Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

Amberjack, Greater ∆ ●

28″ fork Atlantic;
30″ fork Gulf

June 1–July 31
Gulf of Mexico

1 per harvester per day

Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Rudderfish ∆ ●

Not less than 14″ or more than 22″ fork

5 aggregate of lesser amberjack
and banded rudderfish

Billfish ∆

Sailfish 63″;
Blue Marlin 99″;
White Marlin 66″

1 per harvester per day
aggregate bag limit

Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.

HMS permit required in federal waters.

Black Drum ∆ ◊ T ■

Not less than 14″ or more than 24″

5 per harvester per day

May possess one over 24″. Snatching prohibited.

Bluefish ∆

12″ fork

10 per harvester per day

Bonefish ■

0 per harvester per day

Catch and release only. Hook and line gear only.

Clams (Hard)

1″ thick across hinge

May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise

One 5 gal. bucket per harvester
or 2 per vessel, whichever is less
per day (whole in shell)

Illegal to harvest from closed areas.

Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

Cobia (Ling) ∆

33″ fork

1 per harvester or 6 per vessel
per day, whichever is less

To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations.

Crab, Blue

Sept. 20–Oct. 4 Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles closed to traps; federal waters closed to traps; Regional closures (see map)

10 gallons whole
per harvester per day

5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.

Crab, Blue Land

July 1–Oct 31

20 per harvester per day

Trapping prohibited, harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited, harvest prohibited in state parks and from the right-of-way of federal, state or county maintained roads.

Crab, Stone

2 ¾” claw

May 16–Oct 14

1 gal. Stone Crab claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever is less

5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.

Crawfish
(Spiny Lobster) ∆

Carapace must be greater than 3″ measured in the water

April 1–Aug. 5
Exception: Sport Season (last consecutive Wed & Thurs of July each year)

Regular season:
6 per harvester per day

Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny Lobster permit required when license required. Harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited. Special
bag limit for 2-day Sport Season. Contact FWC regional office for
current information on Sport Season.

Dolphin ∆

20″ fork Atlantic

10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day

To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations.

Flounder ∆ ◊ T

12″

10 per harvester per day

May be harvested by spearing. Snatching prohibited.

Gag ∆ ◊ ●

24″ Atlantic & Monroe County

22″ Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

June 1–Sept. 15 &
Nov. 16–Dec. 31, 2011
Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

Closed Atlantic & Monroe County Jan. 1–April 30

Closed in Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1– March 31

1 per harvester per day
Atlantic & Monroe County;
2 per harvester per day Gulf
(excluding Monroe County)

No more than 1 fish may be Gag or Black Grouper, either individually or in combination in Atlantic & Monroe County.

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.

Grouper, Black ∆ ◊ ●

24” Atlantic & Monroe County

22” Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

Closed in Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1–March 31

Closed Atlantic &
Monroe County
Jan. 1–April 30

1 per harvester per day
Atlantic & Monroe County;
4 per harvester per day Gulf
(excluding Monroe County)

Grouper, Red ∆ ◊ ●

20″

3 per harvester per day
Atlantic & Monroe County;
2 per harvester per day Gulf
(excluding Monroe County)

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.

Grouper, Snowy ∆ ●

1 per harvester per day Atlantic

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic & Monroe County: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels

Grouper, Yellowfin
& Yellowmouth ∆ ◊ ●

20″

Closed in Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1–March 31

Closed Atlantic &
Monroe County
Jan. 1–April 30

Grouper, Scamp ∆ ◊ ●

20″ Atlantic & Monroe County; 16″ Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

Grouper, Warsaw & Speckled Hind ∆ ●

1 per vessel per day of each species

Grouper, all others ∆ ●

Closed in Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1–March 31 for Rock Hind and Red Hind

Closed Atlantic &
Monroe County
Jan. 1–April 30 for
Tiger, Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney, Graysby

Hogfish ∆ ●

12″ fork

5 per harvester per day

Mackerel, King ∆

24″ fork

2 per harvester per day

Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state waters when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Check www.MyFWC.com/Fishing for most current regulations prior to fishing.

Mackerel, Spanish ∆

12″ fork

15 per harvester per day

Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited.

Mullet, Striped (Black) & Silver

50 aggregate per harvester per day;

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

Mullet aggregate bag limit includes Striped and Silver. Call DMFM for additional restrictions in Pinellas and Charlotte counties.

Oysters

3″

June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties.

July, Aug., Sept. in
all other areas.

2 bags per harvester or vessel,
whichever is less per day.
1 Bag = 60 lbs.
or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell)

Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas.
Harvest from approved shellfish areas only.

Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

Permit ∆ T ■

22″ fork SPZ; Not less than
11″ or more than 22″ fork
all other areas

May 1–July 31

SPZ

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

Effective August 31, 2011. May possess 1 over 22″ fork length in
all other areas, not to exceed 2 over 22″ fork per vessel per day. See gear restrictions and SPZ definition and other information.

Pompano, Florida ∆ T ■

11″ fork

6 per harvester per day

Effective August 31, 2011. Hook and line, cast net, and beach or haul seine ONLY. See more information.

Pompano, African ∆ T ■

24″ fork

2 per harvester per day, not to exceed 2 per vessel per day.

Effective August 31, 2011. See gear restrictions and more information.

Red Drum
(Redfish) ∆ ◊ T

Not less than 18″ or more than 27″

1 per harvester per day

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

Red Porgy ∆ ◊ ●

14″ Atlantic

3 per harvester per day Atlantic

Scallops, Bay

Sept. 26, 2011–
June 30, 2012

2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat
per harvester per day; no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per vessel anytime

Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line, to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.

Sea Bass, Black ∆ ◊ ●

12″ Atlantic; 10″ Gulf

15 per harvester per day Atlantic

Shad

10 aggregate per harvester per day

American, Alabama & Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook & line gear only.

Shark ∆ T

54″ fork for all sharks except Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, blacktip, bonnethead, finetooth and smooth dogfish

1 per harvester or 2 per vessel
per day, whichever is less

Hook and line gear only.

See list below for prohibited species.

Sheepshead ∆ ◊ T

12″

15 per harvester per day

Snatching prohibited.

Shrimp ∆

April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties

5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less

Contact FWC Regional Office for closed areas.

Snapper, Black & Wenchman ∆ ●

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Cubera ∆ ◊ ●

12″ (see remarks)

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate
bag limit if under 30″

May possess no more than 2 Cubera Snapper over 30″ per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less. 30″ or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Gray
(Mangrove) ∆ ◊ ●

10″

5 per harvester per day

Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Lane ∆ ◊ ●

8″

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate
bag limit Atlantic

Gulf not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Mutton ∆ ◊ ●

16″

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Red ∆ ◊ ●

20″ Atlantic; 16″ Gulf

July 19–May 31 Gulf

2 per harvester per day

Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. Note: Check www.MyFWC.com/Fishing for most current regulations prior to fishing.

Gulf: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Snapper,
Schoolmaster ∆ ◊ ●

10″

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Vermilion ∆ ◊ ●

12″ Atlantic; 10″ Gulf

Nov. 1–March 31 Atlantic

5 per harvester per day Atlantic;
10 per harvester per day Gulf

Vermilion Snapper not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Snapper, all other ∆ ◊ ●

12″

Included within 10 per harvester
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk & Yellowtail.

Snook
(all species) ∆ ◊ T ■

Not less than 28″ or more than 32″ Atlantic

Not less than 28″ or more than 33″ Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park

Dec. 15–Jan. 31;
June 1– Aug. 31 Atlantic Closed through Aug. 31, 2012 Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County,
Everglades National Park

1 per harvester per day

Snook permit required for harvest when saltwater license required. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited. See more information.

Sponge, Commercial

Greater than 5″ in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge

10 per harvester per day

Includes: Sheepswool, Yellow, Grass, Glove, Finger, Wire, Reef & Velvet sponge.

Spotted Seatrout ∆ ◊ T

Not less than 15″ or
more than 20″ (statewide) except one fish over 20″
per person

Nov. & Dec. S. Region

Feb. N.E. and N.W. Regions (see regional
definitions)

4 per harvester per day South Region

5 per harvester per day
N.E. and N.W. Regions

May possess no more than 1 over 20″; included in the regional bag limit. See regional definitions map.

Swordfish

47″ lower jaw fork length with head attached or
29″ cleithrum to keel length if head removed.

1 per harvester per day,
not to exceed a maximum of
4 per recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per for-hire vessel per day

All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters. Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.

Tarpon

2 fish possession limit

Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or harvest. Snatching and spearing prohibited. Boca Grande Pass has seasonal regulations. Contact DMFM for current information.

Tilefish, Golden ∆ ●

1 per harvester per day Atlantic

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels

Triggerfish (Gray) ∆ ●

12″ fork Atlantic;
14″ fork Gulf

Triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing & live well requirements.

Tripletail ∆ ◊ T

15″

2 per harvester per day

Hook & line gear only. No snatch hooks.

Wahoo ∆

2 per harvester per day

To sell or exceed the daily bag limit, follow commercial regulations.

Weakfish ∆ ◊

12″

1 per harvester per day

Regulations apply in parts of Nassau County only. See MyFWC.com for map.

∆ Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads, fins & tails intact).

◊ 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.

■ State regulations apply in federal waters.

● Additional gear rules apply. See Reef Fish Gear Rules.

T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.