

Many freshwater turtle species may be taken year round, but softshell turtles may not be taken from the wild from May 1 to July 31. Freshwater turtles can only be taken by hand, dip net, minnow seine or baited hook. For all other freshwater turtles, take is limited to one turtle per person per day from the wild, except for those with zero take allowed as described in the previous paragraph. The following species have a possession limit of two: loggerhead musk turtles, box turtles, and Escambia map turtles. Additionally, Alligator snapping turtles, Suwannee cooters, Barbour's map turtles, Diamondback terrapins, and Striped mud turtles from the Lower Keys may not be taken from the wild or possessed without a Scientific Collecting Permit. Snapping turtles, cooters and map turtles may not be taken from the wild because of similarity to Alligator snapping turtles, Suwannee cooters, and Barbour’s map turtles, respectively. Freshwater turtles can only be taken by hand, dip net, minnow seine or baited hook.įreshwater turtles taken from the wild may not be sold, but freshwater turtles raised on turtle aquaculture facilities or purchased from licensed vendors as captive bred stock can be sold pursuant to possession limits in accordance with 68A-25.002 FAC. Licenses and permits are not required to take a recreational bag limit of turtles in accordance with rules provided below. What regulations apply to freshwater turtles? It is illegal to take Florida’s state-listed crayfish (Panama City, Sims Sink and Black Creek crayfishes) and all cave-inhabiting crayfish.

Trophy freshwater drum mud river license#
There are no seasons, gear, bag or size limits for freshwater crayfish, and neither a recreational nor commercial license is needed. What regulations apply to freshwater crayfish? Florida Bog frogs, Pine Barrens tree frogs, and gopher frogs may not be possessed without a Scientific Collectors Permit.
Trophy freshwater drum mud river code#
Frogs may be taken in accordance with 68A-26.002, Florida Administrative Code (FAC), including use of gigs-provided gigs are not specifically prohibited in the area. To sell frogs or take frogs to sell, a commercial fish dealers license is required. For all other frogs and toads, there are no seasons, bag or size limits and a recreational license is not needed. Pine Barrens treefrogs, Gopher frogs, and Florida bog frogs may not be taken from the wild. An exception is you may take mullet from fresh water with only a freshwater fishing license, even though they are normally considered a saltwater species. For example, if you only have a freshwater license and are primarily fishing for largemouth bass or bream (freshwater species) in a river, but happen to catch a red drum (a saltwater species), you must immediately release the red drum. License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where they are caught. Otherwise you need an appropriate type license to keep your catch and must immediately release any species for which you are not licensed. If you are using species-specific gear, your license should be appropriate (e.g., freshwater or saltwater) to the species you are targeting. You need either a freshwater, saltwater or combination license, or appropriate exemption, to take fish (take is legally defined as taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing or killing any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or eggs).

However, when you get into estuarine areas where salt and fresh water mix and fish of both types can be found, the issue becomes less clear. If you are fishing in fresh water where no saltwater species live, you need a freshwater license and, likewise, if you are fishing in the ocean or Gulf you need a saltwater license. In general, you need a freshwater license to take freshwater fish and a saltwater license to take saltwater fish, unless one of the exemptions specified on Bag & Length Limits applies. Frequently answered questions Do I need a freshwater or saltwater fishing license or both?
