boats are restricted to idle speed

no wake. Black bass 15 inches in total length or

longer must be released immediately. Black bass bag limit: 2

Picnic La:

Gasoline motors may not be used on boats. Black bass bag limit: 2 Black bass 15 inches in total length or longer

must be released immediately.

Pin (rmrly east an Wst Pastur Las)an drby Las: Boats may not be used. Closed to shing unless authorized by FWC

permit for agency-sanctioned events exceptfor anglers who have been certied by theU.S. Veterans Administration, U.S. SocialSecurity Administration, by a branch of theU.S. Armed Services, or by a licensed Floridaphysician to be totally and permanentlydisabled and has obtained a permanent li-cense issued pursuant to 373.561 (5)(b),F.S.or unless that person presents proof of ac-ceptance as a client for retardation servicesby the Department of Children and FamilyServices. One properly licensed person maysh if accompanying or assisting a permittedindividual as described above.

Other than anglers described above, no one16 years or older shall sh on Pine or Derbylakes unless accompanied by a child under16 years of age.

Pansh bag limit: 20 Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill

and redear sunsh 8 inches or longer intotal length per day.

Cmtry La: Boats may not be used. Pansh bag limit: 20 Anglers may keep no more than 5 bluegill

and redear sunsh 8 inches or longer intotal length per day.

La Crag: Largemouth bass, crappie and sunshine

bass: statewide size and bag limits apply.

(Continued from Page 18)

The Florida Fish and Wildlie Conservation Commissionis Creating the Next Generation that CaresSM

The FWC and its partners are creating thenext generation that cares about Floridasgreat outdoors, sh and wildlife and theirhabitats, while helping youth lead a happier,healthier and smarter lifestyle.

Over the past decade, children have be-come increasingly engaged with television,computers and other entertainment media.

This lifestyle has resulted in higher ratesof obesity, depression and other physical,psychological and emotional problems. Agrowing body of evidence suggests that allthese areas of a childs life can improve byencouraging them to connect with nature.

The Get Outdoors Florida! Coalitionbrings many partners together to show howeasy it is to offset these trends, by gettingkids outdoors. GetOutdoorsFlorida.org listssimple activities and tips and provides a listof partners. The website also lists events andlocations from around the state that takeadvantage of the Sunshine States climate

to provide an unending array of opportuni-ties. You can also volunteer or make a cashdonation on the site to help further thisimportant cause.

The Florida Youth Conservation CentersNetwork is taking this effort to a new levelby partnering with facilities around thestate to provide camps and curricula that

allow youth to enjoy and learn about sh-ing, hunting, shooting, paddling, boating,wildlife viewing and more. The focus for bothgroups is on safe and sustainable nature-based activities that can be enjoyed for alifetime, while making that lifetime longerand more enjoyable.

The American Pediatrics Association rec-ommends that parents become good rolemodels by increasing their own level of physi-cal activity. Parents should also incorporatephysical activities that family members ofall ages and abilities can do together. Theyshould encourage children to play outside

as much as possible. The National Environ-mental Education Foundation and federalagencies have begun training health careprofessionals on the importance of activenature-based recreation. They are evenarming them with prescription pads. Therecommended prescription get outdoorsand have fun. Fishing in particular is one

of the least expensive, simplest and mostaccessible gateway activities to an activeoutdoor lifestyle.

Visit MyFWC.com/Youth to learn moreabout these programs and how you can par-ticipate and contribute to Creating the NextGeneration that Cares.

http://www.getoutdoorsflorida.org/http://www.myfwc.com/youthhttp://www.myfwc.com/you

2012-13FW-FishingRegs

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