The latest ploy to seperate you from your cash is for the Sheriffs Deputy to pull over a truck with a visable cooler in the back and ask to inspect contents.
If you have above the posession limit for the number of licenses and divers in the truck you get ticketed/arrested.
AND if you have frozen tales seperated from the carapace you better hope they are more than 6" in length.
No matter that they came off a legal length bug, if the tale is short the going fee is $290. They don't measure well while frozen in the fetal position.
This report from a friend who got busted last weekend. He even had to wait for another deputy to bring a measure device to the officer who made the stop.
It's not a search for justice or conservation. It's a search for revenue. Yours!:moon:

Moron county. Go on vacation, Leave on probation :FIREdevil:

So what is the legal limit that we can bring home if we are going to be down there all week for the regular season.

So what is the legal limit that we can bring home if we are going to be down there all week for the regular season.

2 days limit.

2 days limit.

Is that 2 day limit just tails, or is it considered whole lobster?

Is that 2 day limit just tails, or is it considered whole lobster?

You can tail them once on land, but Captain Gene said that the tails have to be 6", and like he said when they are rolled up, it will be difficult to get an accurate measurement.

Edit:

http://marinefisheries.org/Lobster-Brochure.pdf

Tails need to be 5 1/2" when seperated from the body.

Measuring Lobster
 Each harvester must have a gauge made for
measuring lobster while harvesting in the water.
 All lobster must be measured in the water and
released unharmed if undersized.
 Lobster carapace must be greater than three (3)
inches.
 All recreationally harvested lobster must remain
in whole condition while at sea.
 Tails can only be separated on land. When the
tail is separated from the body, it must be
greater than 5-1/2 inches.

First a correction the Tails once seperated on LAND have to be GREATER than 5 1/2" Second the limiit is six per person per day for REGULAR season.

We have had this problem before, KEEP your hotel, house, camp ground receipt. It is your proof of how long you were there. Use common sense if you have a 100 tails and four hunters be prepaired to show you lenth of stay receipt.

There is no on land possesion limits for REGULAR season, however you are better off to only carry yours and not your buddy's while on land unless your buddy is with you of course

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68B-24

So 5 1/2 Inches (I read that on the FWC website as well) for the tails out of the water and wrung off. 3" for the carapace in the water with a 6 per person limit per day. We can bring back what we have caught on each day (we'll probably eat alot of it so we'll be taking back only a couple days limit, if we're lucky enough to get our limit!) and we need to be able to prove how long we have stayed at our house to correspond with how many lobster we have. And you can't use a stick with a snare in monroe county. Anything else important that I'm missing. I don't wanna have to contribute any $$$$ to Monroe county in the way of fines if I don't have to.

We have had this problem before, KEEP your hotel, house, camp ground receipt. It is your proof of how long you were there. Use common sense if you have a 100 tails and four hunters be prepaired to show you lenth of stay receipt.


Man, what kind of BS is that?! You have to prove your innocence? And why are they stopping you- where is the reasonable suspicion? That you have a cooler? That should be illegal and any lawyer worth a nickel should get it thrown out as an illegal search.

I'm totally against poaching- but pulling over trucks with coolers sounds like a police state.

Cops try to bullshit you out of your constitutional rights.

If a cop pulls you over and asks to search your vehicle or anything in it, politely say, "I do not consent to a search". If he thinks he has enough probable cause because you have a cooler in the back of your truck, let him get his warrant.

I would dearly love to see a cop try to explain to a judge that the presence of a cooler constituted enough probable cause to warrant a search for illegal lobster tails. Too many people think cops have the right to do this and consent to the search. They forfeit their constitutional rights and they screw themselves.

Call his bluff. Never volunteer any information, never make any statements and never admit shit.

If a cop pulls you over and asks to search your vehicle or anything in it, politely say, "I do not consent to a search".
Good advice there. I've certainly pissed off more than one LEO by denying them a fishing expedition. More people should just say no, because they seemed surprised.

That said, I like to see them stepping up enforcement, it's just too bad that it's for revenue generation.

Good advice there. I've certainly pissed off more than one LEO by denying them a fishing expedition. More people should just say no, because they seemed surprised.

That said, I like to see them stepping up enforcement, it's just too bad that it's for revenue generation.
So 5 1/2 Inches (I read that on the FWC website as well) for the tails out of the water and wrung off. 3" for the carapace in the water with a 6 per person limit per day. We can bring back what we have caught on each day (we'll probably eat alot of it so we'll be taking back only a couple days limit, if we're lucky enough to get our limit!) and we need to be able to prove how long we have stayed at our house to correspond with how many lobster we have. And you can't use a stick with a snare in monroe county. Anything else important that I'm missing. I don't wanna have to contribute any $$$$ to Monroe county in the way of fines if I don't have to.

