Collecting In Florida?

[dawhits]

So according to the regulations it is legal to collect fish and "octocorals" up to 20 per person per day
http/myfwc.com/marine/docs/07FLSalt_webregs.pdf

but then it says it is illegal to collect stony, hard, and fire corals. and seafans.
So does this mean as far as inverts like snails, crabs, hermits, and fish. I can go collect them as long as I have a regular fishing license?

just a good pondering type of question/discussion as we may be taking a family vacation there next summer...

 

[SkiFletch]

Yes, you're correct, basic crabs/hermits, and some fish can be collected in Florida waters.

As for the corals, don't confuse yourself . Octocorals are soft corals, of which there are MANY on Florida reefs. The confusion I think you're having is between octocorals and sea fans. The distinguishing characteristic of sea fans is that they possess a stony skeleton and do not sway in the current. Octocorals in florida reefs look just like sea fans to a casual observer but wave in the water. Here's a picture I took while diving of a Tilefish swimming amongst Octocorals. Notice how they're swaying in the current/surge

 

[dawhits]

So do people have octocorals in reef aquariums or is this uncomon?

 

[Adrinal]

most soft corals are octocorals. each polyp has 8 ... um... finger things

 

[Ehudd]

I think you should not take anything. Its bad enough what people are doing, we keep taking things disapear fast.
I got to a point where i dont buy anything more. I dont want to support what is happening to our reefs and oceans.
I am not having a go whatsoever!! 2 months ago i would have asked the same thing/done the same thing.

BUT climate change is getting to a point the only proof that reefs exsisted could only be seen in our fish tanks.

 

[jeasko]

dawhits
if your planning on taking a vaction there how do you propose to firstly remove it from the ocean and then get it home while actually keeping it alive?
Sounds like you may not have thought this one through as it would be criminal to remove it only for it to die before you get it home!
then dont forget if you introduce it to you tank there maybe alsorts of undersirables and pathogens in the water and on the coral!

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

most soft corals are octocorals. each polyp has 8 ... um... finger things

Polyps is the word you are looking for Ad