Rules and Regulations

[fishinDave07]

Straight from the FWC's mouth:

Spearing is defined as “the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing its body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking).”

Spearfishing is defined as “the catching or taking of a fish through the instrumentality of a hand or mechanically propelled, single or multi-pronged spear or lance, barbed or barbless, operated by a person swimming at or below the surface of the water.”

The use of powerheads, bangsticks, and rebreathers remains prohibited. The following is a list of species that are prohibited for harvest by spearing. Any other species not listed that are managed by the Commission, and those species not managed by the Commission, are allowed to be harvested by spearing.

Billfish (all species)

Spotted eagle ray

Sturgeon

Manta ray

Sharks

Bonefish

Tarpon

Goliath Grouper

Snook

Blue Crab

Nassau grouper

Spotted seatrout

Red drum

Weakfish

Stone Crab

Pompano

African pompano

Permit

Tripletail

Lobster

Families of ornamental reef fish (surgeonfish, trumpetfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, porcupinefish, cornetfish, squirrelfish, trunkfish, damselfish, parrotfish, pipefish, seahorse, puffers, triggerfish except gray and ocean)

You May NOT Spearfish (Excluding bowhunting and gigging):

Effective July 1, 2001, spearfishing of marine and freshwater species in freshwater is prohibited. Possession of a spear gun in or on freshwater is also prohibited.

Within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is allowed.

Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea – except for the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends more than 1,500 yards from the shoreline.

In Collier County and in Monroe County from Long Key north to the Dade County line.

For any fish for which spearing is expressly prohibited by law (listed above).

In any body of water under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection,Recreation and Parks. (Possession of spearfishing equipment is prohibited in these areas, unless it is unloaded and properly stored.)
Fishermen who catch and/or sell fish harvested by spearing are subject to the same rules and limitations that other anglers in the state are required to follow.

[BoatlessFisherman]

This is great info to start with and it is good at the top so everyone can read

[ermaclob]

what......can you fish? and more importantly how im i going to remember that LOOOG list of fish not to kill?