68B-22.002. Definitions

(1) “Big Bend Region” means all Florida Waters of the Gulf of Mexico lying east of 84°20.800ꞌ West Longitude in Franklin County and north of a line running due east and due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28°09.350ꞌN, 82°48.398ꞌW), and including all waters of Ochlockonee Bay and the Ochlockonee River and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

(2) “Catch, hold and release,” means the intentional release of a live redfish, possessed in a live well or recirculating tank aboard a boat, for the purpose of harvesting another redfish.

(3) “Charlotte Harbor Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of 27°04.727ꞌ North Latitude (approximately 0.4 miles north of the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier in Sarasota County), all Florida Waters north of a line extending due west from a point located at 26°15.227'N, 81°49.412'W in Collier County, and all Florida Waters north of Vanderbilt Beach Road (County Road 862) in Collier County.

(4) “Fishing pier” means a platform extending from shore over water, used primarily to provide a means for persons to harvest or attempt to harvest fish therefrom. The term shall not be construed to include any residential dock, marina, or facility at which vessels are launched or moored, but shall include any abandoned bridge serving the function of a fishing pier.

(5) “Fishing tournament,” as used in this chapter, means a fishing competition involving 50 or more participants that has written rules and regulations, requires an entry fee, and awards prizes to competitors.

(6) “FWC” means the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(7) “Harvest” means the catching or taking of a fish by any means whatsoever, followed by a reduction of such fish to possession. Fish that are caught but immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed are not harvested. In addition, temporary possession of a fish for the purpose of measuring it to determine compliance with the minimum or maximum size requirements of this chapter shall not constitute harvesting such fish, provided that it is measured immediately after taking, and immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed if undersize or oversize. A person engaged in catch, hold, and release pursuant to Rule 68B-22.007, F.A.C., shall not be considered to have harvested a redfish if it is released alive.

(8) “Indian River Lagoon Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of Lytle Avenue/South Causeway (State Road A1A) in Volusia County, all Florida Waters south of a line extending due east from a point located at 29°01.755ꞌN, 80°54.160ꞌW in Volusia County, and all Florida Waters north of the Martin-Palm Beach county line, excluding all waters of the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries.

(9) “Land,” when used in conjunction with the harvest of a fish, means the physical act of bringing the harvested fish ashore.

(10) “Northeast Region” means all Florida Waters lying north of the Indian River Lagoon Region and south of the Florida-Georgia border.

(11) “Panhandle Region” means all Florida Waters lying east of the Florida-Alabama border and west of the western boundary of the Big Bend Region, excluding all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Ochlockonee Bay.

(12) “Person” means any natural person, firm, entity or corporation.

(13) “Red drum” or “redfish” means any fish of the species Sciaenops ocellatus, or any part thereof. “Native redfish” means any redfish harvested from waters subject to the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the State of Florida.

(14) “Sarasota Bay Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of the Tampa Bay Region and north of the Charlotte Harbor Region, including all waters of Palma Sola Bay, excluding all waters of the Braden River and excluding all tributaries of the Manatee River.

(15) “Southeast Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of the Martin-Palm Beach county line and north of the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line, including all waters of the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries.

(16) “Southwest Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of the Charlotte Harbor Region and all Florida Waters lying south of the Southeast Region.

(17) “Spearing” means the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking).

(18) “Tampa Bay Region” means all Florida Waters lying south of a line running due east and due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County (28°09.350ꞌN, 82°48.398ꞌW), all Florida Waters north of State Road 64 in Manatee County, and all Florida Waters north of a line extending due west from a point located at 27°29.823'N, 82°42.659'W (the western terminus of State Road 64 in Manatee County) including all waters of the Braden River and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

(19) “Total length” means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

(20) “Vessel” means and includes every description of water craft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including nondisplacement craft and any aircraft designed to maneuver on water.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 9-12-85, Amended 2-12-87, 1-1-89, 1-1-96, 1-1-98, Formerly 46-22.002, Amended 3-17-04, 7-1-06, 2-1-12, Amended 9-1-22.