68B-42.005. Recreational Bag Limit

(1) The regulations in this section apply in all state waters and, in absence of any regulations for the species in federal waters, apply in adjacent federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters.

(2) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., or subsection (3) or (4) of this rule, no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 20 individuals per day of tropical ornamental marine life species. No more than 5 of any one species, as defined in subsection 68B-42.001(2) and (3), F.A.C., can be harvested within the 20 organism bag limit. No person shall possess more than 40 total marine life organisms anywhere at any time.

(3) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than one (1) gallon per day of tropical ornamental marine plants, in any combination of species. No person shall harvest or possess more than 2 gallons of tropical ornamental plants anywhere at any time.

(4) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 5 angelfishes (Family Pomacanthidae) per day. Each angelfish shall be counted for purposes of the 20 individual bag limit specified in subsection (1) of this rule.

(5)(a) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., unless the season is closed pursuant to paragraph (b), no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 6 colonies per day of octocorals. Each colony of octocorals or part thereof shall be considered an individual of the species for purposes of subsection (2) of this rule and shall be counted for purposes of the 20 individual bag limit specified therein. Each person harvesting any octocoral as authorized by this rule may also harvest substrate within 1 inch of the perimeter of the holdfast at the base of the octocoral, provided that such substrate remains attached to the octocoral.

(b) If the octocoral quota established in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., is projected to be met prior to September 30 of any year, the season for harvest of octocorals shall close until the following October 1, upon notice given by the Executive Director of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in the manner provided in Section 120.81(5), F.S.

(6) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 5 single polyps in the order Corallimorpharia. Each polyp must be harvested using a flexible blade, such as a putty knife, razor blade, or paint scraper with a blade no wider than 2 inches.

(7) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 5 polyps of the order Zoanthidea. Each zoanthid polyp must be harvested using a flexible blade, such as a putty knife, razor blade, or paint scraper with a blade no wider than 2 inches.

(8) Except as provided in Rule 68B-42.006, F.A.C., no person shall harvest, possess, or land more than 5 ornamental sponges as defined in Rule 68B-42.001, F.A.C. In all waters north of a line extending due west from the southernmost point of Egmont Key in the Gulf of Mexico, northward and westward these sponges can be collected with substrate within 1 inch of the perimeter of the holdfast at the base of the sponge and extending 1 inch below the holdfast of the sponge. South of this line, no substrate is allowed.

(9) No person shall harvest, possess, or land giant Caribbean or “pink-tipped” anemones (Genus Condylactis).

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 1-1-91, Amended 1-1-95, Formerly 46-42.005, Amended 7-1-09, 10-31-11, 11-1-12.