Oh yeahhhh! This crab season should be fantastic!
I can't believe how every freaking pier and public beach in the area has crab traps within 100 yards of the shore, or structure. They can't change that rule to something more reasonable? I went out surfing the other day and had to navigate crab trap bouys to get out to the spot. What's this bullshit?
And it goes without saying, paddling your baits out, you'll be navigating crab traps. On that note, if, and only if you manage to hook a shark, you'll either get cut off, hung up, or catch yourself a couple traps full of crabs.
Good luck all.
The mis informed FWC commisioners should implament some laws in this state that make sense for once such as a 1000 yard limit for all traps, be they LOBSTER or CRAB.The only bouys that should be allowed close to a Florida beach should be swim bouys.Maybe we could get a petition going and send some emails.
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
My post isn't related to crab traps, but to crabs in general. JD Hammer is fishing on Pensacola Beach & he said there were so many crabs there that one climbed up his pants leg & scared the daylights out of him! 
Some beaches I have been to in the past have the traps within 20 yards of the beach, and that is at the beginning of season before they have a chance to wash in closer to shore which they tend to do. Once we get a few storms and rougher seas some traps get washed up on the beach. I once saw an entire island with crab traps everywhere non stop for 3 miles from 20(yes twenty) to 300 yards out, literally thousands of them right on top of each other. Not only does it ruin things for fishermen, but non-fishing tourists as well, I am sure that seeing the entire shoreline littered with crab traps takes away from their enjoyment of the beach. They are eye sores. So if FWC won't do it for the sake of fishermen, perhaps do something about it on behalf of those who go to the beach to enjoy the scenery, or swim (kind of tough to do with so many buoys and ropes all over the place).
Also, I notice many of these traps left behind months later when crab season is over, such as in the month of AUGUST. They are either washed in within 10-20 yards of shore, or right onto the shore. From what I know the owners of the traps are required to have their name and address attached to the buoys. The owners of these derelict traps don't seem to face any consequences if they are allowed to sit out there months after season is closed. Perhaps instead of lurking online looking for "illegal" fishing pictures, FWC could maybe clean up these derelict traps and issue out citations to the idiots who leave their crab traps out all year.
Knife versus rope....Knife wins
reference picture below 
Disclaimer: the above is the author's personal opinion and is not the opinion or policy of his employer or of the little green men that have been following him all day.
Knife versus rope....Knife wins
reference picture below
Disclaimer: the above is the author's personal opinion and is not the opinion or policy of his employer or of the little green men that have been following him all day.
Unfortunatley as much as I want to agree and condone the above activity, cutting the buoys off is ethically wrong. "ghost fishing" does serious damage to our environment. Better option is to petition something. Like Tarpon J said they are an eyesore. Laws only get changed with economic incentive... Local officials woudnt want to miss out on any economic loss lol.
IT'S REDICULOUS HOW MANY TRAPS THERE ARE!
IT'S REDICULOUS HOW MANY TRAPS THERE ARE!
I'll second that! Its insane on Indian rocks Beach! As far as the eye can see! Little white balls everywhere! My spots are totally unfishable. You can actually smell all the bait in the water (rotten fish smell). I gotta try up in the bay or something I guess. St.Pete pier area. Maybe row off the "beach" near the pier or something. Its grassflats though. Idk. Adapt and overcome I guess.