01-08-2013, 12:10 PM
Information: Recreational and commercial blue crab harvesters in state waters from the Florida/Alabama state line through Franklin County must remove their blue crab traps from the water before Jan. 5, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to gather traps the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water. Waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay are not included in this closure. Traps can be placed back in the water Jan. 15. 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.
The closure is one of three regional 10-day blue crab trap closures that will occur in 2013 on the Gulf coast of Florida. Coastal waters from Broward through Pasco counties will close to traps July 10-19, and waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, will close to traps July 20-29.
The closure is one of three regional 10-day blue crab trap closures that will occur in 2013 on the Gulf coast of Florida. Coastal waters from Broward through Pasco counties will close to traps July 10-19, and waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, will close to traps July 20-29.