alittle info and some links i found while back on fishing in florida hope it helps u

This is an up-to-date summary of Florida's freshwater fishing rules and regulations. Most browsers can search a web page for particular text (Control-F will often initiate this service). This feature is normally found under the edit menu. It provides a convenient way to search for a particular water body (e.g., Okeechobee), species (e.g., striped bass) or technique (e.g., trotlines). A complete printable version (1.1meg PDF file) of this summary is available [Instructions for using PDF files].
INDEX

Commissioners
Additional Regulatory Links
New Regulation Changes for 2004-2005
General Statewide Bag and Length Limits
Special Bag and Length LimitsClick for Instant Licensing Info
Mussels
License Fees & Exemptions
Methods of Taking Freshwater Fish
Methods of Taking Bait
Fish Management Area Regulations
---Note: The following content sections are on different pages, use your back key to return here if desired---
Mercury Health Advisory
Questions & Answers
Sportfish Restoration
Fish Identification
New "Big Catch" Angler Recognition Program
Regional Offices/Map/Address/Phone Numbers
Florida Boating Regulations and Course
Penalties for Violating these Rules
Florida Bass Conservation Center
Wildlife Alert--Report Violators
ADDITIONAL REGULATORY RESOURCES
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This summary refers to freshwater sportfishing only, for other regulations see the following:

Saltwater regulations
Freshwater commercial fishing rules (HTML). It is also available in a printable copy in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
The Florida Administrative Code
The Wildlife Code (Adobe Acrobat PDF).
The Florida Constitution (See Article IV, Section 9 for the FWC)
The Florida Statutes (especially Chapters 370 and 372 for FWC issues).

COMMISSIONERS

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Chairman--Rodney Barreto, Miami
Vice Chairman--H. A. “Herky” Huffman, Enterprise
Richard A. "Dick" Corbett, Tampa
Brian S. Yablonski, Tallahassee
Sandra T. Kaupe, Palm Beach
David K. Meehan, St. Petersburg
Kathy Barco, Jacksonville

Executive Director: Kenneth Haddad
Assistant Executive Director: Victor Heller
Director, Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management: Darrell Scovell


NEW REGULATIONS/CHANGES FOR 2004-2005

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Smith Lake, Washington County is closed to
fishing until May 1, 2006.

Crooked, Grasshopper, Lou, Echo, Quarry
Fish Pond and Hopkins Prairie lakes (Ocala
National Forest), Marion County, are no longer
catch-and-release for black bass. Effective July
1, 2004, statewide black bass bag and length
limits apply.

St. Johns River Water Management Areas of
Lake County (formerly known as Long Farm,
S.N. Knight Lisbon Farm north and south,
S.N. Knight Leesburg Farm, Lowrie Brown
Farm, Eustis Muck Farm, and Walker Ranch),
Lake County, are no longer catch-and-release
for black bass. Effective July 1, 2004, statewide
black bass bag and length limits apply. The
prohibition on using cast nets to take nongame
fish in these areas has been lifted.

FISH MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATION
CHANGES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Suwannee Lake, Suwannee County; Koon
Lake, Lafayette County; Watertown Lake,
Columbia County; and Lake Rachel, Madison
County:
• Possession of firearms is now prohibited;
previously, firearms could be possessed but not
discharged.

Lang Lake, Hamilton County:
• Possession of firearms is prohibited, except by
written permission of the landowner.

SOUTHWEST REGION
Lake Crago is no longer a Fish Management
Area; it is now a part of Tenoroc Fish Management
Area. Boats must be operated at idle
speed (see page 10).

Tenoroc Fish Management Area,
Polk County:
• The 8-inch minimum length limit for bluegill and
redear sunfish on Derby Lake has been changed.
Of the daily bag limit of 20 panfish, anglers may
keep no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8
inches or longer.
• East and West Pasture Lakes now have a 20-
fish daily bag limit for panfish, with anglers restricted
to no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish
8 inches or longer.
• Cemetery Lake: Anglers may keep no more than
5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8 inches or longer as
part of their 20 panfish daily bag limit.
• Hydrilla Lake is no longer a Special Opportunity
fishing lake. General Tenoroc area regulations now
apply to Hydrilla Lake.

