§ 3. Same—1969, chapter 69-1097.

[(a) Short title.] This act may be known and cited as "The Hernando County Saltwater Fishing Law."

[(b) Definitions.] The following definitions shall govern the interpretation and construction of this act in any proceeding thereunder unless a different meaning appears from the context:

(1)

"Bar measure" means the length of bar or twine of a net of seine measured along the bar or twine from the center of a knot to the center of the next knot thereto, such measurement to be taken with the twine or mesh not stretched.

(2)

"Stretch measure" means the length of the entire mesh or approximately twice the bar measurement.

(3)

"Webbing" means the fabric or netting made and manufactured for the making of nets and seines by attaching the same to lines.

(4)

"Inland waters" and "open waters" as used herein shall apply to salt waters in Hernando County, as well as waters within that area lying two (2) miles due west of longitude 82° 40', south of Buckhorn Key and north of the Pasco County line.

(5)

"County" means Hernando County.

[(c) Use of stop nets prohibited.] It is unlawful to place or set any stop net in the waters of the county, as well as waters within that area lying two (2) miles due west of longitude 82° 40', south of Buckhorn Key and north of the Pasco County line.

[(d) Obstruction of passes or inlets prohibited.] It is unlawful to place or set any net, seine, or similar device in any inlet or pass in such a way that fish will be obstructed or tend to be obstructed in the free passage into or from the pass or inlet in the county.

[(e) Restriction of total net length per boat.] It is unlawful to use any net, seine, or combination of nets or seines in the county having a total length of more than five hundred (500) yards per boat.

[(f) Restriction as to net webbing.] It is unlawful to use any net, seine, or other device with webbing attached thereto in the county in such a way that fish are confined until the tide falls sufficiently that such fish may be taken from confinement with hand nets, cast nets, or other nets or seines.

[(g) Restrictions as to net bar measurement:]

[(1)

March tenth to January first. ] It is unlawful to fish using any type of net or seine with a bar measurement of less than one and one half (1½) inches (or stretched measurement of three (3) inches) after March 10 of each year until the following January 1 in the inland waters and open waters of the county.

[(2)

July tenth to January first. ] It is unlawful to fish using any type of net or seine with a bar measurement of less than one and five eighths (1 5/8 ) inches (or stretched measurement of three and one fourth (3¼ inches) after July 10 of each year until the following January 1 in the inland waters and open waters of the county.

[(3)

October tenth to January first. ] It is unlawful to fish using any type of net or seine with a bar measurement of less than one and three fourths (1¾) inches (or stretched measurement of three and one half (3½) inches) after October 10 of each year until the following January 1 in the inland waters and open waters of the county.

[(h) Use of nets operated by motor prohibited.] It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to cause a net or seine to be run off of a boat by any type of gasoline or diesel powered engine whether it be inboard or outboard for the purpose of surrounding, catching, or striking fish in the inland waters and open waters of the county.

[(i) Owner responsible for use of net; confiscation and destruction of illegal nets.] The owner of any net or seine used or found in the county shall be responsible for the use thereof, whether used by such owner or some other person in violation of this act. Any net or seine that is prohibited to be used in the county by this act, or is being used in violation thereof, shall be confiscated and burned by the sheriff of the county within ten (10) days after the conviction of any person for use of same in violation of this act, irrespective of the ownership of such net or seine. The judge of the court in which such a conviction is had shall make a suitable order to the sheriff of the county for the confiscation and destruction of the seine or net.

[(j) Exemptions.] The provisions of this act shall not apply to hand-cast nets or the use of hand-cast nets when the same are not used in taking of fish that are confined in other nets or seines, nor shall the provisions of this act apply to the taking of bait and the use of bait nets and seines for the catching of bait when such nets or seines comply with the following specifications: For the catching of bait in salt water no net or combinations of nets shall exceed one hundred (100) feet in length, nor be of depth exceeding six (6) feet, nor have a bar measure greater than three eighths ( 3/8 ) of an inch.

[(k) Violations; penalties.] Any person violating any of the provisions of this act, or doing anything by this act declared unlawful, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided by the general laws of the state for the punishment of misdemeanors, and upon conviction of a second violation thereof shall be punished by the maximum penalty provided for the punishment of misdemeanors in such general laws.

[(l) Conflicting laws repealed.] All laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

[(m) Effective date.] This act shall become effective July 1, 1969.

(Laws of Fla., Ch. 69-1097, §§ 1—15; Laws of Fla., Ch. 70-707, § 1)