Oyster Harvesting Rules

[jaxcreek]

A few weeks ago I had a chance to talk to a very good sheepshead fisherman, who uses oysters for the bait.
And after looking online for harvesting rules, I found this MYFWC page http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recr ... shellfish/, and wanted to see if anybody has experience using oysters as a bait and can give us any info. No harvest on last three days in the week sounds interesting.

Min Size Limit: 3 inches
Bag Limit: two 60lb bags per person
Closed Season: July, August and September
No Harvest: on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

[weimed]

If i could find some healthy oysters, I would keep them and eat them.

[Kahuna13]

Samir, I believe that Friday, Sat, Sunday deal only applies to the Apalachicola area. If I'm reading it correctly on the FWC page you linked.

[jaxcreek]

Samir, I believe that Friday, Sat, Sunday deal only applies to the Apalachicola area. If I'm reading it correctly on the FWC page you linked.

It could be, I'm not sure by reading it.

[captmallyboog]

The weekend closures are for Apalachicola.
I called FWC last year

[SuaSponte]

Don't think I would eat any of the oysters out of the St Johns basin though, not yet. Not until they release the area for lower contamination level readings that were showing up in the local oysters. I believe there was was a thread about this a few months ago on this board.

[jaxcreek]

Thanks guys, that helps. I wouldn't eat oysters but instead use them occasionally for catching sheepsheads.
Those sheeps like fiddler crabs but also barnacles and oysters.

[JohnYaksJax]

Hey jaxcreek ......I am pretty certain that harvesting oysters for human consumption has been illegal for many years in the Jax Area and possibly in N.E. FLA.....

Read someplace that you could buy oysters at a place like Publix and it would be legal to use them if you had the receipt in your kayak....????.....got a better idea...

Buy some clams at your local Publix or W/Dixie and keep the receipt with you...you "should" be legal and the clams are a better Sheepshead baits since they are tougher meat and stay on the hook longer!!!
JohnYaksJax

[jaxcreek]

Hey jaxcreek ......I am pretty certain that harvesting oysters for human consumption has been illegal for many years in the Jax Area and possibly in N.E. FLA.....

Read someplace that you could buy oysters at a place like Publix and it would be legal to use them if you had the receipt in your kayak....????.....got a better idea...

Buy some clams at your local Publix or W/Dixie and keep the receipt with you...you "should" be legal and the clams are a better Sheepshead baits since they are tougher meat and stay on the hook longer!!!
JohnYaksJax

Thanks, I'll try clams as they are tougher, easier to get and less headaches.

According to Florida Department of Agriculture some areas are prohibited (George River, Sawpit Creek) and some unclassified.
I'm wondering if unclassified is still ok to use.
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content ... ile/96.pdf
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content ... ile/92.pdf
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisio ... -Area-Maps