Hardee County Park, Hardee County is open
to fishing in designated lakes, with days and
hours of operation and quotas posted at the park
main entrance. Boat anglers must get an entry
pass issued by Hardee County. Bank anglers do
not need an entry pass unless otherwise posted
at the park main entrance.
• All black bass must be released immediately.
• Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
• Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
• Black crappie less than 10 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
• Panfish daily bag limit: 20
• Catfish daily bag limit: 6
• Firearms, swimming and use of float tubes are
prohibited.
• All watercraft must be operated only at idle
_______________________________________________________________________

GENERAL STATEWIDE
BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS

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Special bag and length limits apply to some lakes, rivers (see Special Limits) and Fish Management Areas (see FMAs). Other fishes considered to be nongame fishes have no daily bag or possession limits, except as noted in individual Fish Management Area regulations. (Note: Total length is the maximum length of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched together. The best way to obtain this length is to push the fish's snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and the fish laying along a tape measure, then pinch the tail fin closed and determine the total length. Do NOT pull a flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish. Illustrated instructions on measuring fish and estimating weight are also available from our fish identification and biology page.)

5 Black bass (largemouth, Suwannee, redeye, spotted, and shoal bass, individually or in total), only one of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length.
--In south Florida (see map): only one bass may be 14 inches in total length or longer.
--South and east of the Suwannee River (see map): black bass less than 14 inches in total length must be released immediately.
--In the Suwannee River (see map), areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary river, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: black bass less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.

50 Panfish including bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), flier, longear sunfish, mud sunfish, shadow bass, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), warmouth and redbreast sunfish, individually or in total.

25 Black Crappie (speckled perch) and/or white crappie, individually or in total.

20 Striped bass, white bass, and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which only 6 may be 24 inches or longer in total length.

* In the Suwannee River, areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: the daily bag limit for striped bass is 3, each of which must be at least 18 inches in total length (20 fish combined bag limit).

2 Butterfly peacock bass, only one of which may be 17 inches or longer in total length.

Possession limit is two days' bag limit. It is illegal to transport or possess more than two days' bag limit of fish per licensed angler without a commercial license. Exceptions are fish legally acquired from aqua-
culturists (fish farmers) for use in aquaria for brood stock, pond stocking or properly marked for the market.

(NOTE: It is illegal to possess grass carp without a permit; all grass carp must be released immediately.)
SPECIAL BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS

(Excluding Fish Management Areas)

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See Fish Management Area regulations for bag and length limits for lakes in the Fish Management Area system.

SPECIAL BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS

(Excluding Fish Management Areas)

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See Fish Management Area regulations for bag and length limits for lakes in the Fish Management Area system.

• Jim Woodruff Reservoir, Lake Seminole: 10 black bass, all of which must be at least 12 inches in total length; 15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which no more than 2 may be 22 inches or longer in total length; 30 black or white crappie (speckled perch), in total; 50 panfish (does not include black crappie); 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin). Possession limit is 50 fish total, regardless of species. (See special brochure with map, PDF, or HTML)

• St. Marys River: 10 black bass, all of which must be at least 12 inches in total length; 2 striped bass, both of which must be at least 22 inches in total length; 15 sunshine bass or white bass (individually or in total); 30 black or white crappie (speckled perch), in total; 50 panfish (does not include black crappie); 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin). Possession limit is 50 fish total, regardless of species.

• Lake Talquin, Leon and Gadsden counties: Black bass caught that are shorter than 18 inches in total length and black crappie that are less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.

• Wildcat Lake, Marion County (Ocala National Forest), Black bass must be released immediately.
• Lake Jackson, Leon County: Black bass caught that are shorter than 18 inches in total length must be released immediately.


• Lake Monroe, Volusia and Seminole counties: Black crappie less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.

• Edward Medard Reservoir, Hillsborough County: Black bass caught from 15 to 24 inches in total length must be released immediately. Black bass daily bag limit is 3.

• St. Johns River Water Management Area (Farm 13, including the Stick Marsh), Indian River County: All black bass must be released immediately.

• S.N. Knight Tract, Indian River County: All black bass must be released immediately.

• Lake Weohyakapka (Walk-in-Water), Polk County: Black bass from 15 to 24 inches in total length must be released immediately. Black bass daily bag limit is 3, only one of which may be 24 inches in total length or longer.

• Lake Okeechobee, including Harney Pond Canal (C-41) north of S.R. 78 to water control structure S-71; Indian Prairie Canal (C-40) north of S.R. 78 to water control structure S-72; all of Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough; C-38 Canal/Kissimmee River south of water control structure S-65E to S.R 78, Okeechobee County: Black bass from 13 inches to 18 inches in total length must be released immediately; bass less than 13 inches or bass 18 inches or longer may be kept.

