never trust a local..do your homework

[Im1chunkymunky]

went down to the keys for the first time with some friends who say they spear all the time in largo..HAHA, big mistake, almost lost our guns..to them, no big deal (2 litle JBLs) for me $600 worth of rob allens...i didnt shoot the rest of the day after we moved to where they thought was legal, but i heard that before...got some bugs though .....holy **** im never listening to anyone again until i research myself

[ObieWan2bWet]

:scratch: :confused:

[gogators27]

The only reason I understand what you are saying in your post(a little proof reading is in order) is because I did the same thing, the only problem is, it is hard to research as well, the regs are not real clear down there, and the fwc even admitted that to me as he wrote the ticket, they were cool though, sounds like you caught a brake too and did not loose your guns.

[SeaWeed]

I think he means that one cant spear in state waters north of Long Key and south of the Dade County line. I think its even further out for Key Largo due to the preservation areas.

[gogators27]

Yes, the green shaded area east of key largo called the existing management area, spearing is a no go.

[SeaWeed]

That's at least 9 miles from shore.

[Christof]

Can they H&L there? IF so, I call BS....

But hey, what ya gonna do?

Christof

[Im1chunkymunky]

yea what i meant was you cant spear south of dade county line or north or islamorada...i shoulda asked on the board in the miami/keys section. but the fwc guy was nice he let us keep the guns, fish and bugs we got, and cut the fine in half, and only fined the captain not all 3 spearos. usually i would chip in and pay a third of it, but the guys i went w/ are locals down there and should know better.

[normanhghntr]

yes the fwc guy was nice, and who ever you fished with should have known better, but the fact is, your right you should do your research when you dive in unfamiliar turf. technically you were poaching, and i know that was not your intention, there are many of us locals, who would be happy to help you out, find some new friends , i hope you didnt pay for your charter, and then call mobile diver or ed walker for some great fun!! didnt mean to be so harsh

[Mariner]

yea what i meant was you cant spear south of dade county line or north or islamorada...i shoulda asked on the board in the miami/keys section. but the fwc guy was nice he let us keep the guns, fish and bugs we got, and cut the fine in half, and only fined the captain not all 3 spearos. usually i would chip in and pay a third of it, but the guys i went w/ are locals down there and should know better.

Just went on to FWC site and it says north of Long Key to the Dade County line??? http://myfwc.com/marine/spearing.htm

[Im1chunkymunky]

guys from the keys help us out...i thought you could spear in islamorada, but if long key is south of islamorada then wtf???

[SeaWeed]

Youcan spear in Islamorada if you are out of state waters. That is about 3 miles from the nearest land.

[WreckDiver]

Youcan spear in Islamorada if you are out of state waters. That is about 3 miles from the nearest land.



ooboxer, That is the kinda of info that will be very costly to someone.

Here is the real info.

PLEASE read carefully,


Possession of spear equipment: Possession of spears
and spearguns is prohibited in Everglades National Park,
Dry Tortugas National Park and Florida State Parks.


State Parks
• The following state parks are within State Waters
in the Upper Keys - spearfishing is prohibited
• Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock
Botanical State Park
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
• Lignumvitae Key Submerged Land
Management Area
• Long Key State Park




• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
• Existing Management Areas (EMA’s)
Possession of spearfishing equipment within an
Existing Management Area is prohibited except
while transiting through without stopping.
• Key Largo - adjacent to John Pennekamp Coral
Reef State Park and extends to the
300’ depth
• Looe Key

[Im1chunkymunky]

but in islamorada and marathon you can go 3 miles out and spear?

[WreckDiver]

but in islamorada and marathon you can go 3 miles out and spear?


Islamorda you have to go out PAST 300 feet of depth.

Marathon - regular state rules apply as it is past the south west point of long key. SEE MY MAP above.

[keezdiver]

thanks roland you pretty much cleared it up

there is a line on most maps that marks the southern border of the pennekamp preserve, aprox the north end of rodreguez key out through molasses reef and extends out to 300' depth. north of that it is ILLEGAL to spear...untill you are past the 300' mark. now technically some of the land south of that may be "called" Islamorada...i've never actually used town names to describe where you can and can't spear.

from that line (described above) south(west) to the southern(western) end of long key you must be 3 miles from land...which includes islands so watch out around tavernier key and indian key. now the southern(western) border of that area is actually the longitude line (north-south line) that intersects the southern tip of land on long key ...since the keys are mostly going east-west by then. that longitude is pretty much dead on the 80.51 longitude.

from that longitude line....south/west you can spear anywhere you want...except the obvious "300ft from a fishing pier" and "300ft from a state park" rules...as well as SPAs like Coffins Patch, Looe Key (and the "no spearing" buffer around it!!!)...etc.

MAKE SENSE??

and this has been described more times in the regulations and keys section than i can even remember. a 30sec search would have yielded tons of posts

[Im1chunkymunky]

lol ok thanks guys

[normanhghntr]

its much easier on the rules and wallet for hotels to spear from marathon south!! if you pull out a map and check for west washerwomen, off of sugarloaf there is tons of great spearing along that hole tract of inshore reef!! good luck and if your ever around pm me !!

[Mariner]

thanks roland you pretty much cleared it up

there is a line on most maps that marks the southern border of the pennekamp preserve, aprox the north end of rodreguez key out through molasses reef and extends out to 300' depth. north of that it is ILLEGAL to spear...untill you are past the 300' mark. now technically some of the land south of that may be "called" Islamorada...i've never actually used town names to describe where you can and can't spear.

from that line (described above) south(west) to the southern(western) end of long key you must be 3 miles from land...which includes islands so watch out around tavernier key and indian key. now the southern(western) border of that area is actually the longitude line (north-south line) that intersects the southern tip of land on long key ...since the keys are mostly going east-west by then. that longitude is pretty much dead on the 80.51 longitude.

from that longitude line....south/west you can spear anywhere you want...except the obvious "300ft from a fishing pier" and "300ft from a state park" rules...as well as SPAs like Coffins Patch, Looe Key (and the "no spearing" buffer around it!!!)...etc.

MAKE SENSE??

and this has been described more times in the regulations and keys section than i can even remember. a 30sec search would have yielded tons of posts


You wouldn't happen t have a map u can post up and mark all these "lines"??? :confused:

[WreckDiver]

The maps are called fish and dive charts!