Spiny lobster seasons begin soon

[The Chairman]

[FONT=&amp]:fwc:

Forimmediate release: July 17, 2013[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Contact:Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Spiny lobster seasons begin soon[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]The 2013 recreational and commercial spiny lobster seasons will open soon,beginning with the two-day spiny lobster recreational season July 24 and 25.The regular commercial and recreational lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]The two-day sport season occurs on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year (July 24 and 25, 2013). Commercial fishermen may begin putting their traps in the water Aug. 1, and recreational and commercial fishermen may harvest spiny lobsters starting Aug. 6.
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[FONT=&amp]Spiny lobsters must have a carapace length greater than 3 inches to be taken during the open seasons.Divers must possess a measuring device and lobsters must be in the water while they are measured.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Harvest of egg-bearing females is prohibited. Spiny lobster must remain in whole condition until it is brought to shore. Harvesters cannot use any device that might puncture, penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]During the two-day spiny lobster sport season, recreational divers and snorkelers can take up to six lobsters per person daily in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park waters and 12 lobsters per person daily in other Florida waters. You can possess no more than the daily bag limit of lobsters when you are on the water. When you are off the water, you can possess the daily bag limit on the first day and double the daily bag limit on the second day. Possession limits are enforced on and off the water during the two-day sport season.
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[FONT=&amp]Night diving for spiny lobsters during the two-day sport season is not allowed in Monroe County, and all harvest of lobsters is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the two-day season.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Lobster harvest is also prohibited at all times in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary, certain areas in Pennekamp Park, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]During the Aug. 6 to March 31 regular season, the daily recreational bag and on-the-water possession limit is six spiny lobsters per person.
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[FONT=&amp]While diving, spiny lobster harvesters may encounter nonnative, invasive lionfish. FWC encourages people to remove lionfish to limit negative impacts to native fish and wildlife. There is no bag limit for the nonnative, invasive lionfish. [/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]You must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit to recreationally harvest spiny lobsters unless you are exempt from recreational license requirements.Information about these licenses and permits is available online at MyFWC.com/License.
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[FONT=&amp]Be safe when diving or snorkeling for spiny lobster and when boating around other divers. Be sure to stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag (red with a white diagonal stripe) when in open water and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators must slow to idle speed when traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag in open water or 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel.Divers-down flags displayed on vessels must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches,and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. The flag must be displayed from the highest point of the vessel and must be visible from all directions. When divers are out of the water, the flag must not be displayed. Dive flags carried on floats must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches. More information on divers-down flag requirements is available online at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Boating Regulations.”
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[FONT=&amp]Additional information onrecreational spiny lobster fishing, including how to measure spiny lobster, is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]-30-[/FONT]​

[FONT=&amp]AN/MR/MFM
WBD/SS

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The Keys
Pre-Mini Season Scuba Refresher​

 

[Chugwhump]

[FONT=&amp]:fwc:

For immediate release: July 17, 2013[/FONT]
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[FONT=&amp]Blah, Blah, Blah............
While diving, spiny lobster harvesters may encounter nonnative, invasive lionfish. FWC encourages people to remove lionfish to limit negative impacts to native fish and wildlife. There is no bag limit for the nonnative, invasive lionfish. [/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]You must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit to recreationally harvest spiny lobsters unless you are exempt from recreational license requirements.Information about these licenses and permits is available online at MyFWC.com/License.

More Blah, Blah Blah......
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There are some rules for whacking Lions, but if you have your bug license, you are covered.

Lionfish FAQs

Thanks for posting the press release Pete.

Chug
Eats Lions and realizes there are many, Many, MANY more Lobster to be had in Monroe and Palm Beach Counties.
Broward County is just a waste of time.

 

[The Chairman]

Have fun with this year's mini-season. If you haven't had your gear serviced yet, well you might want to think about renting. If you haven't dove in a while, get a refresher or at least to a Scuba Tuneup in your area. Most are free. If you're going out on a private boat, please, please, please don't drink and dive or drive, not even a boat. Too many Captain Morgans and Ensign Budweisers will be out on the water as it is. We certainly don't want to read about you in our Accidents and Incidents forum.

 

[agilis]

Interestingly enough, I get the same Florida F&W notices in my email. I suppose it's because I usually buy one year Florida non-resident licenses every year. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife has never sent me a thing. Hope I get to Florida this Fall or Winter. I miss the place, despite all my complaints.

 

[billinwilliamston]

I seriously question the wisdom of the FWC encouraging 1/2 drunk, ill-equipped, inexperienced bug hunters who haven't been in the water since last mini-season to add lionfish to their agenda. I especially question it during mini-season.

There is very little gear used for catching lobster that would be useful in killing lionfish and most of the gear commonly used for lionfish, at least in this neck of the woods, is illegal to use when catching lobster. Sound like a recipe for a bunch of guys learning a lionfish lesson the hard way.

or maybe I'm just a nervous Nelly.