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Florida

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

Coastal Species

« Spearing Prohibited

p Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed).

u Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side.

n State regulations apply in federal waters.

l Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com

T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

X State Reef Fish Angler designation required when fishing for select reef fish species from a private vessel in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean.

Issued: January 2024
New regulations are highlighted in red
(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational for the most current regulations)

If no season information is provided, the species is open year-round.

Bluefish – p n

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Bluefish
    12" fork length

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 3 per harvester
  • Gulf - 10 per harvester (includes Monroe County)

Flounder – p u T n

Flounder

Minimum Size Limits:

  • 14"

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 5 per harvester

Closed Season:

  • Oct. 15–Nov. 30

Remarks

  • May be harvested by spearing.
    Snatching prohibited.

Bonefish – « n

Bonefish

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 0 per harvester

Remarks

  • Catch and release only
  • Hook and line only

Atlantic Croaker and Spot – l « p T n

Atlantic Croaker and Spot

Minimum Size Limits:

  • None

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 50 per harvester per species (excludes Monroe county)
  • Gulf - 100 lbs. per harvester (including Monroe county)

Sheepshead – l p u T n

Sheephead

Minimum Size Limits:

  • 12"

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 8 per harvester

Remarks

  • Snatching prohibited
  • Vessel limit of 50 fish during March and April

Permit – l p « T n

Permit

Size Limits:

  • 22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); Not less than 11" or more than 22" fork length all other areas

Closed Season:

  • April 1–July 31 SPZ Only

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 1 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per vessel SPZ;
  • 2 per harvester all other state waters

Remarks

  • May possess 1 over 22" fork length outside the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over 22" fork per vessel per day. For map of SPZ, please see: MyFWC.com.
  • Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels

Spotted Seatrout – l « p u T n

Spotted Seatrout

Size Limits:

  • Not less than 15" or more than 19"
  • May not possess more than 1 over 19" per vessel

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 3 per harvester per day W.P. Zone
  • 5 per harvester per day B.B. Zone
  • 3 per harvester per day S. Zone
  • 2 per harvester per day C.E. Zone
  • 5 per harvester per day N.E. Zone

Closed Season:

  • Feb. W.P. Zone
  • Nov. – Dec. C.E. Zone

Remarks

  • See management zone map on pg. 8.
  • Zero bag limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels statewide

Weakfish – p « u

Weakfish

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Weakfish Management Area (WMA) in Nassau County - 12"
  • All other areas - no minimum

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • WMA - 1 per harvester
  • All other areas - 100 pounds per harvester

Remarks

Snook (All species) – p « u T n

Snook (All Species)

Size Limits:

  • PH, BB, TB, SB, CH, and SW management regions: Not less than 28" or more than 33"
  • SE, IRL, and NE management regions: Not less than 28" or more than 32"

Open Season:

  • PH, BB, TB, and SB management regions are open Mar.–April and Sept.–Nov.
  • CH and SW management regions are open March–April and Oct.–Nov.
  • SE, IRL, and NE management regions are open Feb.–May and Sept.–Dec. 14.

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • In each management region: 1 per harvester

Remarks

  • Snook permit required for harvest when saltwater license required. See MyFWC.com for snook permit details. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.
  • Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels
  • See Management Zones for regional map

Red Drum (Redfish) – p « u T

Red Drum (Redfish)

Size Limits:

  • Not less than 18" or more than 27"

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Catch and Release in the Indian River Lagoon Region
  • 1 fish bag limit in the following regions: Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast
  • 4 fish vessel limit in the following regions: Panhandle, Big Bend, and Northeast
  • 2 fish vessel limit in the following regions: Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, and Southeast
  • See pg. 8 for regional map

Remarks

  • Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited. Harvest in Federal waters prohibited.

Black Drum – p u T n

Black Drum

Size Limits:

  • Not less than 14" or more than 24"

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 5 per harvester

Remarks

  • May possess one over 24". Snatching prohibited.

Pompano, Florida – p« T n

Pompano, Florida

Minimum Size Limits:

  • 11" fork length

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 6 per harvester

Remarks

  • Hook and line, cast net and beach or haul seine ONLY.

Mullet, Striped (Black) & Silver

Mullet, Striped (Black) and Silver

Minimum Size Limits:

  • No minimum size

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 50 aggregate per harvester;
  • Aggregate vessel limits
    Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel;
    Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel

Blue Runner – n

Blue Runner

Minimum Size Limits:

  • No minimum

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 100 fish per harvester

Tarpon – l « T n

Tarpon

Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest tag required. Vessel limit of one fish. Harvest tag can only be used when fish is retained for potential IGFA record.

Remarks

  • Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the water during release. Spearing and snatch hooking prohibited. Bottom weighted jigs prohibited in Boca Grande Pass. See: Myfwc.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational/Tarpon for additional information.

Can't find your fish in the regulations?

Florida’s coastal waters are home to thousands of marine species, and the majority of these species have no specific regulations with regard to bag limits, size limits, gear restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any marine species that does not have specific regulations, harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity and requires a commercial license. This means the recreational harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or two organisms if the combined weight of the two organisms exceeds 100 pounds.

All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish, golden tilefish and snowy grouper (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC); and crustaceans and mollusks