Anyone catch their own fish for their tank

Rjramos · Feb 1, 2015

Well there are a lot of nice colorful tropical fish on the reefs in south Florida. Queen Angels, French angels, blue tangs, neon gobies, sharp nose puffer, wrasses, damsels, and a bunch more! Only problem is, none of the above will bite a baited hook. And a cast net causes harm to some of these delicate fish. If you really wanna do it right, you gotta get wet and hand net them. I have 2 clear plastic nets with screen bottoms that work great!

Sea J · Feb 1, 2015

Thanks rjramos...I'm gonna give that a try..I think I would find it more gratifying to catch my own fish than to buy it in some local fish store

Sea J · Feb 1, 2015

anyone know what kind of permits you need to keep under size fish

Rjramos · Feb 2, 2015

Dude.. why do you insist on keeping fish that grow too big and too fast for a small home aquarium, in addition to being aggressive with voracious appetites? The FWC does not have permits for keeping undersized fish. Your not even allowed to use undersized for bait. If you read their recreational regulations, after all the edible large growing species, there is a section on ornamentals and some non-stony corals that include zoanthids and octocorals that you are allowed to take home to your aquarium. Many of the tropical fish are regulated by size slots, not too big, not too small, because it is known that larger fish do not adapt well to aquarium life. Just being helpful, with my experience on the subject.[emoji4]

Paul B · Feb 2, 2015

Here in New York I have kept a local tank for many years. The Gulf Stream brings up many tropical fish and being these are not native here, you can collect them all you want. I can also collect almost any other creature legally as long as it is not a food or game fish. I can take shellfish of the correct size if I have a permit. If I am not sure I can call the Dept of Envirnmental Conservation and chances are they will not have the slightest Idea what I am talking about. I used to have a sea urchin collection business that I would collect using SCUBA. I called them and they had no idea what an urchin was or if they even lived in New York so they said I could collect all I wanted. And I did.

joekool · Feb 2, 2015

Rjramos said:
Dude.. why do you insist on keeping fish that grow too big and too fast for a small home aquarium, in addition to being aggressive with voracious appetites? The FWC does not have permits for keeping undersized fish. Your not even allowed to use undersized for bait. If you read their recreational regulations, after all the edible large growing species, there is a section on ornamentals and some non-stony corals that include zoanthids and octocorals that you are allowed to take home to your aquarium. Many of the tropical fish are regulated by size slots, not too big, not too small, because it is known that larger fish do not adapt well to aquarium life. Just being helpful, with my experience on the subject.[emoji4]

Wanna go diving some time. I would like to go collect with you some time. I believe ricordia are okay too. I would do it over here on the other coast but our shark population with int the first 15 miles is high. But farther out isn't much of a problem. Not saying I'm scarred but bull sharks aren't to friendly and I don't want to have to kill one if I don't have too. We are planning a lion fish round up for summer time over here. If you are intered let me know. Lion fish are tasty.

G_Sanab922 · Feb 2, 2015

Rjramos said:
Well, Sea J. You can have a locals only tank. I did it many years ago, however, hook and line is not a good method of catching aquarium fishes. It causes injury and infections that can kill the fish. In addition, most of the species caught on hook and line are inappropriate as ornamental aquarium fishes. Most grow too large and are too aggressive. A good quality net and snorkel or scuba gear is what I recommend. Secondly, know the laws and abide by them, there are size slots for most marine tropicals. They can be found on florida fish and wildlife site. Good luck catching.

This ^^ Again follow the laws, and know what you catch! We have a lot of species down here. And actually the only fishes you might catch for your 20 gal are damsels and gobies... Might need a bigger tank... Oh and I don't recommend collecting here in key largo if you don't know specific zones and regs. and just in case since I saw you just started this hobby, DON'T take Live Rock from the Ocean!!!

