Pelagics
Issued: July 2024
New regulations are highlighted in red
(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational
for the most current regulations) Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic
« - 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.
Billfish - « p
Minimum Size Limits:
Measured tip of lower jaw to fork.
- Sailfish 63";
- Blue Marlin 99";
- White Marlin 66";
- Roundscale Spearfish 66"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 1 per harvester aggregate bag limit
Remarks
- All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.
- HMS permit required in federal waters.
- Hook and line only
Wahoo - p
Minimum Size Limits:
- None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 2 per harvester
Blackfin Tuna - n
Minimum Size Limits:
- No minimum size limit
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 2 fish per person or 10 fish per vessel per day, whichever is greater.
Cobia (Ling) - p
Minimum Size Limits:
- 36" fork length
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- Gulf and Atlantic - 1 per harvester not to exceed 2 per vessel
Tripletail - « p u n T
Minimum Size Limits:
- 18"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 2 per harvester
Remarks
- Hook and line only. No snatch hooks.
Mackerel, King - p
Minimum Size Limits:
- 24" fork length
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- Atlantic (excluding Monroe) - 2 per harvester
- Gulf (including Monroe) - 3 per harvester
Mackerel, Spanish - p
Minimum Size Limits:
- 12" fork length
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 15 per harvester
Dolphinfish - p
Minimum Size Limits:
- Atlantic - 20" fork length
- Gulf - None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- Atlantic - 5 per harvester per day, not to exceed 30 per vessel
- Gulf - 10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel
- Vessel limits does not apply for for-hire vessels.
- Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew
Swordfish - «
Minimum Size Limits:
- 47" lower jaw fork length with head attached or 25" cleithrum to keel length if head removed
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
- 1 per harvester per day, not to exceed a maximum of 4 per private recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per for-hire vessel
Remarks
- 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.
- Hook and line only
