Everglades National Park

To preserve and protect one-fifth of the historic Everglades ecosystem, an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther. The park is home to a vast array of animals that have adapted to a subtropical environment where temperate climatic conditions, characteristic of latitudes to the north, merge with tropical Caribbean conditions.

Species of Concern: Manatee, crocodile

Restrictions

1. The following waters are closed to fishing:
(i) All waters of T. 58 S., R. 37 E., sections 10 through 15, inclusive, measured from Tallahassee meridian and base, in the vicinity of Royal Palm Visitor Center, except Hole in the Donut or Hidden Lake, and Pine Island Lake.
(ii) All waters in T.54 S., R. 36 E., sections 19, 30, and 31, and in T. 55 S., R. 36 E., sections 6, 7, 18, 19, and 30, measured from Tallahassee meridian and base, in the vicinity of Shark Valley Loop Road from Tamiami Trail south.
2. Only hand-propelled vessels may be operated upon those areas of emergent vegetation commonly called marshes, wetlands, or “the glades.” Operation of a motorized vessel in such areas is prohibited.
3. Guide fishing without a valid permit is prohibited.
4. Take, possession, or disturbance of any fresh or saltwater aquatic life is restricted.
5. When crabbing for stone or blue crabs, unattended gear or use of more than five (5) traps per person is prohibited.
6. Tagging, marking, fin clipping, mutilation or other disturbance to a caught fish, prior to release is prohibited without written authorization from the Superintendent.
7. Fish may not be filleted while in the park, with exceptions.
8. The following areas are closed to all vessels:
(i) T. 54 S., R. 36 E., sections 19, 30, 31; T. 55 S., R. 36 E., sections 6, 7, 18, 19, and 30, bordering the Shark Valley Loop Road from the Tamiami Trail south.
(ii) Eco Pond, Mrazek Pond, Royal Palm Ponds except for Hidden Lake, Parachute Key ponds north of the Main Park Road, and Lake Chekika.
9. The following inland fresh water areas are closed to the use of motorized vessels: Coot Bay Pond, Nine Mile Pond, Paurotis Pond, Sweetbay Pond, Big Ficus Pond, Sisal Pond, Pine Glade Lake, Long Pine Key Lake, Tower Lake, Hidden Lake, Pine Island, and L–67 canal.
10. The following coastal waters, designated by statute as wilderness (Pub. L. 95–625), are closed to the use of motorized vessels: Mud, Bear, East Fox, Middle Fox, Little Fox, and Gator Lakes; Homestead Canal; all associated small lakes on Cape Sable inland from Lake Ingraham; Cuthbert, Henry, Little Henry, Seven Palm, Middle, Monroe, Long, and the Lungs Lakes; Alligator Creek from the shoreline of Garfield Bight to West Lake; all inland creeks and lakes north of Long Sound, Joe Bay, and Little Madeira Bay except those ponds and lakes associated with Taylor River.
11. Vessels used as living quarters shall not remain in or be operated in the waters of the Park for more than 14 days without a permit issued by the Superintendent.
12. Possession or use of a cast net which exceeds 20 feet in diameter (total size of the net not to exceed 10 feet from the lead line to the horn) is prohibited.
13. Wading is prohibited within 100 feet of any shoreline that is closed to landing.

Please consult the Superintendent's Compendium for additional information and restrictions.

Allowed

1. Take of finfish, shrimp, bait, crabs, and oysters is permitted, subject to federal law, where fishing is permitted. Trip and bag limits apply and are described in the Superintendent's Compendium.
2. Only a closely attended hook and line may be used for fishing activities.
3. Crabbing for stone or blue crabs may be conducted using attended gear only and no more than five (5) traps per person. Persons using traps must remain within one hundred (100) feet of those traps.
4. Shrimp, mullet, and baitfish (minnows, pilchards, pinfish, mojarras, ballyhoo or bait mullet (less than eight inches in total length) may be taken with hook and line, dipnet (not exceeding three feet at its widest point) or cast net, for use as bait or personal consumption (a dipnet or cast net may not be dragged, trawled, or held suspended in the water).
5. Up to four filets per person may be produced for immediate cooking and consumption at designated campsites or onboard vessels equipped with cooking facilities, and fish may be filleted while at the designated park fish cleaning facilities, before transportation to their final destination.
6. Nets and gear that are legal to use in State waters, and fish and other edible or non-edible sea life that are legally acquired in State waters but are illegal to possess in the waters of Everglades National Park may be transported through the park only over Indian Key Pass, Sand Fly Pass, Rabbit Key Pass, Chokoloskee Pass and across Chokoloskee Bay, along the most direct route to or from Everglades City, Chokoloskee Island or Fakahatchee Bay. Boats traveling through these passages with such nets, gear, fish, or other edible products of the sea must remain in transit unless disabled or weather and sea conditions combine to make safe passage impossible, at which time the boats may be anchored to await assistance or better conditions.