Freshwater Regulations: Commercial Fishing

These rules are effective July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011.

Table of Contents

 Regional Offices/Map/Address/Phone
Numbers
 Introduction
 Commercial Fishing License Fees
 Trotlines Bush Hooks and Set Lines
 Wire Traps and Slat Baskets
 Pound Nets
 Hoop Nets
 Minnow Lift Nets
 Minnow Seine
 Traps and Pots
 Miscellaneous Rules

 License Application
This summary refers to freshwater commercial fishing only.

The Division of Marine Fisheries Management provides separate saltwater regulations and information.
Freshwater sport fishing rules are listed separately.

For a printable formatted PDF copy, click here (4MB). 8.5" x 14" brochure.

Introduction

Return to Contents

Any person who takes freshwater fish or frogs by any lawful method prescribed by the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission for purpose of sale is required to possess a Commercial Fishing License
(resident or nonresident).

Holders of this license may sell to anyone but may not buy fish for the purpose of sale. A valid Resident
Commercial Fishing License also allows recreational fishing.

The Resident Freshwater Fish Dealers License permits a resident to import, export, or sell freshwater fish
or frogs, including live bait. An import permit is also required in addition to this license to import certain
live freshwater fish.

The holder of a Nonresident Retail Fish Dealer License may buy freshwater fish from persons properly
licensed to sell freshwater fish and may sell freshwater fish, including live bait, directly to a consumer.

The holder of a Nonresident Wholesale Fish Dealer License may buy freshwater fish for resale from
persons properly licensed to sell freshwater fish and may sell fish within the state.

The Nonresident Wholesale Fish Buyer License permits a nonresident, who does not sell freshwater fish or
frogs in Florida, to buy freshwater fish or frogs from resident freshwater fish dealers for resale outside the
state.

A Commercial Fishing License is required even for use of trotlines of 25 hooks or less when fish are taken
for purpose of sale.

Senior citizens are not exempt from purchase of commercial fishing licenses.

No freshwater Commercial Fishing License or Fish Dealer License is required to take or sell live bait, other
than freshwater fish or frogs.

It is unlawful for licensed freshwater fish dealers or buyers to purchase freshwater fish or frogs from any
unlicensed person. All boats engaged in commercial fishing shall have at least one commercial licensee on
board.

Commercial Fishing License Fees

Return to Contents

Resident:

RC-Resident Commercial Fishing (fish or frogs)........ 25.00

RFD-Resident Freshwater Fish Dealer..................... 40.00

Nonresident:

NCF-Nonresident Commercial Fishing.................... 100.00

NRF - Nonresident Retail Fish Dealer.................... 100.00

NW - Nonresident Wholesale Fish Dealer............. 500.00

NWB - Nonresident Wholesale Fish Buyer.............. 50.00

Commercial fishing licenses are issued only by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Lawful Methods for Using Trotlines and Bush Hooks or Set Lines

Return to Contents

A trotline limited to 25 hooks may be used for taking non-game fish for personal use. Persons operating
more than 25 bush hooks or set lines or a trotline using more than 25 hooks are considered to be fishing
commercially and must have a commercial license. All game fish taken by trotlines, bush hooks or set
lines shall be immediately returned to the water and it is unlawful to possess any game fish while
operating trotlines, bush hooks or set lines.
Trotlines, bush hooks or set lines are permitted statewide except in that portion of the Ochlockonee River
between State Road 20 and the Lake Talquin Power Dam; that portion of the Apalachicola River between
U.S. Highway 90 and the Jim Woodruff Dam; Bear Gully Lake in Seminole County; the Oklawaha River
upstream from the Eureka Bridge; Lake Jackson in Walton County; Silver Lake on the Withlacoochee
River; Lakes Jessamine and Holden in Orange County; Triplett lakes in Seminole County; Lake Helen in
Volusia County; in Martin County east of the Sunshine State Parkway; in that portion of the St. Johns
River and its tributaries south of State Road 46 and north of U.S. Highway 192, including lakes Poinsett,
Winder and Washington.

Trotlines are permitted in the portion of the St. Johns River lying between U.S. Highway 17-92 and State
Road 46 provided that from 9 a.m. on Saturday until sunset on Sunday all trotlines shall be sunk to the
bottom or to a minimum depth of four feet during daylight hours. From January 1 until March 31 trotlines
shall be prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the waters of the main channel of the St. Johns River from
a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46, excluding Lake Harney. Trotlines are
prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the Oklawaha River below the Rodman Dam.

