Going to the beach next week! Should I?

[dmahoney82]

So it's spring break time again, and I will be headed to New Smyrna beach with the gf next Friday. I can't help the temptation to go exploring and see what I can bring home for the tank. I plan on packing a large styrofoam container, powerhead, and heater. Anything else equipment wise I should plan on bringing? What animals/plants should I try to find, and what should I avoid? And last but not least. By doing this am I sending my tank to eternal ****ation by bringing home some hitchhiker organism that will kill all?

Thanks

 

[jetchris]

I would get snail , hermits, maybe some rock, prob to hard to get fish back. Dont make it to obvious or you could get fined.

 

[sprayin70]

This is gonna be a very touchy subject. I am just warning ya.

 

[mojo]

Yup- this is highly illegal. You could face large fines (up to $250,000, IIRC) or jail time. From everything I've read, this is taken very seriously by the Florida government. There are several threads on here that talk about this issue. It's probably not worth saving a few bucks for the risk of a) getting caught and b) possibly contaminating your system. Lastly, it's poor stewardship for the environment; there's a reason Florida has the laws in place...

 

[cameron]

Collecting illegally does hurt our hobby as well. Legal collection and preservation of some species in our tanks can be viewed as positive, but what this hobby has done by poor collection to some habitats is morally wrong IMO.

 

[dmahoney82]

So your saying I shouldn't bring home a baby turtle? I was really looking forward to having my own sea turtle. Ya right. But seriously, I just am looking for some things for my fuge. Maybe some mangroves? Or even a seabass minnow. I can raise it to full size and have a bbq. Love that seabass. Obviously I won't be collecting in large amounts on the beach. I will be staying at a condo with private access to the beach and have access to a boat, so I'm going columbian mafio style and hide it in the bow of the boat!

 

[stroid]

Bad idea if you ask me simply because the ocean is huge and can deal with contaminents and "hitchhikers" but your tank cant. Example if I pee in the ocean the ocean is not going to notice...If I pee in your tank your tank is gonna notice. Weird analogy but hey thats what I got.

 

[dmahoney82]

Is there some kind of treatment I can use to kill off any hidden unwanteds?

 

[stroid]

probably not without killing the things you do want.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

I suggest you go to the Flordia DNR and ask them what you can take.. you will find out it is very little... Think of the tank you can build with that 250K fine they are going to give you if/when you get caught. I have been to New Smyrna Beach a few times speak fishing and I can tell you I have NEVER made it back on the boat without DNR stopping me and checking everything! Good luck to ya..

 

[mred]

Sent you PM about my experiences at New Smyrna Beach. All good.

 

[stroid]

mred;141432 wrote: Sent you PM about my experiences at New Smyrna Beach. All good.

Im curious as to your experience..care to share?

 

[mojo]

I did some searching here. Have a look at these two threads:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9887">Florida Keys</a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5496">Going to the beach!!!</a>

Also, posted by George in one of those threads:

Regs: [IMG]http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm">RECREATIONAL HARVESTING INFORMATION FOR MARINE LIFE SPECIES</a>

License requirements: [IMG]http://myfwc.com/marine/license.htm#Rec">Recreational Saltwater Fishing License(s) Requirements</a>

Limits: [IMG]http://myfwc.com/marine/Regulations/FL_salt_regs_Jan2007.pdf">Printable collection limits</a>

 

[cameron]

That is some really good info. ARCapedia worthy I would say.

 

[george]

Here's a post I made on Talking Reef regarding the subject and what's required to be legally allowed to collect in FL:

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/general-marine-discussions/4487-florida-trip.html#post54165">http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/general-marine-discussions/4487-florida-trip.html#post54165</a>

Heh. Just saw Chris' post. :D

FL takes their wildlife very, very seriously. There are a few animal cruelty offenses that carry higher penalties than the corresponding crime to a person.

 

[mojo]

Cameron;141470 wrote: That is some really good info. ARCapedia worthy I would say.

It'd be nice to be able to tag postings for future reference, either for ARCapedia or otherwise.

IE - if I could tag that post as "Florida, collecting, laws" - and then be able to see everything later that had "Florida" in it, it would be a quick and easy way to start to build knowledge in one place... But I'm getting off topic...

 

[mred]

It has been five years since I was there.

Well, after reading the info on the link posted by mojo, I can understand why I did not have any trouble. I was climbing on the rocks of a jetty, dodging the fishermen's lines, and using a 6" hand net only (no snorkeling) ! I also used my fingernail to coax a couple of small red anomones of the rocks. I only collected 6-8 specimens total. No stone crabs or urchins though !!! Authroities were there watching and there must have been ten others doing it as well. No real "prize" collectables. Too busy.

 

[cameron]

A knowledge base style setup would be a great addition.

 

[george]

Should it not be "ARCipedia", not "ARCapedia"?

 

[pfritzbelly]

I am curious about the sponge category:

In the Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regs, it appears that they include species as allowable that they then exclude in the Recreation Harvesting Information for Marine Species...

Seems like it would be dangerous, but I might be reading it wrong.