Big Bend Florida blue crab trap closure starts July 20

[wevans]

Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in state waters from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the Wakulla-Franklin county line, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, must be removed from the water before July 20, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.
Traps can be placed back in the water in this area starting July 30. Until then, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.
http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/trap-debris/

[bman]

That's a goof thing. Those ghost traps are all over!

[ced0412]

They need to clean up that flat west of the channel out from the St Marks lighthouse. There is a ridiculous amount of abandoned traps.

[DixieReb]

I've seen a few of them out of Econfina, too. If you know where they are, sometimes they are good fishing spots. But they are bad for navigation so I hope they clean up most of them.

[captkeyser]

[mjsigns]

It is a great opportunity to help rid our area waters of boating hazards. I've found a few w/o any float and picked them up and dropped them off into the hull of that old wrecked steamer in the mouth of the St. Marks river. (my attempt to start an artificial reef)

[wevans]

FYI

Tampering with traps, trap contents, lines or buoys that do not belong to you (even if the traps are derelict or in the water during a closed season), may result in a third degree felony conviction, fines of up to $5,000 and the permanent revocation of your fishing privileges.

[grasscarp]

I wonder if they will pick up pinfish traps during the closure

[mjsigns]

FYI

Tampering with traps, trap contents, lines or buoys that do not belong to you (even if the traps are derelict or in the water during a closed season), may result in a third degree felony conviction, fines of up to $5,000 and the permanent revocation of your fishing privileges.

Let me clarify with a llittle more detail.... The trap (w/no float or rope) had had an engagement with my lower unit while coming off plane way east of grey mare in less than 3' of water. I was pizzed off. Ended up having to cut the trap into pieces just to get it unwrapped from my prop and lower unit. Would you classify that as "tampering with traps" ? BTW, who is going out to collect the derelect traps? The crabbers? FWC? Or will they just collect themselves?

[slowroller]

From Weavens attached link. " The FWC currently has two programs dedicated to removing lost and abandoned traps from state waters. The Spiny Lobster, Stone Crab and Blue Crab Trap Retrieval Program contracts commercial fishermen to remove fishable traps from state waters during closed seasons, and the Derelict Trap and Trap Debris Removal Program provides a mechanism to authorize volunteer groups to collect derelict traps and trap debris during open or closed seasons."

[mjsigns]

...and the Derelict Trap and Trap Debris Removal Program provides a mechanism to authorize volunteer groups to collect derelict traps and trap debris during open or closed seasons."

I guess I'll claim to part of am authorized volunteer group that is tasked to round up of these traps.

[wevans]

I wasn't accusing ya of tampering just letting ya know that they could be Aholes and charge ya, if they saw ya doing it

[mjsigns]

I wasn't accusing ya of tampering just letting ya know that they could be Aholes and charge ya, if they saw ya doing it

Copy That wevans and Thanks
U and me are "Buds"

[kgarner1]

Someone please explain to me how they are going to find the darned things? You can't even see to the bottom in 2' of water due to "stain"!

[Rhettley]

So the FWC is going to pay the same folks that left them out there or lost them in the first place to now go out there and pick them back up? That makes perfect sense. At least the old traps are getting removed somehow. I got one wrapped around my motor on my old Bass Tracker and it was a mess getting it off.