Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-24.003 - Minimum Size Limits

(1) No person shall harvest or possess any spiny lobster with a carapace measurement of 3 inches or less or, if the tail is separated from the body, a tail measurement less than 5 1/2 inches not including any protruding muscle tissue, except as may be provided in subsection (3), of this rule.

(2) The carapace (head, body, or front section) measurement shall be determined by beginning at the anteriormost edge (front) of the groove between the horns directly above the eyes, then proceeding along the middorsal line (middle of the back) to the rear edge of the top part of the carapace, excluding any translucent membrane. The tail (segmented portion) shall be measured lengthwise along the top middorsal line (middle of the back) of the entire tail until the rearmost extremity is reached; provided, the tail measurement shall be conducted with the tail in a flat straight position with the tip of the tail closed.

(3) The holder of a valid crawfish license or trap number, lobster trap certificates, and a valid saltwater products license issued by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission may harvest and possess, while on the water, undersized spiny lobster not exceeding 50 per boat and 1 per trap aboard each boat if used exclusively for luring, decoying, or otherwise attracting noncaptive spiny lobster into traps. Such undersized spiny lobster shall be kept alive, while in possession, in a shaded continuously circulating live well with pump capacity to totally replace the water at least every 8 minutes and large enough to provide at least 3/4 gallon of seawater per lobster. All undersized lobster so maintained shall be released to the water alive and unharmed immediately upon leaving the trap lines and prior to 1 hour after official sunset.

(4) Spiny lobster harvested in Florida waters shall remain in a whole condition at all times while on or below the waters of the state and the practice of wringing or separating the tail (segmented portion) from the body (carapace and head) section is prohibited on state waters. Possession of spiny lobster tails that have been wrung or separated, on or below the waters of the state, is prohibited, unless the spiny lobster are being imported pursuant to Rule 68B-24.0045, F.A.C., or were harvested outside the waters of the state and the wringing or separation was pursuant to a federal permit allowing such wringing or separation. In the latter case, the federal permit shall be present and accompany any wrung or separated spiny lobster tails while possessed on or below the waters of the state.

(5) No person shall harvest or attempt to harvest spiny lobster by diving unless he possesses, while in the water, a measuring device capable of being used to perform the carapace measurement described in subsection (2). Each measurement performed by such a person shall occur in the water.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-24.003

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

New 7-2-87, Amended 7-2-90, 3-1-92, 6-1-94, Formerly 46-24.003, Amended 7-9-02.

New 7-2-87, Amended 7-2-90, 3-1-92, 6-1-94, Formerly 46-24.003, Amended 7-9-02.