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Catching invasive freshwater fish in Florida.

matthewr262

matthewr262

Plecostomus
MFK Member
I want to go camping near lake Okeechobee in Florida, and possibly go dip netting for species of invasive fish for my own personal aquariums.
From what I've looked up, all I need is a fishing license and the special equipment permit for dip netting or seining. Information kinda becomes a grey area for transport of fish out of state and the legality of keeping the fish alive. So far I do know the speckled peacock bass is off limits.
Any MFKers have good information or sites I can look into? I'm trying to keep this trip on a budget and going back to Florida for court because I missed something won't be cheap. Thanks.
 
I not sure specific regs for Florida but from what you said it sound right. Bump for someone from Florida
 
thebiggerthebetter said:
Prohibited fish spp http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/regulations/prohibited/

Conditional fish spp http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/regulations/conditional/

Permit (may not apply to you) http://www.myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nonnative-species/

Poke around the site for more. HTH.
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I read through a lot of this, I take it most of what I plan to catch is considered bait fish. But I'm still uncertain if transport of bait fish to Ohio is legal.
 
My limited understanding is that you cannot be in possession of any of the prohibited or conditional live spp, no matter their origin, wild caught or not, without a permit. Dead, yes. Live, no.

Taking them across state lines will require a different permit, as would the transit and the destination states.

I think they are a kill-on-sight / landing kind of fish, at least the prohibited ones for sure.

I didn't understand what you said about the pbass. These have been stocked by FWC intentionally for game and are not considered invasive in that sense. They struggle to survive / establish strong population as cold spells keep wiping them out largely. No one is trying to get rid of them. I'd think one can keep them once caught.
 
I will also be in the Miami Everglades region in early March. Im from Indiana and this will be my third fishing trip down there for pbass and snakehead and other non-native species. When do you plan to go down?
 
Siddons11 said:
I will also be in the Miami Everglades region in early March. Im from Indiana and this will be my third fishing trip down there for pbass and snakehead and other non-native species. When do you plan to go down?
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Possibly the end of March beginning of April while my kids are on spring break. Do some camping at KOA north of Okeechobee. I'd like to order some kordon breathable bags to bring some smaller gems home.
 
I brought home some mayan cichlids from the pond in the condo complex I stay at in Fort Myers. I used a 5 gallon bucket with battery powered airstone without a problem.
 
Siddons11 said:
I will also be in the Miami Everglades region in early March. Im from Indiana and this will be my third fishing trip down there for pbass and snakehead and other non-native species. When do you plan to go down?
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Bring me over some peacocks I'm from Chicago lol
 
thebiggerthebetter said:
My limited understanding is that you cannot be in possession of any of the prohibited or conditional live spp, no matter their origin, wild caught or not, without a permit. Dead, yes. Live, no.

Taking them across state lines will require a different permit, as would the transit and the destination states.

I think they are a kill-on-sight / landing kind of fish, at least the prohibited ones for sure.

I didn't understand what you said about the pbass. These have been stocked by FWC intentionally for game and are not considered invasive in that sense. They struggle to survive / establish strong population as cold spells keep wiping them out largely. No one is trying to get rid of them. I'd think one can keep them once caught.
Click to expand...
I see piranha are a big no no, must be killed on site. But what about Oscars , jack Dempsey, and other SA cichlids? I think I'll leave snake heads and peacock bass alone
 
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