Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations By Species |
Please remember that Fishing regulations change periodically. We strive to provide the most accurate information possible, but for the most current regulations it is best to visit the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commision site at http://myfwc.com/marine/lines.htm |
Species | Min Size | Closed Season | Daily Rec Bag Limit | Additional Information |
Amberjack (Greater ) | 28" fork | | 1 per person per day | |
| Amberjack (Lesser)/ Banded Rudderfish | Not less than 14" or more than 22" fork | | 5 Aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish. | |
| Billfish | Sailfish 63" Blue Marlin 99" White Marlin 66" | | 1 per person per day Aggregate bag limit | Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. Federal regulations apply in state waters. |
Black Drum | Not less than 14"or more than 24" | | 5 per person per day | May possess one over 24 " |
| Bluefish | 12" fork | | 10 per person per day | |
| Bonefish | 18" | | 1 per person per day | |
| Clams Hard | 1" thick across hinge | May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise | One 5 gal bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day | Illegal to harvest from closed areas. Go to www floridaaquaculture com for allowable harvesting areas |
| Cobia (Ling) | 33" fork | | 1 per person or 6 per vessel per day whichever is less | A saltwater products license and a restricted species endorsement are needed to sell cobia or exceed the one fish daily bag limit |
| Crab Blue | | Sept 20 Oct 4, Traps only NW of Suwannee River and beyond 3 miles | 10 gallons whole per person per day | 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply Harvest of egg bearing crabs prohibited |
| Crab Blue Land | | July 1 - Oct 31 | 20 per person per day | , Trapping prohibited, harvest of egg bearing females prohibited, harvest prohibited in state parks and from the right of way of federal, state or county maintained roads |
| Crab Stone | 2 3 / 4 " claw | May 16 – Oct 14 | 1 gal Stone Crab claws per person or 2 gal per vessel, whichever is less | 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply Illegal to possess whole crab Harvest of egg bearing crabs prohibited |
| Crawfish (Spiny Lobster) | Larger than 3" carapace measured in the water | April 1 – Aug 5 Exception: Sport Season last consecutive Wed & Thurs of July each year | 6 per person per day | Recreational trapping prohibited Crawfish permit required when license required Special bag limit for 2 day Sport season Call DLE for current information on Sport season |
| Dolphin | 20" fork Atlantic | | 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide | A saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal commercial vessel permit are needed to sell dolphin, exceed the 10 fish bag limit, or exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide |
| Flounder | 12" | | 10 per person per day | May be harvested by spearing |
| Grouper Black & Gag | 24" Atlantic & Monroe County 22" Gulf (excluding Monroe County) | | 2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County 5 per person per day Gulf (excluding Monroe Co ) | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit |
| Grouper Red | 20" | | 2 per person per day Gulf | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit |
| Grouper Yellowfin & Yellowmouth | 20" | | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | |
| Grouper Scamp | 20" Atlantic & Monroe County 16" Gulf (excluding Monroe County) | | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | |
| Grouper Warsaw (Speckled Hind | | | 1 per vessel per day of each species | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit |
| Grouper (all others) | | | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Snowy, Tiger, Yellowedge |
| Hogfish | 12" fork | | 5 per person per day | |
| Mackerel King | 24" fork | | 2 per person per day | Bag limit in Gulf Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call DLE for details |
Mackerel Spanish | 12" fork | | 15 per person per day | Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited |
| Mullet Striped (Black) & Silver | | | Feb 1- Aug 31, 50 per person per day, aggregate of striped & silver mullet maximum 100 aggregate per vessel | Sept 1 - Jan 31, 50 per person or per vessel Contact DLE for additional restrictions in Pinellas & Charlotte counties |
| Oysters | 3 " | June, July, Aug in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties July, Aug , Sept in all other areas | 2 bags per person or vessel, whichever is less per day 1 Bag = 60 lbs or two 5 gal buckets (whole in shell ) | Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas Harvest from approved shellfish areas only Go to www floridaaquaculture com for allowable harvesting areas |
| Permit & Pompano fork | Not less than 11" or more than 20" | | 6 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano | May possess one over 20" of either Permit or Pompano. Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited |
| Pompano African | Not less than 24" fork | | 2 fish per person or per vessel per day whichever is less | Hook & line gear only |
Red Drum (Redfish) | Not less than 18" or more than 27" | | 1 per person per day | Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited |
Red Porgy | 14" | | Atlantic 1 per person per day | |
| Scallops Bay | | September 11– June 30 | 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per person per day, no more than 10 gallons whole, or 1/2 gallon meat per vessel anytime | Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco Hernando county line (near Aripeka latitude 28 degrees,26 016 minutes North), to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County (longitude 85 degrees, 25 84 minutes West) Any bay scallops harvested and possessed must be landed within the allowable harvesting area |
| Sea Bass Black | 10" | | 20 per person per day Atlantic
| Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited See list below for protected species |
| Shad | | | 10 Aggregate per person per day | American, Alabama, and Hickory are part of aggregate limit Hook and line gear only |
| Shark | | | 1 per person or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less | Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. |
| Sheepshead | 12" | | 15 per person per day | Measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail, snatching prohibited |
| Shrimp | | April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St Johns, Putnam, Flagler, & Clay counties | 5 gallons heads on per person or vessel per day, whichever is less | Must be landed in a whole condition Contact DLE for closed areas |
| Snapper Black & Wenchman | | | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit | |
| Snapper Cubera | Not less than 12" or more than 30" | | Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30 " | Allowed 2 Cubera Snapper over 30" per person or vessel per day which ever is less 30" or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit |
| Snapper Gray (Mangrove) | 10" | | 5 per person per day | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit |
| Snapper Lane | 8" | | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from Atlantic | Lane Snapper harvested from the Gulf of Mexico not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit |
| Snapper Mutton | 16" | | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit | |
| Snapper Red | 20" Atlantic 16" Gulf | Nov 1 - April 14 Gulf Only | 2 per personper day Atlantic 4 per person per day Gulf | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit |
| Snapper Schoolmaster | 10" | | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit | |
| Snapper Vermilion | 10" | | 10 per person per day Atlantic | Vermilion Snapper not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit |
| Snapper (All other) | 12" | | Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit | Includes Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and Yellowtail |
| Snook (All species) | Not less than 26" or more than 34" | Dec 15 - Jan 31 statewide; June, July, Aug – Atlantic; May, June, July, Aug - Gulf, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park | 2 per person per day-Atlantic; 1 per person per day- Gulf, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park | Snook permit required when saltwater license required State regulations apply in federal waters Illegal to buy or sell snook |
| Sponge | Commercial Greater than 5" in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge | | 10 per person per day | Includes sheepswool, yellow, grass, glove, finger, wire, reef & velvet sponge |
| Spotted Seatrout | Not less than 15" or more than 20" (statewide) except One fish over 20" per person | N E and N W regions February S Region November and December | N E and N W regions 5 per person per day S Region 4 per person per day | |
| Swordfish | 47" lower jaw fork length | | 1 per person or 3 per vessel whichever is less | Lower jaw fork length is the straight line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800 894 5528 |
Tarpon | | | 2 fish possession limit | Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or harvest Snatching prohibited |
Triggerfish (Gray) | 12" | | | All species of Triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing & live well requirements |
Tripletail | 15" | | 2 per person per day | Hook and line gear only (No snatch hooks) |
| Wahoo | | | 2 per person per day | A saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal commercial vessel permit are needed to sell wahoo or exceed the 2 fish bag limit |
| Weakfish | 12" | | 4 per person per day | Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads & tails intact) Measured as total length. Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait |
Fishing Reports
Fishing Calendar
