Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68B - Marine Fisheries › Chapter 68B-22 - RED DRUM (REDFISH) › Section 68B-22.002 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) "Big Bend Region" means all Florida
				Waters of the Gulf of Mexico lying east of 84°20.800' 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°09.350'N,
				82°48.398'W), 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°04.727' 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°01.755'N, 80°54.160'W 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°09.350'N, 82°48.398'W), 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.
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.