just had open heart surgery last week so thought that now that my wife and I have trotline permits for the first time I could use some of my recovery time making a couple trotlines. I have everything I need now thanks to prior questions on this site except for one thing. Where do I get white marker floats that comply with SCDNR? Larger than a quart, smaller than a gallon, and unsinkable.
I buy these and paint them with spray paint to get the color I need or you can buy them in the color you need. you will need white floats from the 1st-15th of the month and yellow the rest of the month. Also, a new requirement recently added is mid-way between the two end floats, you have to have a international orange float. I could not find spray paint in “international orange”, spoke to a local game warden and he said to find a orange that was close and use that. This company does sell orange, yellow and white floats, but the cost is higher. Hope this helps.
http://www.easternmarine.com/4-3-4-x-10-5-8-bullet-nose-end-rope-crabbing-float-white
Key West 19’6" CC 115hp Merc
14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
I don’t think you need yellow anymore, just white. You dont have to change at the middle of the month.
BOB
I think you are correct Bob. I had heard before that they did away with the yellow change mid month, but I checked DNR’s website when I heard this and it still stated that yellow was required. I guess they have now updated the website because I now do not see anything listed about using yellow, which is a good thing. I now can leave the current paintjob alone. The orange float is required to mark every 25th hook interval, which would fall in the middle if using the max of 50 hooks.
Here is the marking requirements copied and pasted from the SCDNR website:
Marking required:
Trotlines must be marked with a white floating marker on both ends with a minimum capacity of one quart and a maximum capacity of one gallon and must be made of solid, buoyant material which does not sink if punctured or cracked. The floating markers must be constructed of plastic, PVC Spongex, plastic foam or cork. No hollow buoys or floats including plastic, metal or glass bottles or jugs may be used except manufactured buoys or floats specifically designed for use with nongame fishing devices; these may be hollow if constructed of heavy duty plastic material and approved by the SCDNR. The owner’s name and department customer identification number must be legible on each of the white floating marker. Both commercial and recreational fishermen shall comply with provisions of this title pertaining to the marking and use of a nongame fishing device. A trotline must be marked on both ends. A commercial trotline must be marked at intervals of every fifty hooks. A commercial trotline which uses fifty or fewer hooks must be marked at intervals of twenty-five hooks. A recreational trotline must be marked at intervals of every twenty-five hooks. Each interval float must be ‘International Orange’ in color.
Key West 19’6" CC 115hp Merc
14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
thanks for the help. it’s kinda hard figuring “larger than a quart but smaller than a gallon” and calculating what size that would be. I wanna be totally legal.
I hear ya, I’m the same way. The floats in the link I posted above would be aprox. the equivilant of a half gallon milk jug. They are plenty big enough to see from a distance, although I think they are easier to see when yellow than white, which makes it easier to find your rig when using reference points and sight on the lake. I now have GPS on both of my boats, so I no longer have the locating problems I used to have giving me more time to work on my “Why do I only have two catfish on my trotline and 48 hooks with bait still on them” problems… LOL
Key West 19’6" CC 115hp Merc
14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc