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Saltwater Fishing

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Other Reef Fish

Issued: July 2025
New regulations are highlighted in red

For the most current recreational saltwater fishing regulations, visit the FWC Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations page.

Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic
State waters extend 9 miles from shore on the Gulf and 3 miles from shore on the Atlantic coast.

« 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 saltwater fishing gear rules apply. For complete regulations, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.

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 America or Atlantic Ocean.

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

Amberjack, Greater p l X

Illustration of a greater amberjack, a large silver-blue saltwater game fish with a dark stripe through the eye, found in Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters.
Greater amberjack — a powerful silver-blue game fish with a dark eye stripe, popular among anglers in Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic - 28" fork length
  • Gulf - 34" fork length

Season:

  • Atlantic - Closed April 1–30
  • Gulf - Open Sept. 1–Oct. 31

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester per day

Tilefish, Blueline p l

Illustration of a blueline tilefish, a bottom-dwelling saltwater species with a long body, pale coloring, and distinctive blue lines on the head, common in Atlantic and Gulf waters.
Blueline tilefish — a bottom-dwelling species with pale coloring and blue facial lines, found in deep waters off Florida, the Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 2 per harvester
  • Gulf - 100 lbs. or 2 per harvester, which ever is greater

Season:

  • Atlantic - Open May 1–July 21
  • Gulf - Open year-round

Remarks

  • Blueline tilefish included within Atlantic grouper aggregate bag limits.
  • Atlantic has a zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew

Great Barracuda n

Illustration of a great barracuda, a long, slender saltwater fish with sharp teeth and dark spots along its silver body, commonly found in Florida and Caribbean waters.
Great barracuda — a fast, predatory fish recognized by its sleek silver body, sharp teeth, and dark spots, commonly seen in Florida and Caribbean coastal waters.

Regulations only apply in Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Not less than 15" or more than 36" fork length

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 2 per harvester or 6 per vessel, whichever is less

Remarks

  • May possess one over 36" per vessel.
  • Unregulated in all other areas.

Hogfish p l X

Illustration of a hogfish, a colorful reef fish with an elongated snout and long dorsal fin spines, commonly found in Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters.
Hogfish — a popular reef fish known for its long snout and distinct dorsal fin spines, often caught by anglers in Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters.

Atlantic regulations apply to Monroe county

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic - 16" fork length
  • Gulf - 14" fork length

Season:

  • Atlantic - Open May 1–Oct. 31
  • Gulf - Open year round

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 1 per harvester
  • Gulf - 5 per harvester

Triggerfish (Gray) p l X

Illustration of a gray triggerfish, a deep-bodied reef fish with tough skin, small mouth, and distinct dorsal spines, found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Gray triggerfish — a reef-dwelling species with a distinctive oval body and sharp dorsal spines, popular among anglers in Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic – 12" fork length
  • Gulf - 15" fork length

Season:

  • Atlantic - Open year-round
  • Gulf - Open March 1–May 31, Aug. 1–Dec. 31

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 10 per harvester
  • Gulf - 1 per harvester

Red Porgy p u l

Illustration of a red porgy, a silver-pink reef fish with a steep head profile, large eyes, and faint vertical lines, commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Red porgy — a popular reef fish with a pinkish-silver body and steep head profile, commonly caught by anglers in the Atlantic and Gulf waters.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic - 14"
  • Gulf - None

Season:

  • Atlantic - May 1–June 30
  • Gulf - None

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 1 per harvester
  • Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester

Tilefish, Golden p l

Illustration of a golden tilefish, a colorful deepwater fish with a blue-green back, golden spots, and a pinkish belly, found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Golden tilefish — a vibrant deepwater species recognized by its blue-green back, golden spots, and pink belly, prized by anglers in the Atlantic and Gulf.

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 1 per harvester
  • Gulf - 100 pounds or 2 per person, whichever is greater

Remarks

  • Golden tilefish included within Atlantic Grouper aggregate bag limits

Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Rudderfish p l X

Illustration of a banded rudderfish, a streamlined saltwater fish with a silver body, faint vertical bands, and a yellowish stripe along its side, found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Banded rudderfish — a sleek saltwater species with subtle vertical bands and a yellow side stripe, commonly caught in the Atlantic and Gulf waters.
Illustration of a lesser amberjack, a saltwater game fish with a deep body, dark stripe through the eye, and yellowish stripe along its side, found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Lesser amberjack — a deep-bodied saltwater fish with a dark eye stripe and yellow side stripe, popular among anglers in the Atlantic and Gulf waters.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than 14" or greater than 22" fork length

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester aggregate of the two species

Black Sea Bass p u l

Illustration of a female black sea bass, a dark-colored saltwater fish with spiny dorsal fins and patterned scales, commonly found along the U.S. Atlantic coast.
Black sea bass — a dark, patterned saltwater fish with spiny fins, valued by anglers along the Atlantic coast for both sport and table fare.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • Atlantic - 13"
  • Gulf - 10"

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • Atlantic - 7 per harvester
  • Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester

Pompano, African l « p T n

Illustration of an African pompano, a silvery saltwater game fish with a deep body and long trailing dorsal and anal fin rays, found in tropical and subtropical waters.
African pompano — a prized saltwater game fish recognized for its silvery body and long trailing fins, popular with anglers in tropical and subtropical waters.

Minimum Size Limits:

  • 24" fork length

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

  • 2 per vessel

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

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