| Florida
is a major beneficiary of the Atlantic Ocean's circulation.
As waters push into the Caribbean the current is forced
northward through the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf
of Mexico. The current flowing into the Gulf is the Loop
Current. As the Loop Current extends north and east, its
influence on the west Florida shelf increases.For example,
it effectively drives relatively fresh, nutrient rich, waters
from the Mississippi Delta onto the west Florida shelf.
While the Loop Current itself does not flow onto the shelf,
countercurrents and semi-permanent eddies are spun up by
the Loop Current, presenting some interesting possibilities
for the movement of creatures up and down Florida’s
western continental shelf. The Florida Current which is
the official beginning of the Gulf Stream originates from
the significant flow of water from the Loop Current. As
the current pushes through the Florida Keys a counterclockwise
eddy known as the Portales Gyre spins persistently on the
north side of the Florida Current. This feature may allow
larvae from the southern end of the Keys, or from the main
stream itself, to become entrained and deposited on the
shallow coral reefs farther north.The Florida Current merges
with waters from the Antilles Current around the Bahamas
pushing northward toward Cape Hatteras. This is the official
formation of the Gulf Stream. The gulf stream, which is
powered by west winds over the north Atlantic, carries a
tremendous amount of warm ocean water north. The amount
of water that the gulf stream carries is over a hundred
times greater than the flow of all the worlds fresh water
rivers combined. The gulf stream flows north from the Caribbean
waters around Florida and the Bahamas, up along the east
coast of the United States. |
| African
Pompano - Size limit is not
less than 24 inches. Can only be caught on hook and line
gear. Limit is two per vessel per day
Billfish
- Blue Marlin - 99 inches, White Marlin - 62
inches, Sailfish - 63 inches. One per day per person.
Black Drum - Must be bigger
than 14 inches and smaller than 24 inches. Five per day
per person.
Bluefish - Must be bigger
than 12 inches at the fork. Ten per person per day.
Cobia - Must be 33 inches
at the fork. Two per person per day.
Flounder - Must be at least
12" - Ten per person per day
Grouper -
Black and Gag: Must
be at least 24 inches. Two per person per day.
Yellowfin, Red, Scamp and Yellowmouth:
Must be at least 20 inches. Five aggregate of all species.
Jewfish and Nassau:
prohibited to harvest.
Warsaw: 1 per vessel,
counted in Grouper aggregate limit.
King Mackerel - Must be at
least 20 inches at the fork. Two per person a day. When
federal waters are closed to all harvest limit is one
per person per day
Spanish Mackerel- Must be
at least 12 inches, from the tip of the nose to the rear
center of the tail. Ten per person per day.
Permit - Must be bigger than
ten inches and smaller than 20 inches. 10 per person per
day. May keep one over twenty inches.
Mahi Mahi, Dolphin - Ten
per person per day. Must be at least 20 inches to sell.
Pompano - Must be bigger
than ten inches and smaller than 20 inches. 10 per person
per day. May keep one over twenty inches.
Redfish, Red Drum - Must
be at least 18 and less than 27 inches. One per person
a day. Illegal to sell or buy. Illegal to spear, gig or
snatch from the water.
Red Porgy - This species
is protected. None allowed.
Sea Bass - Must be at least
ten inches. 20 per person per day.
Shad - Season open
from November 15 to March 15. Hook and line only. Ten
per person per day.
Shark -
One per person per day. Two per vessel. Finning prohibited.
Sheepshead -Must be at least
12 inches. 15 per person per day. May not be gigged.
Shrimp - Season from June
to March. Five gallons per person, heads on.
Snappers -
Cubera: Not less
than 12 or more than 30 inches.Two per person per day.
No more than 2 per vessel over 30 inches per day.
Mangrove or Gray:
Must be at least ten inches, (eight inches in the Gulf).Counts
towards bag limit of ten aggregate of all snappers in
the Atlantic.
Mutton: Must be
at least 16 inches. Ten per person per day
Red: Must be at
least 20 inches. Two per person per day.
Vermilion: Ten inches
in the Atlantic, (eight inches in the Gulf). Ten per person
in the Atlantic, no limit in the Gulf. Does not count
towards aggregate bag limit.
All Other Snappers: 12 inches, Ten aggregate bag limit
Snook-
The new rule allows a daily bag limit of one snook per
person in all waters of Monroe County, the Gulf of Mexico
and Everglades National Park during the open season. Taking
snook is not allowed in those areas Dec. 15 - Jan. 31
or during May, June, July and August. A two-snook per
person daily bag limit during the open season remains
in effect in all waters of the Atlantic Ocean north and
east of the Dade-Monroe county line. Persons harvesting
snook in these areas may not land or possess them in waters
of Monroe County, the Gulf of Mexico, and Everglades National
Park. The Atlantic closed-harvest season for snook is
Dec. 15 -Jan. 31 and through June, July and August.
Speckled Sea Trout - East
regions must not be less than 15 inches. Limit is five
per person per day.
Tarpon - Two person
per day with $50 permit to possess or kill. No size restrictions.
Illegal to buy or sell.
Tripletail - Must
be at least 15 inches. Two per person per day. Can only
be caught with hook and line.
Weakfish, Yellowmouth Trout
- Must be at least 12 inches. Four per person
per day.
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