Smith Lake, Washington County is closed to
fishing until May 1, 2006.

FISHING LICENSE FEES
(TO PURCHASE A LICENSE ON LINE CLICK HERE)

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Licensing requirements follow the species of fish you are fishing for, regardless of where you are fishing. For example, anglers fishing for and possessing largemouth bass in brackish water need a freshwater license; anglers fishing for saltwater species in fresh water (e.g., spotted seatrout, red drum, snook, American shad) need a saltwater license to possess these species if fishing from a boat.

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

Resident 12-Month Freshwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning
date) ........................................$13.50

Resident Freshwater Fishing/Hunting Combination (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date.............................$23.50

Resident Freshwater/Saltwater Combination (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)............................$25.50

Resident Freshwater/Saltwater/Hunting Combination (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)...............$35.50

64 or Older Hunting and Fishing: includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Type I Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun and Turkey permits.......................................$13.50

Sportsman’s License: includes Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and permits for Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun,Turkey and Florida Waterfowl (Valid 12 months from specified beginning date)...$67.50

Gold Sportsman’s License: Includes all licenses and permits in the Sportsman’s License
plus saltwater fishing, Crawfish and Snook permits.......................................$83.50

Nonresident:
7-Day Freshwater Fishing
(Valid for seven consecutive days from specified beginning date).........................................$16.50

12-Month Freshwater Fishing
(Valid for 12 months from specified beginning date) ................................................$31.50

Licenses may be purchased from county tax collectors or their subagents, who are generally located at tackle shops, fish camps and sporting goods stores. In addition to license and stamp fees listed above, subagents are entitled to an additional 50 cents. License fees are set by the Florida Legislature and are subject to change. Check our Web site for updates.
LIFETIME LICENSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AND MAKE GREAT GIFTS, CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

Freshwater License Exemptions

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• Florida residents 65 years of age or older who possess either a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate or proof of age and residency. A Florida Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate is accepted in Georgia, but a trout stamp may be required.
• Georgia residents 65 years of age or older who have in their possession a Georgia Honorary Combination Hunting and Fishing License and proof of age.
• Florida residents certified as totally and permanently disabled, who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate. Applicants need to provide a certification of total and permanent disability from the United States Armed Forces, Railroad Retirement Board, Florida Worker’s Compensation or the United States Veterans Administration. Alternatively, current documentation from the Social Security Administration for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits also will be accepted.
• Any person who has been accepted by the Florida Department of Health as a client for developmental services, with proof (e.g., retardation).
• Children under 16 years of age.
• Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License holders.
• Any resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and is not stationed in Florida, home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
• Any resident fishing in the county of his or her residence with live or natural bait, using poles or hand lines that are not equipped with a reel or other line retrieval mechanism (cane pole), for noncommercial purposes.
• Anyone fishing in a private fishing pond less than 20 acres. A private pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primary purpose of fishing, entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no surface water connection to public waters.
• Anyone fishing in a private pond of 20 acres or more where the pond owner has purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3 per surface acre.
• Any person fishing in their county of residence on the homestead of their spouse or minor child, or any minor child fishing on the homestead of their parent.
• Anyone fishing in the St. Marys River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeks in Florida), who has a valid Georgia fishing license.
• Anyone fishing during Free Fishing Weekend.

NOTE: A valid Fishing License is required to fish by any method in a Fish Management Area.

Although the above exemptions apply, individuals may always choose to purchase a license as a way to contribute to fish and wildlife conservation. Purchasing a license also helps the FWC receive more of the excise taxes spent on fishing tackle and motor boat fuels under Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration. (See Heritage ad)

METHODS OF TAKING FRESHWATER FISH

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Game fish and nongame fish may be taken with pole and line or rod and reel. There is no limit on the number of rods an angler may use.

Freshwater fish may not be taken by use of any free-floating, unattached device, or by use of firearms, explosives, electricity, spear gun, poison or other chemicals. The taking of fish by underwater swimming or diving is prohibited. It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale or transport out of the state any freshwater game fish unless specifically permitted by the FWC, except that licensed anglers may transport two days’ bag limit of legally harvested game fish.

It is illegal to possess any freshwater fish along with gear that cannot legally be used to take freshwater fish, including gear types listed above and below for taking nongame fish or bait. An exception is game fish may be possessed together with cast nets having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch; minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet in diameter; minnow seines having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch, a length not more than 20 feet and a depth not more than 4 feet; and minnow traps not more than 24 inches in length and 12 inches in diameter, with a funnel entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.

