This has been debated on this forum and others quite a few times. For some reason Florda keeps publishing a prohibition on spearing "lobster" without specifying which species of lobster. They mean spiny and spiny only, as in the ones you have to have a stamp to take.
Here is an official email from the FWC. All piercing of an animal is taken to mean spearing under Florida legal codes. I should have posted back in March when first had this in writing but I was hoping someone else would post their official response.
Slipper or shovelnose lobster [Incident: 080315-000019]
Subject
Slipper or shovelnose lobster
Discussion Thread
Response (MF-GC) 03/24/2008 05:17 PM
Mr. Green,
Thank you for your e-mail to the Division of Marine Fisheries Management.
Florida has no prohibition against the spearing or "stringing" of slipper lobster. For species that are unregulated, or that do not have an established bag limit, more that 100 pounds or 2 fish per person per day (whichever is greater), is considered commercial quantities and will require a saltwater products license.
I hope that this information is of use to you. Please feel free to contact us should you require further information.
Customer (Patrick Green) 03/15/2008 11:35 AM
A recent online thread I have participatd in has devolved into an argument over the regulations of slipper and shovelnose lobster. My understanding was that the only recreational rule on shovelnose/slipper lobster was the prohibition from taking eggbearing females (68b 24-008). The other position was that slippers ans shovelnose could not be pierced in anyway. As in it would be illegal to catch them and then put them on a stringer while diving. He was backing up his position by looking at the summarized rules that show slipper and spiny in the heading and makes it look as if all the floowing rules applied to both.
So please what is the official ruling here? Here is th link to the thread if you care to read two fools arguing on the internet. Thanks in advance.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-hunting/223545-panama-city-3-01-08-late-trip-report.html
The person on the other side seems to have become indignant that I contradicted him early on is seemed to need to be "right" at any expense. The allegations of impropriety on my part as well as what seems to be a genuine lack of understanding of the regulatory structure and jurisdictions on his part drew me in and hooked me way more than I should have let them. There is no way to win in a "debate" like that and certainly nothing to be gained. I would really like to know who he talked to with the gulf council that was supposed to be Bill Daughdrill. Anyway I was happy to see the official word from the Gulf Council and FWC is you can take them and string them as long as they don't have eggs, I was doubting my interpretation of the law for awhile there.
Well I am off to prep the boat for tomorrows run to hit the 3 to 5s for big grouper and spinys before they close, I haven't been able to take a fun trip out there in months so it should be epic as long as we hold up things on our end. Pics for the website and the forums will hopefully be forthcoming.
- Show quoted text -
On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM, name removed < Removedr@hotmail.com> wrote:
Pat,
I had the occasion to read your debate about slippers. Your counterpart in the debate should have his answer from the FWC. I'm curious to see if he posts it or tries to refute it...from the impression I get it will be the later.
Shoot Straight!
Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. Enter for your chance to win.
--
-Capt Patrick Green
850-624-2084
Scuba diving and Spearfishing offshore of Panama City and Panama City Beach.
Here is an official email from the FWC. All piercing of an animal is taken to mean spearing under Florida legal codes. I should have posted back in March when first had this in writing but I was hoping someone else would post their official response.
Slipper or shovelnose lobster [Incident: 080315-000019]
Subject
Slipper or shovelnose lobster
Discussion Thread
Response (MF-GC) 03/24/2008 05:17 PM
Mr. Green,
Thank you for your e-mail to the Division of Marine Fisheries Management.
Florida has no prohibition against the spearing or "stringing" of slipper lobster. For species that are unregulated, or that do not have an established bag limit, more that 100 pounds or 2 fish per person per day (whichever is greater), is considered commercial quantities and will require a saltwater products license.
I hope that this information is of use to you. Please feel free to contact us should you require further information.
Customer (Patrick Green) 03/15/2008 11:35 AM
A recent online thread I have participatd in has devolved into an argument over the regulations of slipper and shovelnose lobster. My understanding was that the only recreational rule on shovelnose/slipper lobster was the prohibition from taking eggbearing females (68b 24-008). The other position was that slippers ans shovelnose could not be pierced in anyway. As in it would be illegal to catch them and then put them on a stringer while diving. He was backing up his position by looking at the summarized rules that show slipper and spiny in the heading and makes it look as if all the floowing rules applied to both.
So please what is the official ruling here? Here is th link to the thread if you care to read two fools arguing on the internet. Thanks in advance.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-hunting/223545-panama-city-3-01-08-late-trip-report.html
The person on the other side seems to have become indignant that I contradicted him early on is seemed to need to be "right" at any expense. The allegations of impropriety on my part as well as what seems to be a genuine lack of understanding of the regulatory structure and jurisdictions on his part drew me in and hooked me way more than I should have let them. There is no way to win in a "debate" like that and certainly nothing to be gained. I would really like to know who he talked to with the gulf council that was supposed to be Bill Daughdrill. Anyway I was happy to see the official word from the Gulf Council and FWC is you can take them and string them as long as they don't have eggs, I was doubting my interpretation of the law for awhile there.
Well I am off to prep the boat for tomorrows run to hit the 3 to 5s for big grouper and spinys before they close, I haven't been able to take a fun trip out there in months so it should be epic as long as we hold up things on our end. Pics for the website and the forums will hopefully be forthcoming.
- Show quoted text -
On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM, name removed < Removedr@hotmail.com> wrote:
Pat,
I had the occasion to read your debate about slippers. Your counterpart in the debate should have his answer from the FWC. I'm curious to see if he posts it or tries to refute it...from the impression I get it will be the later.
Shoot Straight!
Windows Live Hotmail is giving away Zunes. Enter for your chance to win.
--
-Capt Patrick Green
850-624-2084
Scuba diving and Spearfishing offshore of Panama City and Panama City Beach.