In Lakes Beauclaire, Carlton, Dora, Eustis, Griffin, Harris and Yale, no trotline shall be allowed from 9 a.m.
Friday until one hour before sunset Sunday. Trotlines also shall be prohibited from 9 a.m. until one hour
before sunset Monday through Thursday from May 1 through October 31. No trotline shall be secured to
or fished within 50 yards of a private pier or dock.

In East Lake Tohopekaliga, trotlines are permitted only from sunset Sunday until midnight Friday of each
week, and only during the period from sunset each day until 9 a.m. the following morning.

Trotlines are prohibited in Little Bay Lake in Orange County except under permit.

Trotlines are prohibited in Lake Talquin during daylight hours.

Trotlines are prohibited from 9 a.m. until sunset in the waters of the following lakes:

 Lake County -- Cherry, Cook, Crescent, Hiawatha, Johns, Louisa, Minnehaha, Minneola,
Palatlakaha, Susan, Wilson, and Winona.
 Orange County -- Butler, Chase, Conway, Down, Fish, Isleworth, Johns, Mable, Maitland, Misell,
Osceola, Picket, Sheen, Starke, Tibet Butler and Virginia.
 Polk County -- All lakes except Arbuckle, Crooked, Hancock, Rosalie, Tiger and Walk-in-Water.

Wire Traps and Slat Baskets for Non-Game Fish

Return to Contents
Persons licensed under s. 372.65, F.S. may use certain commercial fishing devices only in the manner and
in the areas specified in this section, except as specified in FWC Rule 68A-23.002(10). Any game fish
taken by these devices shall be returned to the water immediately.

Specifications for wire traps:

Maximum length - Seven feet

Maximum width - 32 inches

Mesh - Minimum one inch.

Type - Two funnels in one end.

Depth - At least three feet of clearance between the highest point on the trap and the water surface.

Specifications for slat baskets :

Maximum length - Six feet

Maximum diameter - 32 inches

Construction - Of slats with openings of at least one and one-half inch in the head or upstream end.

Depth - At least three feet of clearance between the highest point on the basket and the water surface.

Funnel opening - Maximum diameter of smallest funnel opening two inches, except under pressure.

Locations and number of traps and baskets

80 wire traps and slat baskets per licensee in Trout River east of Interstate 95, Broward River, Dunn
Creek and in that portion of the St. Johns River from the Seaboard Coastline bridge in Duval County
upstream to State Road 46 (Mims Bridge) including Doctors Lake, Crescent Lake, Dunns Creek and lakes
Beresford, Woodruff, Dexter, Monroe and Harney, except Lake Jessup.

Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited within 100 feet of the mouths of the St. Johns tributaries:
Getout Creek, Blue Springs Run, Wekiva River, Deep Creek, Alexander Springs Creek, Spring Garden
Creek, Shell Creek and DeLeon Springs Creek. Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited in the main
channel of the St. Johns River from a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 (except
Lake Harney) from January 1 to March 31. Wire traps and slat baskets are prohibited within 25 yards of
vegetation in Crescent Lake except from June 1 through August 31.

80 wire traps and slat baskets per licensee in the part of the main channel of the St. Marys River
downstream from the railroad bridge paralleling U.S. Highway 17.

Regulations pertaining to wire traps fished in Lake Okeechobee are contained in FWC Rule 68A-23.012.

40 wire traps and slat baskets in the aggregate per licensee in lakes Apopka, West Tohopekaliga, Cypress,
Hatchineha, and Kissimmee.

20 slat baskets per licensee in the Santa Fe, Suwannee (and its tributary, the Withlacoochee) and
Apalachicola rivers (except in the section between U.S. Highway 90 and Jim Woodruff Dam); and the
Apalachicola River tributaries (except that portion of the Chipola River upstream from Dead Lakes Dam);
and in Lake Seminole in Jackson County. No wire traps permitted.

40 wire traps per licensee in Lake Istokpoga and Red Beach Lake in Highlands County and in lakes
Arbuckle, Crago, Banana, Buffum, Davenport, Henry, Gibson, Marion, Reedy, Surveyors, Vann, Effie,
Hancock, Hunter, Parker, Rosalie, and Tiger in Polk County.

Additionally, wire traps and slat baskets may be fished in other specific areas as designated by rule of the
Commission.

Traps or baskets not being fished shall be removed from the water.

Pound Nets for Non-Game Fish

Return to Contents

The use of pound nets shall be prohibited, except that established pound net sites registered with the
Commission by December 31, 1982, may be fished only by the registered claimant or his designee. Such
pound net registration shall not be transferable to any other person.

Specifications

Maximum size - Widest dimension - 20 feet. Leads shall not exceed 200 feet in length.

Minimum mesh - Not less than two inches stretched.