You can use a snare in Monroe County, though I do much better with net and tickle stick.

barnaclebill

So 5 1/2 Inches (I read that on the FWC website as well) for the tails out of the water and wrung off. 3" for the carapace in the water with a 6 per person limit per day. We can bring back what we have caught on each day (we'll probably eat alot of it so we'll be taking back only a couple days limit, if we're lucky enough to get our limit!) and we need to be able to prove how long we have stayed at our house to correspond with how many lobster we have. And you can't use a stick with a snare in monroe county. Anything else important that I'm missing. I don't wanna have to contribute any $$$$ to Monroe county in the way of fines if I don't have to.

You can use a snare in Monroe County, though I do much better with net and tickle stick.

barnaclebill
I guess I can't figure out how the quote thing works.

the fine is 295.00 + a NTA or if you wish free room and board.

Hide your cooler. That is BS. What if me, my wife and a few buddies go. All the lobster are in one cooler and they are following behind in a second vehicle? Hide your coolers.

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm leaving bright and early Sat. morning and spending a week in Marathon. Can't wait to catch some bugs and do some spearing. Long trip from North Florida, hopefully we can make it through the week without looking like a bunch of :cone4:s Look for a report when we get back.

Yes, you can use a snare...aka loop. I used it last year for the first time after using tickle stick and net all my life. I liked it. I found it to be just as effective and less cumbersom. I actually ended up carrying a tickle stick along with it because the snare was too fat for tickling. If you buy a loop stick make sure you get one with the locking mechanism on it so you don't have to go at it 2 handed.

REELKEEN,

There are lobster everywhere down there. Don't be scared to venture out on your own instead of following what the herd does. Use your instincts. I once found about 5 big bugs in 2' of water where the sea grass met the hard rocky/sandy bottom. There was enough of an undercut for them to hide under the grass.

Rots o ruck!

We got a friendly safty search by a FWC undercover cop on the water in Monrow. Snares were on board an plainly visable they said nothing to us and actually picked one up to show the Boy Scouts we had on board how to measure a lobster correctly. The snars we purchased had a gauge attached to them. But the gauge was poorly designed. Your gauge should be deep enought that it can account for the curved part of the carapace other wise you will not be able to correctly measure the bug. We actually had two slighly undersized lobsters on board, and we claimed mercey because the Scouts were catching lobsters as well. They let us go with a warning. Good thing I don't think the Scout Troop budget could have handled the fines :D Also If you think that your ticket in anyway was unfair I would take it to court. If you were carrying lobsters back for your friend who can come to court and atest to catching those lobsters I don't see why any Judge would not let you off.

Yes, you can use a snare...aka loop. I used it last year for the first time after using tickle stick and net all my life. I liked it. I found it to be just as effective and less cumbersom. I actually ended up carrying a tickle stick along with it because the snare was too fat for tickling. If you buy a loop stick make sure you get one with the locking mechanism on it so you don't have to go at it 2 handed.




One thing you will find about lobster gear is that everybody has their favorite gear and swears by it. I am no exception. I like the pvc snairs that have no locking mechanism. (the ones that have two holes drilled in them with the loop coming out at an angle, not the formed ones, they are a little to stiff, I like a smooth action!!!:slap:) I do not want to have to press a button to open the loop, or a button to break either. Also, when you loose it, it costs you less, but I prefer this kind because you have total control the whole time. I close the loop, stick it behind the lobster and it works great as a tickle stick in the closed position. Then once you have walked him out with enough space to get behind him, you open the loop just big enough to go around the tail and then quickly tighten down and pull him our all in one motion, so you do not let the bug you are catching mess up the vis for potential other bugs in the same hole. This whole process should only take about 10-15 seconds. Also for north florida really big bugs, none of the above techniques work, the loop will not even go around the tail.
Reelkeen, if you want some travenire numbers to check on the way down give me a call. I feel bad that I can not get down there to check them myself so sombody might as well do it:whistle:

I guess it was a bad idea to clean our bugs in the keys over sportsman, since we drove back in our boat. We had our legal limit of 72 bugs(6licenses), but I guess we should have left them whole?

I guess it was a bad idea to clean our bugs in the keys over sportsman, since we drove back in our boat. We had our legal limit of 72 bugs(6licenses), but I guess we should have left them whole?

If you were in the keys it wouldnt matter if they were tailed or not since you were poaching either way. Legal limit would be 36.

If you were in the keys it wouldnt matter if they were tailed or not since you were poaching either way. Legal limit would be 36.

You are allowed possession of two days limit on the second day of Mini-Season, so 72 would have been their legal limit.

