Apr
04
2010
Catch My own salt water aqarium fish?
Emily W asked:
Salt water aquarium fish may be quite expensive, ie. yellow-tangs may coast up to $40/each and some angel fish can be over 100 grand a piece. I had the idea that if I go to the Florida key reef, I can catch some fish for my reef aquarium, of course I will not break coral as it takes decades for coral to grow back.
Question:
If i catch a few angel fish and yellow tangs on the fluorida keys, would this be illegal?? Would I be liable to some type of fine??
Salt water aquarium fish may be quite expensive, ie. yellow-tangs may coast up to $40/each and some angel fish can be over 100 grand a piece. I had the idea that if I go to the Florida key reef, I can catch some fish for my reef aquarium, of course I will not break coral as it takes decades for coral to grow back.
Question:
If i catch a few angel fish and yellow tangs on the fluorida keys, would this be illegal?? Would I be liable to some type of fine??
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By fuzzy_pink_seahorse, April 5, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Very much so, I’m sure the fine would be upwards of $1000(at least). You need a fishing license in most areas, but in that area I believe all fishing is illegal.
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By Ecosystem, April 9, 2010 @ 4:39 am
that is very illegal.
steer clear.
and i would not try to personally take fish out that kind of habitat…it is delicate.
we live on Marco Island…some people try to do this in out in Marco waters….goregeous fish.
I am clueless about the licesencing.
which is about an hour to the Keys by boat.
We are always there, and i don’t know…
you really need to know how to go about this.
research ANYTHING befoer you do ANYTHING.
it’s not as easy as it may sound either.
I am NOT sure if it legal or illegal there, but you need to check.
best bet: leave it alone.
you can get in trouble if it is not permitted.
i am not sure the effect on the fish…wild caught, hard to tell.
By BIGgourami, April 11, 2010 @ 11:19 pm
no angelfish is over $100,000 more like $100.
if you live near tropical reef, such as australia, indoneasia, hawaii, etc… you CAN if it’s legal to do so near you. you may need a trapping liscense, and special permits to do so, check with your local legislature bfore attempting to do so.
also most fish are pacific, so you may not be able to find certain fish you are looking for anyway, yellow tangs are pacific/indian ocean specific. so good luck finding one.
you can’t just get to the ocean and expect to find gold.
though i WILL say one thing…..
catching your own fish is probably better fo them (the fish) than having a 3rd world fisherman, getting paid a dollar a day, to use cyanide and quinine, etc you poison your potentially expensive fish.
most SW are still wild caught but done so by licensed professionals
sylvia, eco, and sunshine don’t sound at all like they know what they are talking about.
over 90% of SW fish are still wild caught, i suggest if you are serious about this that you contact your local authorities, and the fish and game board nearest to you. they WILL know what you need and how to go about doing this.
plus being in FL, i wouldn think you’d get great prices on aquacultured species. i mean hell, royal grammas can be as much $36 here in IL. total rip off.
By Sunshine, April 12, 2010 @ 9:32 pm
Not only do you need a fishing license just to fish, but removal of rare tropical fish is illegal and you can pay hefty fines and even get jail time for it. The fish that you buy in the store are bred specially for tanks, they were never wild.
By Ianab, April 12, 2010 @ 9:56 pm
I suggest you call the local fisheries office and ask them. Regulations will be different for different areas and species.
Some areas may be protected from any fishing, others probably allow recreational fishing, but maybe with restrictions on different species.
But contact your local authorities, they are the ones that are going to bust you if you take the wrong fish from the wrong place.
Ian
By sylvia, April 14, 2010 @ 11:34 pm
you should never take a wild fish and put it in a tank…. not to mention the fact that it is illegal….. also the fish may carry parasites that could haunt your tank. even if you did catch the fish from the ocean it wouldnt be able to survive in your home…. you would need to get the water, sand, and reef from the ocean as well…..
ALL IN ALL, DONT DO IT.
By dirttrackgirl_77, April 15, 2010 @ 2:51 am
I believe it is illegal to remove any life from a coral reef in Florida. I can only assume this would apply to fish as well. I would call the local conservation department. There could be some major fines involved in doing this without the proper liscence and permission.
By engineergoby46, April 18, 2010 @ 1:36 pm
the area is a marine sancuary i believe. you should be able to find sand,rock inverts. and small reef fish using a dipnet.try around the piers.you can catch fish off a pier or from shore,use a battery air pump and bucket.you will be surprised what you’ll find @ the beach everyday,try tidepools also.you can collect your own seawater,too all caribbean fish can be found all along the coast.
By Bob, April 20, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
Actually if you check with the FWCA it is quit legal all you need is a fishing license. You can not take in SPA area’s but everywhere else is fine. They actually list quantities you can collect. Most all marine fish sold are wild, they are not able to breed them that well in captivity.
By ღOliviaღ, April 21, 2010 @ 2:06 am
LOL…yellow tangs only cost $20
and you could buy a yellow-tail damsel fish for $2.99
why should you be catching…=)
its sooo tiresome
see the marine fishes in this site
By Neb, June 13, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
You guys argue over this—
http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwater_Regulations_recharvestmls.htm
By Steve Metheny, June 17, 2010 @ 3:35 am
Hi I wonder if you can help; I’m getting interested in keeping fish and have been looking at aquiring an aquarium recently. I would love to have some larger fish, but I’ve been previously advised that I should start with something littler. I don’t suppose you have any ideas of the types of smaller fresh water fish that i could start with do you? ta for your help