Spearing Regulations in Miami & the Keys

[lmperez]

Hey guys, I'm trying to find online about the rules and regulations for spearfishing in the Miami area and mainly Key Largo. Someone had told me that spearfishing in Key Largo is illegal and I haven't found anything online that says the same thing. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[ajwaverider]

There is a thread on it here.

[ame="http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=17113"]"No Spearfishing Zones....?" - Spearboard Spearfishing Community[/ame]

I don't know anything about the keys and I'm hoping to find out what the deal is when one of my friends comes back from his trip down there.

 

[John A]

Forget spearing in Key Largo unless you are going way off shore. In the Keys, last I checked, you are locked out from Largo to Long Key. There have been some changes to that in the works that I was aware of but it would effect below Long Key. Also off of Big Pine (Looe Key) there is no spear fishing. Contact FL. DEP (used to be FL Marine Patrol) they can give you a map.

John

 

[lmperez]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it.

 

[rigdvr]

You can hunt there if you are 3 miles out and NOT in a SPA. Any dive shop down there (or tackle shop) will have charts that clearly show the demarcation lines.

 

[Jay Styron]

From Mid Key Largo to Long Key you have to be, as Rig stated, 3mi from the nearest point of land. This is from about mile marker 100 south. North Key Largo is in Pennekamp State Park. Don't get caught spearing in there. That park goes out to 300fsw. Long Key south you can spear from shore out.
You'll need an out of state fishing licence. You can get them for a few days or a year, might want to get a lobster tag too. I think it opens late June. Go to the Florida fish and Wildlife site. You can get your licence there and the regs. Most edible species are fair game snapper/grouper/jacks/mackeral. Stay away from the "game fish", permit,tarpon, jewfish, sailfish.
The viz is generally better in the upper keys than the middle keys. Not quite as many fish but you can still bring home plenty to eat.
Jay

 

[Lynn08]

You'll need an out of state fishing licence. You can get them for a few days or a year, might want to get a lobster tag too. I think it opens late June. Go to the Florida fish and Wildlife site. You can get your licence there and the regs. Most edible species are fair game snapper/grouper/jacks/mackeral. Stay away from the "game fish", permit,tarpon, jewfish, sailfish.
The viz is generally better in the upper keys than the middle keys. Not quite as many fish but you can still bring home plenty to eat.
Jay

I'm curious - why stay away from the game fish?
because of regulations or for other reasons?
(I'm not a spearfisher so forgive me if it is a stupid question)

also - as a rule all states have a fish and game department where you can get hunting and fishing licenses and also get the current regulations.


Home | My Hunting Buddies

 

[settingsteel]

Go to the Florida section I posted some good 411 there...you can spear KL and the next key Tavenier...head 3 miles East a whole bunch of patch reefs
http://forums.deeperblue.net/florida-east-coast/76194-welcome-miami-bienvenidos-miami.html

good luck!