Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68B - Marine Fisheries › Chapter 68B-13 - STONE CRABS › Section 68B-13.008 - Gear, Trap Construction, Commercial Trap Marking Requirements, Trap Working Regulations, Trap Transfer

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Gear. It is
				unlawful to use any device in the taking of stone crabs that can puncture,
				crush, or injure the crab body, such as spears, grains, grabs, hooks, or
				similar devices.
(2) Trap
				Construction. No person, firm, or corporation shall transport on the water,
				fish with, or cause to be fished with, set, or placed, in the harvest of stone
				crabs, any trap which does not meet the following requirements:
(a) Each trap shall be constructed of either
				wood, plastic, or wire.
(b) Traps
				shall have a maximum dimension of 24 inches, by 24 inches, by 24 inches or a
				volume of 8 cubic feet.
(c)
1. The throat or entrance to all wood and
				plastic traps shall be located on the top horizontal section of the trap.
a. The use of round throats is prohibited in
				state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, and Miami-Dade counties. In state
				and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, and Miami-Dade counties, the smallest
				inside opening of the throat shall not exceed 5 1/2 inches in the longer
				dimension and shall not exceed 3 1/8 inches in the shorter dimension.
b. For traps fished anywhere other than state
				or federal waters off Collier, Monroe, or Miami-Dade counties, if the throat is
				longer in one dimension, the throat size in the longer dimension shall not
				exceed 5 1/2 inches and in the shorter dimension shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches.
				If the throat is round, the throat size shall not exceed 5 inches in
				diameter.
2. Each throat
				(entrance) in any wire trap used to harvest stone crabs shall be horizontally
				oriented. The width of the opening where the throat meets the vertical wall of
				the trap and the opening of the throat at its farthest point from the vertical
				wall, inside the trap, shall be greater than the height of any such opening. No
				such throat shall extend farther than 6 inches into the inside of any trap,
				measured from where the throat opening meets the vertical wall of the trap to
				the throat opening at its farthest point from the vertical wall, inside the
				trap.
3. Each wire trap used to
				harvest stone crabs shall have at least three unobstructed escape rings, each
				with a minimum opening diameter of 2 3/8 inches. One such escape ring shall be
				located adjacent to each crab retaining chamber.
4. Each plastic and wood trap used to harvest
				stone crabs must have at least one unobstructed escape ring with a minimum
				opening diameter of 2 3/16 inches, and by October 5, 2024, such escape ring
				must be located within a vertical exterior trap wall.
5. Each plastic or wire trap used to harvest
				stone crabs shall have a degradable panel.
a.
				A plastic trap shall be considered to have a degradable panel if it contains at
				least one sidewall with a rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension
				than that of the throat. This opening must be obstructed with a cypress or
				untreated pine slat or slats no thicker than 3/4 inch. When the slat degrades,
				the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed.
b. A wire trap shall be considered to have a
				degradable panel if one of the following methods is used in construction of the
				trap:
(I) The trap lid tie-down strap is
				secured to the trap at one end by a single loop of untreated jute twine. The
				trap lid must be secured so that when the jute degrades, the lid will no longer
				be securely closed.
(II) The trap
				lid tie-down strap is secured to the trap at one end with a corrodible loop
				composed of non-coated steel wire measuring 24 gauge or thinner. The trap lid
				must be secured so that when the loop degrades, the lid will no longer be
				securely closed.
(III) The trap lid
				tie-down strap is secured to the trap at one end by an untreated pine dowel no
				larger than 2 inches in length by 3/8 inch in diameter. The trap lid must be
				secured so that when the dowel degrades, the lid will no longer be securely
				closed.
(IV) The trap contains at
				least one sidewall with a rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension
				than 6 inches in height by 3 inches in width. This opening must be laced, sewn,
				or otherwise obstructed by a single length of untreated jute twine knotted only
				at each end and not tied or looped more than once around a single mesh bar.
				When the jute degrades, the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer
				be obstructed.
(V) The trap
				contains at least one sidewall with a rectangular opening no smaller in either
				dimension than 6 inches in height by 3 inches in width. This opening must be
				obstructed with an untreated pine slat or slats no thicker than 3/8 inch. When
				the slat degrades, the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be
				obstructed.
(VI) The trap contains
				at least one sidewall with a rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension
				than 6 inches in height by 3 inches in width. The opening may either be laced,
				sewn, or otherwise obstructed by non-coated steel wire measuring 24 gauge or
				thinner or be obstructed with a panel of ferrous single-dipped galvanized wire
				mesh made of 24 gauge or thinner wire. When the wire or wire mesh degrades, the
				opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed.
(VII) The trap contains at least one sidewall
				with a rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension than 6 inches in
				height by 3 inches in width. The opening may be obstructed with a rectangular
				panel made of any material, fastened to the trap at each of the four corners of
				the rectangle by galvanized staples 16 gauge or thinner, rings made of
				non-coated 24 gauge or thinner wire or single strands of untreated jute twine.
				When the corner fasteners degrade, the panel will fall away and the opening in
				the sidewall of the trap will no longer be
				obstructed.