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Florida

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

Sharks

« 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)

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

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

Remarks

  • The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit purposes. In other words, you can only harvest one shark per day and the shark that you harvest must be one of the retainable species.
  • Hook-and-line gear only.
  • Shore-based Shark Fishing educational course and permit required.
  • See list of prohibited species below.

Retainable Sharks with a 54" fork length minimum p« T

Blue, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle (not illustrated).

Bull

Bull Shark

Nurse

Nurse Shark

Common Thresher

Common Thresher Shark

Spinner

Spinner Shark

Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit « T

Finetooth, Smooth Dogfish, Florida and Gulf Smoothhounds (not illustrated).

Atlantic Sharpnose

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Bonnethead

Bonnethead Shark

Blacknose

Blacknose Shark

Blacktip

Blacktip Shark

Prohibited Species

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell or exchange the following species:

Shortfin Mako, Goliath grouper (Jewfish, without harvest permit), Nassau Grouper, Sawfish, Atlantic Angel Shark, Basking Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Dusky Shark, Galapagos Shark, Lemon Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, Silky Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Smalltail Shark, Spiny Dogfish, Whale Shark, White Shark, Tiger Shark, Greater, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Manta Ray, Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Sturgeon, Queen Conch, Calico Scallop, Stony, Hard, Black and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Bahama Starfish, and Longspine Urchin. Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited. Puffer fish harvest is prohibited in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties.