There are two species of Snakehead in Florida: Bullseye Snakehead and Northern Snakehead. All we know for sure is that they started showing up in canals around Pompano Beach in the year 2000 and have since become the most invasive freshwater fish in Florida. That’s probably how they arrived in the US, though. Strong, aggressive, and highly predatory, Snakehead seem like a bad choice of pet.
On top of that, they’re delicious! Just watch out for those spines – they’re full of venom and can give you a nasty sting.
The thing that makes Lionfish special is that you don’t even need a license to catch them if you’re using a pole spear. Florida is “ground zero” for the Lionfish epidemic, and they’re such a big problem that the FWC even put a $5,000 bounty out on them in 2018.Īs with all invasive fish, there’s no bag limit and no minimum size. Lionfish have decimated fish populations all along the East Coast and right around the Gulf. Because honestly, they’re a bigger problem than most of the others combined. We’ve written at length about these little monsters but we’ll cover the basics again. Lionfish are public enemy number one among Floridian conservation experts. With that in mind, here’s a list of the most invasive fish in Florida. Now it’s time to take a look at the fish themselves.
So, you know what an invasive fish is and get the rules on how to deal with them. The rules for other fish could also change in the future, so always check if you’re not sure. Asian Grass Carp are illegal to harvest because the FWC only stocks sterile, triploid Carp. Peacock Bass are classified as game fish and have a set bag and size limit. You either have to take them home and eat them, make them into bait, or find some other way to dispose of them.Īs always, the exceptions prove the rule. More than that, it’s actually illegal to release the fish alive. You can head out and catch as many as you like, whenever you want. In general, there’s no season or bag limit for non-native or invasive fish in Florida. The general rule for non-native fish is “kill as many as possible.” But some, like Grass Carp, are protected. Rules for Catching Invasive Fish in Florida To control the population, the FWC only stocks “triploid” Grass Carp, which have been adapted to make them sterile. Grass Carp were stocked in lakes and ponds around Florida to fight invasive plant life. The Asian Grass Carp is the perfect example of this. Other species are carefully maintained to make sure their numbers don’t get out of hand. These days, they’re one of the state’s most popular game fish and have slotted into the food chain without threatening native populations. They come from Brazil and were introduced in Florida in the ‘80s. Peacock Bass are the great success story of Florida’s exotic fish. Some have found their place in the local ecosystem, while others are deliberately maintained or simply too new to judge. Only fish that are actively causing problems count as invasive. So are all non-native fish invasive? Not necessarily. Some of them were actually introduced on purpose to fight other invaders, but just ended up compounding the problem.
It could be an exotic fish released from an aquarium or a species from a neighboring state that starts to take over. Geological Survey defines invasive fish as any species which is outside of its native range and has the potential to damage the local environment, economy, or public health. Where did these fish come from? What makes some of them invasive? And what’s being done to stop them from spreading? In this article, you can learn all about Florida’s “most wanted” fish species and why you should catch as many of them as you can. There are a lot of non-native and invasive fish in Florida, and they cause all kinds of problems. But not all of them are meant to be here. From warm-water canals to colorful reefs, the Sunshine State is an ideal home for hundreds of different fish species. Special Regulations for Waters Bordering Georgia and Alabama: Lake Seminole, the St.Florida is a great place to live if you’re a fish. Sale and Transportation of Freshwater Fishĭisposition of Illegal Fishing Devices (Repealed) Introduction of Non-Native Aquatic Species in the Waters of the State Provisions for Sale and Inspection of Fish for Bait or Propagation Purpose Diseased Fish (Repealed) Prohibiting Possession of Freshwater Game Fish Under Certain Conditions Lawful Methods for Using Trotlines and Bush Hooks or Set Linesīag Limits, Length Limits, Open Season: Freshwater Fish General Methods of Taking Freshwater FishĬommercial Fishing Devices Provision for Use in Certain Waters
Or click on the rule number to see the detail of the rule. Click on the word icon to view the latest rule version.