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What is the law concerning crabbing at night. I know you can't pull traps, but I was told you can't even scoop them with a crab net after dark. Can't find anything on the subject.

Every version of the rule I read only refers to pulling traps at night. I see no mention of using crab nets at night. Also, I don't think that a crab net falls under any of the definitions of a crab trap set forth in Rule Chapter 68b-45 (blue crab laws). Was it an FWC that said you're not allowed to catch them at night? If so, I'd do what he says. If not, I think I'd disregard it.

It was not a wildlife officer who told me that. Just a friend who said an officer told him it was against the law to harvest crab at night. I can't find any mention of it. Also if you look at some of the advertisments for Paanama City or some of the other beaches, You'll see a lot of comments about one source of fun is walking the beaches at night with a flashlight and crab net, scooping up crabs. Why would they mention it in thier advertisments if it was againt the law.
It's a shame you can't ask FWC directly, but you only get a recording when you call, and I've tried asking on thier website and it never gives you a direct answer.

My buddy went friday night and scooped up 2 dozen. He didn't ask and no one complained.

Allowable Harvesting (Gear)
■Maximum of 5 blue crab traps per person as described in the summary of blue crab trapping rules below
■Dip or landing net
■Drop net
■A fold up trap with a volume of no more than one cubic foot
■Hook and line push scrape
■Trotline


Trapping Rules
■Five trap maximum per person
■Buoy must have a legible "R" at least two inches high, permanently affixed to it. Buoys are not required if trap is fished from a dock.
■Trap shall have harvesters name and address permanently affixed to it in legible letters.
■Traps must be pulled manually (not by a mechanical trap puller). Any vessel that is rigged with a trap puller will be considered a commercial vessel and the appropriate licenses will be required.
■Traps must be pulled only during daylight hours.
■Traps must not be placed in navigational channels of the Intracoastal waterways, or in navigational channels maintained and marked by any county, municipal, state or federal governmental agency.
■No harvest allowed with any trap out of state waters (seaward of nine nautical miles from shore in the Gulf of Mexico or seaward of three nautical miles from shore in the Atlantic Ocean).
■A Florida recreational fishing license is required to harvest blue crabs under the recreational fishing regulations.
■Blue crab trap specifications are the same for recreational and commercial harvesters. Trap specifications may be found in Rule 68B-45.004, Florida Administrative Code.

Shoot em an email

Ask FWC
myfwc@mailnj.custhelp.com

■Traps must not be placed in navigational channels of the Intracoastal waterways, or in navigational channels maintained and marked by any county, municipal, state or federal governmental agency.

Hmmm!!!

All the crabs I ever caught were caught at night. I'll trade you 12 blind crabs for 6 that ain't got no teeth.

I think that guy was talking to a cop on guard duty at a strip joint and not a FWC guy.

Finally got through to a human at FWC. It is perfectly legal to crab at night by any method except commercial type crab traps, or gig. You cannot run traps at night, and it's always ilegal to gig crabs, night or day.

Now what is considered night? Any time after "Sunset" or once the sky is dark?


Seems like something that can be left for "open interpretation by the law"

The general rule of thumb is 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minuts before sunrise for legal night when fishing

galantnole wrote:Now what is considered night? Any time after "Sunset" or once the sky is dark?
Seems like something that can be left for "open interpretation by the law"

From FWC's website. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/Chapter ... ter=68B-45 Under "Other Prohibitions"
"The pulling of traps from one hour after official sunset until one hour before official sunrise is prohibited."

Ah, thanks! Won't be pulling any traps, as we don't have any, but good to know!

I am glad folks are backing up their rule interpretations with links to the written law and statutes. Officer "Friendly" sometimes has a low tolerance level for, "I was told..." or "I heard that..." or "I thought..."
FF

I hear the secret to crabs is Blue Ointment!