It is illegal to fillet or remove the head or tail fin of black bass, striped bass, white bass, Sunshine bass (striped bass x white bass hybrid), peacock bass, black crappie and panfish (where special black crappie or panfish size or bag limits are in effect) until after you have completed fishing for the day.

Nongame fish may be taken:

• By bush hook, setline or trotline baited with cut bait or other substance; but not including live game fish or any part of any game fish; bush hooks, setlines or trotlines (limited to 25 hooks total) are permitted for taking nongame fish for personal use, but only in those areas where trotlines may be lawfully used in accordance with the Wildlife Code of the State of Florida. Refer to the “Commercial Freshwater Fisheries Rules and Regulations Summary.”

• By manually operated spears, gigs, snatch hooks, crossbows or bows during daylight hours except on the Jim Woodruff Dam spillway, in Dade County canals south of C-4 and east of L-31N or L-31W, and at the spillways of the Eureka and Rodman dams. Nongame fish may be taken at night using gigs or bow and arrow.

• By cast nets in the Southwest Region (except in certain waters adjoining Saddle Creek Fish Management Area, and certain Fish Management Areas); Northeast Region, (except for Duval, Indian River, and Nassau counties; certain St. Johns River Water Management District areas of Lake County; and certain Fish Management Areas) in Citrus and Hernando counties (North Central Region) and Glades County (South Region).

• Using a bow and light at night. Night bowfishing tournaments do not require a permit in the Northwest Region.

• By netting and impounding at night from Sept. 1 to May 1 in specified waters in northwest Florida. Nets used to take nongame fish in these specified waters must be less than 100 feet in length, have a minimum 3-inch stretched mesh and shall be continuously attended to ensure immediate release of any trapped game fish; contact the Northwest Region office for details.


GAME AND NONGAME FRESHWATER FISH

Game Fish—black bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, mud sunfish, longear sunfish, shadow bass, peacock bass, white bass, striped bass and sunshine bass.

Nongame Fish—bowfin, common carp, catfish, pickerel, eels, gar, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, shiners, tilapia (Nile perch), killifish, suckers, topminnows and fishes not listed as freshwater game fish and not taken for sport.

PROHIBITED GEAR FOR TAKING MARINE SPECIES IN FRESH WATER

Use of any hand or mechanically propelled, single or multi-pronged spear or lance, barbed or barbless, to harvest or attempt to harvest any marine species while diving in freshwater is prohibited.

Spearfishing for mullet in freshwater is prohibited. (Note: spearfishing involves the user being at or below the surface of the water (meaning swimming). Gigging from a boat or shore is allowed, as is snatch hooking and bow fishing.)

METHODS OF TAKING BAIT

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Freshwater shrimp and minnows of nongame fish (except catfish) may be taken by:
• Cast nets having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch.
• Minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet in diameter.
• Minnow seines having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch, a length not more than 20 feet, and a depth not more than 4 feet.
• Minnow traps not more than 24 inches in length and 12 inches in diameter, with a funnel entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.
• Any game fish harvested by these methods must be released immediately.
• Taking of bait for the purpose of sale requires a commercial fishing license.

USE OF FISH FOR BAIT
• Black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait.
• Live goldfish or carp may not be used as bait.
• Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them. Whole pickerel or bream or parts thereof may not be used as bait for trotlines or bush hooks or any method other than by rod and reel or pole and line.

FISH MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS
South Region
(see map for regions)

Palm Lake, St. Lucie County: open to fishing.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6

Caloosa Park Lake, Palm Beach County: open to fishing.
• All black bass must be released immediately.
• Panfish daily bag limit: 20
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released immediately.

Lake Okeeheelee, Palm Beach County: open to fishing.
• Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.
• All black bass must be released immediately.
• Panfish daily bag limit: 20
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 nches in total length must be released
immediately.

The northern most Tropical Park Lake, Miami-Dade County: open to fishing.
• All black bass must be released immediately.
• Panfish daily bag limit: 20
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released
immediately.

Plantation Heritage Park Lake, Broward County: open to fishing.
• All black bass must be released immediately.
• Panfish daily bag limit: 20
• Channel catfish daily bag limit: 6
• Bluegill and redear sunfish less than 8 inches in total length must be released.

more info for stuff in a min i have to find the rest