"During the second day of the two-day sport season, no recreational harvester shall harvest or possess while in or on the waters of Monroe County or Biscayne National Park more than 6 spiny lobster, or possess more than 12 spiny lobster in said county or in said park once such harvester has landed and departed those waters"

possess more than 12 spiny lobster in said county or in said park once such harvester has landed and departed those waters"

Once such harvester has landed and departed those waters is the key phrase. If he gets caught with 12 per person in monroe on the water he is screwed.

I heard while having a few beers At the Island Fish co Tiki Bar a few locals talking about that for Mini season Fwc brings in at least 4 Fish Sherriffs from each local office through out Florida. I thought the local had made that up: then Wednesday came 1st day of mini season, (9:30am)1000 yards south of Key Colony bridge 2 helicopters came out of no where and started circling about 80' over the water. Then they came lower, Fish sherriff comandos were hanging out the sides of the chopper with gear (mask, wetsuit, fins)on like they were going to repell down lines and search our boats. They started buzzing the boats at about 50' ,they about blew my dive flag off ,then 3 Fish sherriff boats with 4 crustacion commandos started working through the boats, pitty the fool with no dive flag. They must have got the big call because the choppers and the boats hauled ass west out of sight past Duck Key. Later that night I ran to the dive shop in Marathon and rode behind a convoy of 6 fish sherriff trucks heading south pulling boats. I have worked in law enforcment(Corrections) for over 12 years . That was an embarrassing show of force and they have only made their department look like a bunch of:cone4::cone4:'s

Once such harvester has landed and departed those waters is the key phrase. If he gets caught with 12 per person in monroe on the water he is screwed.

Now I understand where you are coming from! Thanks for the explaination.

I was hoping that someone was aware of a law/ or way to declare game with an officer which would allow one to travel via boat. If someone is by the book on regulations, but can't take their bugs home without feeling like a "poacher", we need a good dose of common sense. The same is true when I bring my kids scalloping. We take our boat from pinellas to legal scalloping grounds, harvest w/i limit(too many is a pain in the ass to clean),w/i the season, and return via boat(?poaching?). Is there a way to be legal when using your boat as transportation?

I was hoping that someone was aware of a law/ or way to declare game with an officer which would allow one to travel via boat. If someone is by the book on regulations, but can't take their bugs home without feeling like a "poacher", we need a good dose of common sense. The same is true when I bring my kids scalloping. We take our boat from pinellas to legal scalloping grounds, harvest w/i limit(too many is a pain in the ass to clean),w/i the season, and return via boat(?poaching?). Is there a way to be legal when using your boat as transportation?



NO & NO

Some of you guys kill me. You piss and moan about fishing laws..."...the damn commercial guys.....the sport fisherman pricks...." Then someone talks about how they get stopped and searched in an effort to protect our marine resources. Now it's, "Hide your coolers, Don't let them search." I for one am happy to let them look in my coolers any time they want. Hell, they can root around in the bilge if they want. I am legal, I am always legal, and I will always be legal. They don't know me from Adam. They are just doing a job. As far as making revenue, good for them. Make the people who are breaking the rules PAY. If you don't break the rules, then you don't pay. It's simple. It's the typical complaint. There is never a cop around when YOU need them. However, when they are around and their eyes are on you then, "They are harrassing me. They just need revenue." Quit crying. If you are legal, be patient. Let them do their job. Then they can get to the next guy that might be breaking the law.

Some of you guys kill me. You piss and moan about fishing laws..."...the damn commercial guys.....the sport fisherman pricks...." Then someone talks about how they get stopped and searched in an effort to protect our marine resources. Now it's, "Hide your coolers, Don't let them search." I for one am happy to let them look in my coolers any time they want. Hell, they can root around in the bilge if they want. I am legal, I am always legal, and I will always be legal. They don't know me from Adam. They are just doing a job. As far as making revenue, good for them. Make the people who are breaking the rules PAY. If you don't break the rules, then you don't pay. It's simple. It's the typical complaint. There is never a cop around when YOU need them. However, when they are around and their eyes are on you then, "They are harrassing me. They just need revenue." Quit crying. If you are legal, be patient. Let them do their job. Then they can get to the next guy that might be breaking the law.

That's total bs.
Being 100% legal 100% of the time is certainly no guarantee of avoiding arrest or fines. You don't have to break the rules to be assessed.
That is the problem and the entire reason I started this post.

Unfortunately, some of the rules were not intended to interfer with legal harvesting-but they do! I've talked to some of the guys that are responsible for making these laws. They thought it was ridiculous for me not to be able to bring my kids scalloping(via boat/to legal areas/returning to pinellas) without being "legal". In fact, I've been told by patrols that it would depend on who pulled me as to whether I would face charges. He rec leaving the tracks on my GPS and not stoping on the way home(and don't slow down to 50mph).