Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
Species |
Minimum Size Limits |
Season |
Creel Limit |
Remarks |
American Eel |
9 inches |
January 1–August 31, except open year round for spears and baited traps or pots |
Daily—25 |
|
Black Drum |
16 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—1 Boat limit—6 |
|
Black Sea Bass |
See Online Guide |
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Bluefish |
8 inches |
Open Year Round |
Shore or Private Boat: Daily—3 |
|
Cobia |
40 inches |
June 15–September 15 |
1 cobia per person per day; or up to 2 cobia per vessel per day if there are 2 or more individuals on the vessel |
|
Croaker (Hardhead) |
9 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—25 |
|
Dolphinfish (Mahi-Mahi)* |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—10 Boat limit—54 |
Only applies to federal waters. |
Grouper Species |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—1 |
Grouper species— |
Lobster |
33⁄8–5¼ inches |
CLOSED Feb. 1–March 31 |
100/person/24 hour period or 500 for a 5-day or longer trip when using gear other than lobster traps |
Must be landed whole. Spearing is prohibited. No egg-bearing females. |
Red Drum (Channel Bass or Puppy Drum) |
18–27 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—1 |
|
Scup (Porgy) |
9 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—50 |
|
Sharks |
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Sheepshead |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—4 |
|
Shrimp (brown, white) |
None |
Open Year Round |
None |
Must use authorized gear. |
Snapper Species (includes many species, please see list) |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—20 |
Snapper species— |
Spanish Mackerel* |
14 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—15 |
|
Spot |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—50 |
|
Spotted Seatrout |
14 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—4 |
|
Striped Bass |
See Atlantic Striped Bass Section |
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Summer Flounder (Fluke) |
16 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—4 |
To maximize summer flounder survivability, use a 3/0 or larger hook and be prepared to release undersized fish (pliers, wet rag, and a ruler). |
Tautog |
16 inches |
CLOSED May 16–June 30 |
January 1–May 15: Daily—4 July 1–October 31: Daily—2 November 1–December 31: Daily—4 |
|
Tilefish (Blueline, Golden, Sand) |
Must follow federal limits and season, permit and reporting requirements– |
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Wahoo* |
None |
Open Year Round |
Daily—2 |
Only applies to federal waters. |
Weakfish |
13 inches |
Open Year Round |
Daily—1 |
|
Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, Hickory Shad and Shortnose Sturgeon |
CLOSED |
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* Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagic and Charter/Headboat Permits for Spanish and king mackerel as well as the Atlantic Charter/Headboat Dolphin/Wahoo For Hire Fishing Permit are available through the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Permits Office. |
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How to Measure a Fish
Size limits are generally based on the total length of a fish. The total length of a fish is the maximum length with the mouth closed and the tail pinched together measured from the snout to the tip of the tail. The best way to obtain this straight line measurement is to push the fish’s snout against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and with the fish lying along a tape measure and then pinch the tail fin closed to determine the total length.
Fork length refers to the length from the snout of a fish to the end of the middle caudal fin rays. This is the measurement for determining the legal size of a shark.
The girth of a fish is best measured with a fabric ruler. Measuring the girth is helpful in trying to determine if you have a possible record fish, which is determined by total weight. By using the total length and girth of a fish in inches you can get a rough estimate of the weight in pounds with this formula:
((Girth in inches x Girth in inches) x Length in inches) / 800 = Approximate weight in pounds
Illustration ©Diane Rome Peebles