G_Sanab922 · Feb 2, 2015

Paul B said:
Here in New York I have kept a local tank for many years. The Gulf Stream brings up many tropical fish and being these are not native here, you can collect them all you want. I can also collect almost any other creature legally as long as it is not a food or game fish. I can take shellfish of the correct size if I have a permit. If I am not sure I can call the Dept of Envirnmental Conservation and chances are they will not have the slightest Idea what I am talking about. I used to have a sea urchin collection business that I would collect using SCUBA. I called them and they had no idea what an urchin was or if they even lived in New York so they said I could collect all I wanted. And I did.

Sorry PaulB , but you can't compare the laws down here with up there (i'm sure you know that, but just saying). That's awesome you can collect over there , that's probably because they aren't native to there and just passing by so it wouldn't have an effect to your sea life environment there. Urchins are awesome, but here in FL the Long Spine Urchins are prohibited. We have a lot of other nice ones though

Paul B · Feb 2, 2015

Sorry PaulB , but you can't compare the laws down here with up there

I realize that which is why I started my post with this disclaimer

Here in New York I have kept a local tank for many years.

G_Sanab922 · Feb 2, 2015

Paul B said:
I realize that which is why I started my post with this disclaimer

Honestly, don't know how you do it though, water must be a lot colder up there lol lower than 75 degree is too cold for me and that's our winter temp haha

Rjramos · Feb 2, 2015

joekool said:
Wanna go diving some time. I would like to go collect with you some time. I believe ricordia are okay too. I would do it over here on the other coast but our shark population with int the first 15 miles is high. But farther out isn't much of a problem. Not saying I'm scarred but bull sharks aren't to friendly and I don't want to have to kill one if I don't have too. We are planning a lion fish round up for summer time over here. If you are intered let me know. Lion fish are tasty.

I go out on my personal boat. I am willing to take you or anyone out on my boat, but under condition that it's not for hire and I will not be held liable or course. This gets questionable for me, due to a divers experience and skill level diving or snorkeling, you know? Especially, someone I don't really know. But otherwise, getting to know..., it would be cool, pitch in for fuel, food, drinks and go!!! Yes corallimorphs, and anemones are included in legal harvest too! I've been diving on the west coast too, and yes sharks, long rides out, and water that is not as clear as over here. Spooky! In addition to lion fish being tasty, my LFS gives me 10-15 bucks store credit for smaller ones. And they are easy to net catch!

Cheers[emoji482] Joe !

Rich.

Paul B · Feb 2, 2015

You can also come out diving on my boat. It is full of gas but unfortunately, right now you would have to chop through the ice to get into the water. I have been diving here in New York since 1971. Our water gets as warm as about 69 in the summer but the visability in the western Sound is measured in inches which is good and bad. It is good because there are over 2,000 ship wrecks off Long Island and whatever sunk, is still there as it is hard to see and not a lot of people dive here. I have also dove all over the world including The Great Barrier Reef,Tahiti, Hawaii and almost every Caribbean Island. I may dive in Key Large on a week or two. Our tide pools are full of fish, crabs, shrimp, snails and hypodermic needles. My local tank is just room temperature with no filtration, I jut throw in new water or old reef tank water. New York animals are not picky

Sea J · Feb 2, 2015

I caught some pilchards for the tank.. I also got a ladyfish but it was too big.. gonna go Friday and catch some pretty grunts for the tank.

KorD · Feb 2, 2015

I let my LFS catch the fish for me... granted it is not that sporting of a job since they are all in little tanks

Being from WI, I don't have another option!

Sea J · Feb 2, 2015

I might put some Google eyes the fish them for sails...lol

cracker · Feb 2, 2015

The lion fish is an idea! That will eat everything in the tank! LOL. Paul B is lucky in some ways. The tropicals that make it that far north are doomed come winter. But diving in 69 % water? Not so lucky! I'll do my diving here in Florida in the middle of summer!

Rjramos · Feb 2, 2015

Heck Id put a pool in my backyard and stock it with ladyfish, pinfish, mullet, pilchards, ballyhoo, Google eyes, rainbow runners! Then I wouldn't have to stop for bait on the way out! Woo hoo![emoji23]

cracker · Feb 2, 2015

How about the Sargasso triggers, They are very cool. Dip net a buch of Sargasso weed and shake it in a bucket. There is all kinda small critters in that stuff!