Florida Lionfish Hunting

[dumpsterDiver]

I'm usually not in favor of forking over one extra dime to the government. However I do believe in a requirement for a fishing license.

1. With this new rules, poachers who target many inshore species when caught would be in violation merely for fishing without a license. Now they just say, "were hunting lionfish."

2. All of the money spent on fishing licenses goes to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to provide optimum sustained use of Florida's fish and wildlife resources. In addition, each license holder that buys a license, helps the FWC to recover excise taxes from the Federal government, which you spend on items such as fishing tackle, boats, and for motor boat fuel taxes, through the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration program. (from the FWC web site)

3. Fisherman, even those who are militantly "catch and release" must have a fishing license just to wet a line. Since the money does go to the FWC, who really do try to protect the resource, it wouldn't hurt for divers to contribute. Unlike fisherman who contribute the lion's share. There fees and registrations go to projects such as mangrove plantings in the Lake Worth Lagoon, Artificial Reefs, Law Enforcement.....

The annual fee for a Saltwater License with a lobster stamp is $18.00 a year. That even entitles the licensee to trap stone crabs. It's money well spent. IMO, every diver should be required to have one.

Number 1 is silly... If you spear anything other than a lionfish... then you are in violation, it doesn't matter what people "say".

Numbers 2 &3 : Apparently you think that the state should collect more money (to do good things)...That is a reasonable position, especially when you consider how under-funded FWC had become and how many important functions they have. However, it seems that FWC would rather see the lionfish get removed than have more money sent to themselves. If they prioritize things like that, I'm not going to complain.

 

[Absolutbill]

Number 1 is silly... If you spear anything other than a lionfish... then you are in violation, it doesn't matter what people "say".

I think the point was that it is easier to enforce "anyone with a spear needs a license" if a diver surfaces with a spear and they were really after something else they could say "just hunting lion fish officer"




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[dumpsterDiver]

I think the point was that it is easier to enforce "anyone with a spear needs a license" if a diver surfaces with a spear and they were really after something else they could say "just hunting lion fish officer"




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Who cares what they are "after". If they take something (other than a lionfish) without a license then there is an issue.

Or another way to look at it.. I can catch lobster with just my hands. So should all divers be required to buy fishing licenses and a lobster stamp because they "might" be engaged in loster diving?

 

[John from the burg]

Who cares what they are "after". If they take something (other than a lionfish) without a license then there is an issue.

Or another way to look at it.. I can catch lobster with just my hands. So should all divers be required to buy fishing licenses and a lobster stamp because they "might" be engaged in loster diving?

Perfectly stated, if the government needs more money then they should make better use of the money already received. Last week a lady drove over a curb in her lil focus, it was loud but not bad by any stretch. To her aid with popped tires comes 3 police cruisers, 2 ambulances and a damn fire truck. Not a bad thing if they are needed but she did not, once they figure they are not needed all but one ambulance (sunstar, private oddly enough) leaves and the rest stay with their trucks and cars running of course for a damn hour. So we have at least 8 guys standing around burning tax money and gas cuz grandma popped her tires. On the hill for either side isn't much better but if there a way to stop more laws im for it.

 

[SC_Hoaty]

I'm a non-resident of FL, and will be vacationing and diving there for a week. I'm not a spearo - just a rec diver looking at the pretty fishies. No way I would buy a license. But I might now get a lionfish device just to cut down on the number of invasive bastages who are eating the pretty fishies I come to see. Florida is a tourist destination - there are probably at least a few other divers like me.

It seems FWC is making a smart move here - making it easy for the tourists to help out. If after one year it turns out it has been a fuster-cluck, just let it expire.

I'm really missing the downside here.

 

[Magnolia3]

And the wife and I just shelled out for a five year Florida salt water license? Oh well, do you still need a saltwater license along with a lobster tag?

My working theory is that IF you don't have anything but lionfish in the bag/cooler/livewell... but if there is anything else............
I did the same, 5 yr license as well..but then I offshore and flats fish a lot. Our local friendly FWC guys get real serious real fast without one... its going to be learning curve for them I suspect.

 

[Carol202]

Please share a link or phone number to confirm. I also don't understand an "exemption" can exist ewhen all prohibitions remain for polespears and spearguns. Where is the exemption, on your gear only?

---------- Post Merged at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:11 PM ----------

Is this a blanket exemption for Lionfish by any take means? I have approached FWC regarding this issue and been turned down. This is great news, but I need to take to my local enforcers for confirmation, since they will be writing the tickets.

FWC has info on new rules for harvesting lionfish here: Lionfish FAQs Please note that you can't use just any speargun to harvest lionfish. So if you are carrying a 5' riffe without a fishing license, you won't be able to use the excuse that you were only hunting lionfish.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

FWC has info on new rules for harvesting lionfish here: Lionfish FAQs Please note that you can't use just any speargun to harvest lionfish. So if you are carrying a 5' riffe without a fishing license, you won't be able to use the excuse that you were only hunting lionfish.

Taking your one statement out of context could cause someone to misunderstand the situation. Yes you can use a speargun to take lionfish, however, if you use a speargun, then you must have a valid fishing license... Pole spears, nets etc. are NOT spearguns.

 

[Xfiend]

Perfectly stated, if the government needs more money then they should make better use of the money already received. Last week a lady drove over a curb in her lil focus, it was loud but not bad by any stretch. To her aid with popped tires comes 3 police cruisers, 2 ambulances and a damn fire truck. Not a bad thing if they are needed but she did not, once they figure they are not needed all but one ambulance (sunstar, private oddly enough) leaves and the rest stay with their trucks and cars running of course for a damn hour. So we have at least 8 guys standing around burning tax money and gas cuz grandma popped her tires. On the hill for either side isn't much better but if there a way to stop more laws im for it.

you have no idea what your talking about. Those guys are getting paid the same whether they are "standing around" assisting "grandma" or sitting in their station doing nothing. You THINK they are doing nothing, but you have absolutely no idea what they are actually doing. It could range from providing lighting or traffic control to awaiting the arrival of an environmental agency, or maybe you didn't see the child that got hit prior to your arrival. It's standard for multiple officers to be on any scene where criminal charges may be required. Maybe "grandma" was intoxicated. Maybe there were drugs or guns or whatever present in her car. The cost of fuel is negligible in the overall budget of any public safety entity.

It's people like you who criticize these situations that you know nothing about, that will be glad that the police, fire, or ems departments bring their full weight when its your family in danger.

 

[Insta-Gator]

:koh: