Spillway fishing

[PBFisher]

I remember back in July ogling Oceanpotion's big snooks caught in the spillyway using pilchards. I reasoned why not bluegills? After all when those chutes open, fresh water fish are coming through. I even tried it once. So what's my point. Well every week I watch the "South Florida Fishing Report."
The first show in September was about catching snook. When talking about spillways, the host said," don't be standing on the saltwater side casting fresh." I thought to myself, "What the hell does that mean?" A couple of weeks ago I decided to ask. Here´s the reply I got:

FRESH WATER BAIT FISH, BLUE GILLS, SMALL BASS ANY THING THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN FRESH WATER THAT THE SNOOK ARE EATING YOU CAN NOT PUT ON A HOOK AND USE AS BAIT......I KNOW , SILLY.......BUT THEY HAVE THEIR REASONS, NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE?????BUT THAT THEY WAY THE RULES ARE WRITTEN. HENRY

[jad1097]

Ask him for a quote of the exact rules. Better yet, a link where he found them,


I do not see anything in the saltwater regs summery.

freshwater...


METHODS OF TAKING BAIT


Freshwater shrimp and minnows of nongame fish (except catfish) may be taken by:
• Cast nets having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch.
• Minnow dip nets not more than 4 feet in diameter.
• Minnow seines having a stretched mesh size not greater than 1 inch, a length not more than 20 feet, and a depth not more than 4 feet.
• Minnow traps not more than 24 inches in length and 12 inches in diameter, with a funnel entrance not more than 1 inch in spread.
• Any game fish harvested by these methods must be released immediately.
• Taking of bait for the purpose of sale requires a commercial fishing license.

USE OF FISH FOR BAIT

• Black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait.
• Live goldfish or carp may not be used as bait.
• Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them. Whole pickerel or bream or parts thereof may not be used as bait for trotlines or bush hooks or any method other than by rod and reel or pole and line.

http://www.floridaconservation.org/Fishing/rules.html

[jad1097]

from Chapter 68

68A-23.007 Use of Fish for Bait.
(1) No person shall use any species of black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof as bait. Whole pickerel or bream or portions
thereof may be used for bait purposes by persons catching the fish but in no case shall they be used as bait for trotlines, bush hooks
or in any manner other than on pole and line or rod and reel. Fish commonly called panfish produced by persons possessing a valid
certificate of registration from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may be sold and used for bait provided fish
are four inches or less in total length.
(2) No live goldfish or carp shall be transported into the state for bait purposes or possessed or used for bait for the purpose of
taking freshwater fish in any waters.
(3) Bait minnows may be taken as provided by Rule 68A-23.002, F.A.C.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly
39-23.07, Amended 7-1-98, Formerly 39-23.007, Amended 7-1-00

[Cookinman]

[quote="PBFisher"]I remember back in July ogling Oceanpotion's big snooks caught in the spillyway using pilchards. I reasoned why not bluegills?

Tilapia and Ciclids are as of yet unregulated and work just as good if not better than bluegills.

[jad1097]

http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/Fishes/non ... ml#tilapia

SPECIAL NOTE – Possession and transport of live tilapia in Florida is illegal without a special permit (except blue tilapia). They can only be possessed if dead, so anglers who catch and want to eat a tilapia, other than blue tilapia, should immediately place them on ice

[BoatlessFisherman]

Jad, Thanks man, your on top of this, I know these guys and I appreciate it.

[PBFisher]

Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them.

Bream is what I was talkin about. This is clear enough for me thanks.

[Cookinman]

http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/Fishes/non ... ml#tilapia

SPECIAL NOTE – Possession and transport of live tilapia in Florida is illegal without a special permit (except blue tilapia). They can only be possessed if dead, so anglers who catch and want to eat a tilapia, other than blue tilapia, should immediately place them on ice

Wow no kidding - Man they are the BEST Spillway bait...Well, the USED TO BE the best spillway bait....lol Looks like I will be stickin with Mayans in Summer and Mullett in Autumn.
Thanks !