Section 68A-20.004 - Regulations in Fish Management AreasNo person shall take fish in any fish management area except as provided by rules of the Commission.
(1) Any person fishing on a fish management area shall be licensed to take fish as provided by Section 379.354, F.S., unless exempt by law.(2) All Fish Management Area lakes are open to fishing, except as provided in Rule 68A-20.005, F.A.C. The possession of fishing devices or fishing tackle is prohibited on any fish management area closed to fishing.(3) Methods of taking freshwater fish shall be as established for the state in Rule 68A-23.002, F.A.C., except as provided under the rules established for a particular fish management area in Rule 68A-20.005, F.A.C. The possession of nets, fish traps, trotlines, set lines or bush hooks is prohibited unless specifically authorized in Rule 68A-20.005, F.A.C. Minnow seines or cast nets may be used for the taking of bait.(4) Daily bag limits or length limits for certain freshwater fish shall be as provided below: (a) Channel catfish - six fish, no length limit.(b) Freshwater gamefish - as established in Rule 68A-23.005, F.A.C., except as specified in Rule 68A-20.005, F.A.C.(5) Persons entering or leaving fish management areas having designated entry points shall enter or leave only at such designated points.(6) Fishing is prohibited in those waters posted as closed to fishing.(7) Fish management areas or portions thereof may be temporarily closed to public access in the event of ongoing fish management activities or other conditions in which public access or use would negatively impact the area and its fishery, or endanger public safety. Notice of the closure of any fish management area or portion thereof shall be posted at all public access points during the closure period, and to the extent circumstances permit, prior public notice of any such closure shall be afforded through publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected. Entry into any fish management area or portion thereof closed in accordance with this provision is prohibited.(8) No person shall intentionally release freshwater fish or wildlife of any species into any fish management area that were obtained outside the area unless authorized by permit from the executive director. Requests for permits to intentionally release freshwater fish or wildlife into fish management areas shall be subject to the criteria of Rule 68A-9.002, F.A.C., and Sections 379.28 and 379.231, F.S.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68A-20.004
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.
New 8-1-79, Amended 6-4-81, 6-21-82, Formerly 39-20.04, Amended 5-10-87, 7-1-92, 7-1-94, 4-1-96, 7-1-97, 7-1-98, Formerly 39-20.004, Amended 7-29-07, 3-25-12.New 8-1-79, Amended 6-4-81, 6-21-82, Formerly 39-20.04, Amended 5-10-87, 7-1-92, 7-1-94, 4-1-96, 7-1-97, 7-1-98, Formerly 39-20.004, Amended 7-29-07, 3-25-12.