Recreational Gear

Additional regional gear restrictions may apply in your county. For further clarification, contact the local regional offices.

Reef fish gear rules (applies to species marked with ● on Basic Saltwater Regulations.

• Gulf of Mexico: These regulations require the use of a venting tool and dehooking device when recreationally or commercially fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. All persons aboard a vessel harvesting reef fish must possess and use non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits.
• Atlantic Ocean: Recreational and commercial fishers are required to use dehooking devices as needed while fishing for reef fish.

These rules apply to the following species. For a complete species list, please visit MyFWC.com.

• Greater amberjack
• Lesser amberjack
• Banded rudderfish
• Gag grouper
• Black grouper
• Red grouper
• Snowy grouper
• Yellowfin grouper
• Yellowmouth grouper
• Scamp grouper
• Warsaw grouper
• Speckled hind
• Grouper, all others
• Hogfish
• Red porgy
• Black sea bass
• Black snapper
• Wenchman snapper
• Cubera snapper
• Gray snapper
• Lane snapper
• Mutton snapper
• Red snapper
• Schoolmaster snapper
• Vermilion snapper
• Snapper, all other
• Golden tilefish
• Gray triggerfish

Hook-and-line gear

Hook-and-line anglers must tend their gear at all times to prevent people, marine life and shore life from becoming entangled in the line or injured by the hook. Also, it is against the law to intentionally discard any monofilament netting or line into or onto state waters. Monofilament line can entangle birds, marine mammals, marine turtles and fish, often injuring or killing them.

Nets

The following types of nets may be used for recreational purposes in Florida waters:

• Bully nets (for lobster only) no greater than 3 feet in diameter.
• Frame nets and push nets (for shrimp only) no greater than 16 feet in perimeter.
• Hand held landing or dip nets no greater than 96 inches in perimeter.
• Cast nets measuring 14 feet or less stretched length (stretched length is defined as the distance from the horn at the center of the net with the net gathered and pulled taut, to the lead line). Cast nets may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, weakfish and unregulated species.
• Beach or haul seines measuring no larger than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not constructed of monofilament, and legibly marked at both ends with the harvester’s name and address if a Florida resident. Non-residents using beach or haul seines for recreational purposes are required to have a commercial saltwater products license and legibly mark the seine at both ends with the harvester’s saltwater products license number. Beach or haul seines may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, weakfish and unregulated species.

Explosives, etc.

The use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals or the discharge of firearms into the water to kill or harvest marine life is prohibited in state waters.