Pilings - shall extend at least two feet above high water mark and shall be marked with reflective
material at least six inches in width, visible 360 degrees.

Depth - In waters not less than six feet.

Locations

In the St. Johns River from the Shands Bridge in Clay County south to the southern Putnam County line
and in Dunns Creek.

Hoop Nets for Non-Game Fish

Return to Contents

Maximum number - 100 per licensee

Specifications

Maximum diameter - Five feet

Mesh size - Not less than two inches stretched throughout, nor more than 2½
inches stretched rearward of the attachment of the second funnel.

Depth - At least three feet of clearance between the highest point of the hoop net and the water surface.

Funnels - A cross or other restrictive device shall be attached to the inside of the first funnel opening in
order to exclude manatees. This device shall be constructed so as to prevent cylindrical objects seven
inches or more in diameter from entering the front funnel opening.

Second funnel opening shall be designed to discourage or prevent the entrance of game fish by
restricting said opening with twine or webbing.

Locations

Allowed in Trout River east of Interstate 95, Broward River, Dunn Creek and in that portion of the St.
Johns River from the Seaboard Coastline bridge in Duval County upstream to State Road 46 (Mims Bridge)
including Crescent Lake, Dunns Creek and Lakes Beresford, Woodruff, Dexter, Monroe and Harney,
except Lake Jessup.

Hoop nets are prohibited within 100 feet of the mouths of the following St. Johns tributaries: Getout
Creek, Blue Springs Run, Wekiva River, Deep Creek, Alexander Springs Creek, Spring Garden Creek, Shell
Creek and DeLeon Springs Creek. Hoop nets are prohibited within 25 yards of vegetation in Crescent Lake
except from June 1 through August 31. Hoop nets are prohibited in the main channel of the St. Johns
River from a point immediately south of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 (except in Lake Harney) from
January 1 to March 31.

Minnow Lift Nets for Non-Game Fish

Return to Contents

Maximum number - 10 per licensee

Specifications

Maximum dimensions - 12 feet square

Maximum mesh - One inch stretched

Markings - Poles shall be marked with reflective material at least six inches in width, visible 360 degrees.

Permanent tag bearing the name and address of the owner shall be attached to the pull pole of the lift
net.

Area specific regulations

No minnow lift nets shall be fished in the St. Johns River Water Management Areas of Lake County
formerly known as Long Farm, S.N. Knight Lisbon Farm (both parcels north and south of the Yale-Griffin
canal), S.N. Knight Leesburg Farm, Lowrie Brown Farm, Eustis Muck Farm, and Walker Ranch.

Minnow Seine for Non-Game Fish (Except Catfish)

Return to Contents

Specifications

Nets for use in public waters: maximum length 40 feet; no pocket permitted; maximum mesh, one inch
stretched.

Traps and Pots For Eels and Other Non-Game Fish

Return to Contents

Persons licensed in accordance with Section 372.65(1), F.S., may take eels only under permit from the
Commission. Permits shall be subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as prescribed therein and
shall be issued, denied, renewed or revoked as provided in Rule 68A-5.004, F.A.C. Eel harvest permits
shall be issued to applicants who have submitted a completed eel harvest permit application.

Specifications

Eel traps or pots - shall be of one inch by one-half inch wire mesh.

In waters other than those specified for wire traps or slat baskets, such eel traps and pots, in addition to
having a one inch by one-half inch wire mesh, shall be of the following types and specifications:

Square "Carolina"-type pots

Maximum dimensions - 24 inches by 24 inches by 18 inches. Maximum diameter of any and all funnel
openings - two inches.

Cylindrical "shotgun"-type pots

Maximum dimensions - four feet by 18 inches.

Maximum diameter of any funnel openings - two inches.

Miscellaneous Rules

Return to Contents

A limited number of permits may be issued by the Executive Director to authorize operation of haul
seines in Lake Okeechobee and in the Southwest Region. Contact the Commission for information on
permits, application procedures, and gear specifications and use.

Blue crab traps and pots may be fished in fresh water. Trap and pot specifications and use shall be as
specified in rules of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Commercial harvest or sale of freshwater mussels is prohibited.

Commercial harvest and sale of wild freshwater turtles is prohibited after July 20, 2009 until further
notice, as prescribed in FWC Rule 68A-25.002. Rules 68A-23.012 and 68A-27 deal with listed species of
turtles.

Passive freshwater fishing gear (where the harvester does not have to be present all the time), such as
hoop nets, wire traps, slat baskets, trotlines, bush hooks, and setlines must be clearly and legibly marked
with the harvester's name and address while being used or possessed in or upon the waters of the state.
This applies to both commercial and recreational users.