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New to Natives

Started by Guest_jetajockey_* , Apr 07 2011 01:28 AM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 01:28 AM

Hi everyone. I'm a total newb to native collecting, but it's something that seems like so much fun, so I want to try it. I live in the florida panhandle so there is a plethora of rivers, streams, creeks, etc to go through.

What I want to know is, is there a list of natives somewhere that are local to my area? Is there any info on what fish in particular I need to avoid, and any other basic info?

I emailed the FWC about the rules and regs regarding taking freshwater natives and their response really wasn't specific enough to answer these questions.

Thanks in advance!

#2 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 04:46 AM

Hi everyone. I'm a total newb to native collecting, but it's something that seems like so much fun, so I want to try it. I live in the florida panhandle so there is a plethora of rivers, streams, creeks, etc to go through.

What I want to know is, is there a list of natives somewhere that are local to my area? Is there any info on what fish in particular I need to avoid, and any other basic info?

I emailed the FWC about the rules and regs regarding taking freshwater natives and their response really wasn't specific enough to answer these questions.

Thanks in advance!

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/education/fishreferences.html
http://forum.nanfa.o...ng-regulations/
http://www.usgs.gov/...ith=place/fUS12
http://tolweb.org/tr...ISHES&sa=Search

#3 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 07 April 2011 - 09:53 AM

What I want to know is, is there a list of natives somewhere that are local to my area? Is there any info on what fish in particular I need to avoid, and any other basic info?

I strongly recommend that you head over to the NANFA website (jsut click the NANFA Homepage above) and read everything you can find...

Specifically you should go to...
http://www.nanfa.org/regional.shtml
...and curser down to where it says Florida

...and then purchase the Florida Native Fishes Collection Guide and read all of that as well... then you will be ready!

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#4 Guest_EricaWieser_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 11:05 AM

I live in the florida panhandle...

You're so lucky. My favorite fish lives there, Elassoma gilberti. Scroll to page 136 of this document to see their range: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf

There are so many awesome fish in Florida. Leptolucania ommata, Heterandria formosa... For a person who loves tiny freshwater fish, Florida is like the #1 dream collecting site.

http://www.flmnh.ufl...tkillifish.html
http://www.flmnh.ufl...ykillifish.html

Edited by EricaWieser, 07 April 2011 - 11:06 AM.

#5 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 01:42 PM

thanks for the info guys I have a lot of reading to do! Yeah I'm really excited, a few coworkers have tipped me off to some creeks and streams that are shallow so it looks like a good starting point. I'm just east of pensacola so I'm probably out of range of some of the really awesome central florida natives (that i know of, anyway)but a car ride/vacation in the summer is definitely not out of the question.

#6 Guest_fundulus_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 03:22 PM

The truth is that the panhandle will have more species than central Florida, since many species from AL & GA are also present in the panhandle. And welcome to the Forum.

#7 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 05:26 PM

The truth is that the panhandle will have more species than central Florida, since many species from AL & GA are also present in the panhandle. And welcome to the Forum.

Thanks! That's great to hear. I really hope I can find some good places to go. We are going to a place called juniper creek in blackwater state park tomorrow for a look around.

#8 Guest_EricaWieser_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 06:04 PM

You've bought your license and you're familiar with the endangered species you should leave alone in that region?

#9 Guest_Skipjack_*

Guests

Posted 07 April 2011 - 06:27 PM

http://www.floridian...angeredFish.htm

Does not look like much, if this list is accurate. Florida is awfully lax on collection laws. Reptiles and amphibians are virtually unprotected, and it seems that they protect very few fish. Some times one has to educate themselves on what is abundant, and what is not. If you happen to find a population of fish, and they are abundant, then take a few(if they are legal) but if you find a population where they are sparse, leave them be. Common sense conservationism.

#10 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guests

Posted 08 April 2011 - 01:55 AM

You've bought your license and you're familiar with the endangered species you should leave alone in that region?

Getting a license in the morning, and I've been studying up on the protected species list. I'm not going to keep anything that I am even 1% unsure of. I've fished saltwater most of my life so I know how the fwc works around here lol.

http://www.floridiannature.com/FloridaEndangeredFish.htm

Does not look like much, if this list is accurate. Florida is awfully lax on collection laws. Reptiles and amphibians are virtually unprotected, and it seems that they protect very few fish. Some times one has to educate themselves on what is abundant, and what is not. If you happen to find a population of fish, and they are abundant, then take a few(if they are legal) but if you find a population where they are sparse, leave them be. Common sense conservationism.

Yeah, it's unfortunate, this is something I am bringing my kids along for, and want to pass on to them someday, so believe me I will do everything in my power to keep it the way it is.

#11 Guest_jetajockey_*

Guests

Posted 09 April 2011 - 05:37 PM

You're so lucky. My favorite fish lives there, Elassoma gilberti. Scroll to page 136 of this document to see their range: http://biology.unm.e...et al. 2009.pdf

There are so many awesome fish in Florida. Leptolucania ommata, Heterandria formosa... For a person who loves tiny freshwater fish, Florida is like the #1 dream collecting site.

http://www.flmnh.ufl...tkillifish.html
http://www.flmnh.ufl...ykillifish.html

I'm looking up collection sites for the gilberti, after watching your videos I've fallen in love with them. I already love dwarf cichlids, I keep and breed golden and electric blue rams, I liked the gilberti immediately.

It looks like I can find them in streams leading to choctawhatchee bay, which is about an hour trip from here. Once I find some exact areas I will gear up and plan a day trip to the area.