Thread: How many Specks in the freezer?

Grape Hammock fish camp at KIssimmee a few years back had some guys out of
SC - shellcrackering - Someone (don't know who) "dropped a dime on them" regarding
their catch limits (you are allowed 5o per person per day)to the FWC - who finally
came out and checked them at their cabin = FWC counted 2,583 over limit fish.........
I along with few other danced in the streets.........finally someone got caught.
For curosity - i called Grape Hammock regarding situation and they informed me that
they were sure sorry to hear one of the best customers had a slight problems with game commission. These people were excellant customers and had been
comming down here for several years...... This money hungry fish camp knew
the situation and was turnning their head as do several on the Kissimmee
chain.
Have been told by a few higher ups in FWC - that their hands are tied through
the efforts of the "Florida tourism" - We are a major tourism state and should
use all of our resourses to induce more people to come, spend money.
Skeet,
If you want to get sick again - go down to Okeechobee - Kissimmee river and
watch the pontoon boats go out a night to fish- 36 -45 rod holders on each boat,
parked nose to tail up and down river for 1/2 - 3/4 mi at night - Crappie fishing.
Guides get 375 - 400.00 per night with 2 customers - 125.00 ea additional. This
is not counting the Yankees that come down from October - end of March.
Okeechobee has 10" size limit, but if no one is checking - how many thousand per
night are taken out. Not counting the 400 - 515.00 guides in daytime," single pole
jigging the reeds -etc..............
I'll make you puke...............................

A limit is a limit no matter how many rods you have out. 9 or 36

5 years or so ago I was fishing the river near Astor and there was a small bass boat with 6 people on it trolling near me. They would hoot and holler ever time they pulled a fish in. I didn't think any thing about it until a few days later when we passed pretty close and I heard them celebration another 6 man limit, I look and this guy has a speck no more than 7" and in the cooler it went. How many fish could they have ate and how many did they have in the freezer. The thing that bothers me is how many of those small fish never even had the chance to spawn at least once before they left the water. I understand if there is not size limit you can take them, but man with all the fish I catch over 12" I just cant see taking the little ones. Like I said in my first post, I take what I want to eat that day and I take about 30 or so fish home with me. I guess there will always be someone that does not give a crap about anything. JC

Thank you for your comments -
The situation down here is tuff one
You have two fractions -Dept of Tourism and amount of money it brings into the
state in so many ways, and the FWC which is the watchdog protector of the
natural resources we enjoy in this state.
This department, i believe is extremely underfunded not only in money, but
personnel employed to properly adminster laws written to proctect our
natural resources.
Will stay off "soap box" as this pet pieve will keep me rambling for hours
We have a very unique state - surounded by water on 3 sides - we live in a
bubble persay. Weather -climate and amazing number of various spieces of wild
life - (always tell people that when "you move to Florida - get on a first name
basis with your pest control company") you will see insects, animals, birds that you
have never seen before in open - not caged. What a wonderful state.

How many fish in my freezer? How many fish sticks come in the box?

Catch, Picture, and Release seems so much easier.

Had no clue on any of this combined bag limit stuff..............good information guys and Thanks!

Originally Posted by crappielimits

Your freezer is allowed to have a combined possession limit of all liscensed angler at the residence. A husband and wife would equal 100 if both are liscensed. Yes the game warden has free range unlike other officers they can enter your property without consent. They won't though without probable cause in most cases.

To clear the record, FWC officers may legally enter any property in the performance of their duties as it relates to state laws concerning game and fish. That said, they will not be entering any dwellings or opening any coolers at ones residence without a search warrant or consent of the owner. Their scope in entering a property is greater than other law enforcement officers, but beyond that, the same rules apply to search and seizure at a residence.

They do have the authority to conduct those searches at non-residence places: "vessel, boat, vehicle, fishhouse or warehouse." Even in those instances, the FWC officer needs some information that leads to a reasonable belief that a violation (under Natural Resources section) has occurred.

Originally Posted by Tundah

To clear the record, FWC officers may legally enter any property in the performance of their duties as it relates to state laws concerning game and fish. That said, they will not be entering any dwellings or opening any coolers at ones residence without a search warrant or consent of the owner. Their scope in entering a property is greater than other law enforcement officers, but beyond that, the same rules apply to search and seizure at a residence.

They do have the authority to conduct those searches at non-residence places: "vessel, boat, vehicle, fishhouse or warehouse." Even in those instances, the FWC officer needs some information that leads to a reasonable belief that a violation (under Natural Resources section) has occurred.

I've heard stuff like this since I was a kid. Always get a chuckle out of it still.

Being a game warden doesn't make you above the Constitution. They absolutely have to have a search warrant to come on your property. There is no special powers granted to a warden.

Not attacking you personally

§FSS 379.331(2)(a).

I'll let the statutes speak for themselves. I've authored enough search warrants in my years and done even more knock n' talks to know the legal thresholds. A search warrant is to do exactly that, "search". Entering a property to make contact with a resident while conducting a lawful investigation in the course of duty does not require a search warrant. I was just pointing out that FWC has a minor nuance, in fact, very minor.

The essence of my post was that notion of a "warden" (we don't have those in Florida) driving up to your lodge/cabin/hotel/house and demanding you open your cooler is not going to happen.

Not taken personally