collection trip to florida

[yellowslayer13]

i am going to florida to miami and my hope is to go on a ricordia collection freedive day. are there any out fitters that do collection trips and scond where in florida is the best place

[sunfishh]

I think it may be really hard to collect in florida. I know it is illegal to take live rock and I think you need a permit for collecting most things.

[yellowslayer13]

but rics you are allowed to collect

[sunfishh]

Really??? That is awesome
Yellowslayer please post a report. I want to hear all about it. Also sorry about my ignorance, but I have never heard that before.

[yellowslayer13]

ya it is rics zoas and any soft coral

[billsreef]

You need a fishing permit, and also there are "bag" limits

[yellowslayer13]

ya but you dont need other special permits

[xxaquanutxx]

Just be careful with the tools that you use and that you dont bring back any live LR with your corals. I used to live in MIA and one of my clients got a mega fine and his boat trailer and boat held because he collected anemones and some coral that was connected to LR. It all depends on which patrol pulls you over and the mood he is in as well. Good luck and post some pics when your back.

[yellowslayer13]

i shall i shall btu we arnt going till spring break

[philter4]

I live and dive down here, you probably wont find any free diving, the place I go to collect them is in 60 ft. There are places in the keyes that are shallow but you need to know where they are and have to have your own boat. The local collectors will not take you to the spots and no dive boats go there as it is not "divable".

You do need a fishing license and the limit is 20 animals per day, no rock. You can take most sp of octocorals, the genus Gorgonia (three species) are not legal, but be careful, many don't survive and can pollute your tank.