Trot lining in Florida

[Ray R.]

Anybody know what the trot line regulations are for recreational use and does anyone do it , in Fl.

I'd Like to try it down here,  in Upper Tampa bay or off of Bay port some time this summer..... if I can find someone interested in partnering up and picking up enough crabs for a good feast.

I've done this a few times before,  in Rock Hall and the Black Walnut Cove area,  on the Chesapeake but it has been many years ago. Back then we used ( salt eel ) and put them,  in the twist of the line,   never tried it with  chicken necks.  Read somewhere where you tied them on   Sounds like allot of work to me, changing them  out and keeping them fresh ?

I can still throw a cast net,    so maybe cut up mullet strips would work better. ?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks
Ray

[DocSmith]

Ray -

This is about all I can find about trotlining in Florida.  Here is the link to the regulations.

Doc

[Ray R.]

Thanks Doc.

I guess I will have to stop in and see the Fla. Marine Police this weekend. I can't find anything in the reg's. about it either.  It must be covered somewhere in the Fl. statutes somewhere !

I haven't paid much attention to the crabbing industry here in the last 10 years and I definatly have not seen anyone using a trot line.  I though maybe I may have just over looked it.

I can see it wouldn't work for the commercial industry but I would think it would work great for recrational activities. 

If you hear of anything, let me know.

Thanks
Ray

[DocSmith]

Ray -

Here's a link to the actual text of the rules.

Doc

[Vynyluvr]

No one runs line in Florida.  You can run 5 traps without a liscense.  The traps are the large type, not the small hand traps people run here in MD.  I used to wade out on the beach at night next to docks with a shrimp on a fishing line and pick them up and put them in buckets.

[Uly]

chicken necks are usually attached directly to a trot line with slip knots. Some guys use Larkshead knots claiming that the baits fall off by simply pulling the line tight. Never saw that myself.

Why are you waiting till next year? There are still plenty of crabs around, the water temps are still over 70 !!!

[captaincrab55]

chicken necks are usually attached directly to a trot line with slip knots. Some guys use Larkshead knots claiming that the baits fall off by simply pulling the line tight. Never saw that myself.

Why are you waiting till next year? There are still plenty of crabs around, the water temps are still over 70 !!!

U need the line anchored very well or tied off  2  a piling in order to snap the necks off.   A few always seem to stay on....     

[summerow]

Ray R,

According to trotling in FL ....your trotline can be as long as you want and their is NO LIMIT to the number on baits you can have on the troline per FWC email....this only applies to saltwater trotline.....freshwater is limited to 25 bush hooks per FWC...


Vynyluvr....
Their are people here in FL using a trotline with success....look under GULF COAST CRABBING on this forum and click on gulf coast reports...then click on trotline in FL posted by my partner crabcruncher and you will see a working trotline in FL....I have a 2000' trotline and crabcruncher has a 1000' trotline....just waiting on the bullips to finish curing that I got in the other day.....so we will have a total of 3000' trotline....we will post pictures of our catch when we go out again.....KEEP ON CRABBING>>>>>

[glad crabber]

where are people in southeast FL getting bull lips?

[mreinke]

Usually from retired politicions

[summerow]

call the local meat shop...they can order it for you....

[glad crabber]

Wondering if anyone knows where I can get hold of a commercial crab license in FL?

[SHELLFISH]

Usually from retired politicions

So true! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!