Species |
Minimum Size
Limits |
Closed Season |
Daily Rec. Bag
Limit |
Remarks |
Amberjack-Greater |
28" fork Atlantic, 30" for Gulf |
|
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 |
Meausured tip of lover jaw to fork. Federal regulations apply in
state waters. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours
800-894-5528. HMS permit required in fefderal 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 (whole in shell) |
Illegal to harvest from closed areas. Visit floridaaquaculture.com
for allowable harvesting areas. |
| Cobia (Ling) |
33" fork |
|
1 per person or 6 per vessel whichever is less |
To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations. |
| Crab-Blue |
|
Sept. 20 - Oct. 4 Gulf state waters beyone 3 miles closed to traps;
federal waters closed to traps |
10 gallons whole per person per day |
5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing
crabs prohibited. May not harvest 1 hour after sunset until 1 hour before sunrise. |
| Crab, Stone |
2 3/4" claw |
May 16 - Oct 14 |
1 gal. Stone Crab claws per harvester 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 (a.k.a. Mini Season) =
last consecutive Wednesday & Thursday of July each year. |
Regular season: 6 per person per day |
Recreational trapping prohibited. crawfish permit required when
license required. Special bag limit for 2-day Sport/Mini season. Contact
FWC regional office for currect info on Sport/Mini season. |
| Dolphin (fish a.k.a. Mahi-Mahi or Dorado) |
20" fork Atlantic |
|
10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day. |
To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations. |
| Flounder |
12" |
|
10 per person per day |
May be harvested by spearing. Snatching prohibited. |
| Grouper, Gag |
24" Atlantic & Monroe County. 22" Gulf (excluding Monroe County) |
Closed in Gulf Feb 1 - March 31. |
2 per person per day. |
Not more than 2 fish may be Gag or Black Grouper, either individually or in combination in Atlantic and Monroe County.
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Gulf - zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. |
| Grouper-Black |
24" Atlantic & Monroe Country; 22" Gulf (excluding
Monroe Country) |
Closed in Gulf Feb 1 - March 31. |
2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County; 4 per person
per day Gulf (excluding Monroe County) |
Not more than 2 fish may be Gag or Black Grouper, either individually or in combination in Atlantic and Monroe County.
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Gulf - zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. |
| Grouper-Red |
20" |
Closed in Gulf Feb 1 - March 31. |
5 per person per day Atlantic, 2 per person per day Gulf.. |
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Gulf - zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. |
| Grouper - Snowy |
|
|
1 per person per day Atlantic |
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| Grouper-Yellowfin & Yellowmouth |
20" |
Closed in Gulf Feb. 1 - March 31 |
|
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| Grouper-Scamp |
20" Atlantic & Monroe Country; 16" Gulf (excluding
Monroe Country) |
Closed in Gulf Feb. 1 - March 31 |
|
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| Grouper-Warsaw & Speckled Hind |
|
|
1 per vessel per day of each species |
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| Grouper-all others |
|
Closed in Gulf Feb. 1 - March 31 for Rock Hind and Red Hind |
Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit |
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| 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 SW Regional Office 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 |
|
|
50 aggregate per person per day;
Aggregate vessel limits: Feb 1-Aug 31: 100 per vessel, Sept. 1 - Jan. 31: 50 per vessel. |
Mullet aggregate bag limit includes Striped and Silver. Call DMFM for addl. restrictions in Penellas and 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
pounds or two 5 gallon buckets (whole in shell) |
Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. Harvest
from approved shellfish areas only. Visit floridaaquaculture.com
for allowable harvesting areas. |
| Permit & Pompano |
Not less than 11" or more than 20" fork |
|
6 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano. |
May possess one over 20" of either Permit of Pompano. Vessel
restriction: no more than 2 permit and pompano over 20" fork
length at any time in any combination. Gigging, speaing, 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. Harvest in Federal waters prohibited. |
| Red Porgy |
14" Atlantic |
|
3 per person per day Atlantic |
|
| Scallops-Bay |
|
Sept. 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 to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal
in Bay County. |
| Sea Bass-Black |
12" Atlantic; 10" Gulf |
|
15 per person per day Atlantic |
|
| Shad |
|
|
10 aggregate per person per day |
American, Alabama, Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook &
line gear only. |
| Shark |
|
|
1 per person or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less. |
Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. See list below
for prohibited species. |
| Sheepshead |
12" |
|
15 per person per day |
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 whole condition. Contact FWC Regional Office 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" (see remarks) |
|
Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit
if under 30" |
Allowed 2 Cuber Snapper over 30" per person or vessel per day
whichever is less. 30" or larger not included within the Sanpper
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 |
|
| Snapper-Red |
20"Atlantic; 16"Gulf |
Aug. 15 - May 31 |
2 per person per day |
Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. Note: Check www.MyFWC.com/Fishing for the most current regulations prior to fishing.
Gulf: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. |
| Snapper-Schoolmaster |
10" |
|
Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. |
|
| Snapper-Vermillion |
12" Atlantic; 10" Gulf |
|
10 per person per day |
Vermillion 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 & Yellowtail |
| Snook (all species) |
Not less than 28" or more than 32" Atlantic.
Not less than 28" or more than 33" Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, Everglades National Park. |
Dec 15-Jan 31 Atlantic
Dec. - Feb., May - Aug. Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, Everglades National Park. |
1 per person per day. |
Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations
apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks
and spearing prohibited. |
| 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 |
Nov & Dec South Region; Feb N.E. and N.W. Regions (see regional
definitions below) |
4 per person per day South Region; 5 per person per day N.E. and
N.W. Regions. |
(See regional definitions below) |
| Swordfish |
47" lower jaw fork length, 29" cleithrum to keel length, or 33 pounds dressed weight. |
|
1 per person or 3 per vessel whichever is less. |
All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters. |
| Tarpon |
|
|
2 fish possession limit. |
Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or havest. Snatching prohibited.
Boca Grande Pass has seasonal regulations. Contact DMFM for currect
information. |
| Tilefish, Golden |
|
|
1 per person per day Atlantic. |
Included within the 5 per person per day (Atlantic) and 4 per person per day (Gulf) Grouper aggregate bag limit. |
| Triggerfish |
12" fork Atlantic; 14" fork Gulf. |
|
|
Triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing
& live well requirements. |
| Tripletail |
15" |
|
2 per person per day |
Hook & line gear only. No snatch hooks. |
| Wahoo |
|
|
2 per person per day |
To sell or exceed the daily bag limit, follow commercial regulations. |
| Weakfish |
12" |
|
4 per person per day |
|
| Must
remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads & tails intact)
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. Harvest prohibited
by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjuction with live or
dead natural bait. |
Ornamental Tropical Fish and Plants
Regulations have changed and are too numerous to detail here. Visit www.MyFWC.com/Fishing for current regulations. |
Prohibited Species
It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange
the following species:
Nassau Grouper, Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), Sawfish, Atlantic Angel
Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, Bignose Shark,
Caribbean Reef Shark, Dusky Galapagos Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Narrowtooth
Shark, Night Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Smalltail Shark,
Basking Shark, Whale Sharks, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon, White Shark,
Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Manta Ray, Spiny Dogfish,
Longspine Urchin, Stony, Hard, and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida
Queen Conch, and Bahama Starfish. Harvest of live rock in state waters
if prohibited. |
FWC Regional Offices
Northwest Region Panama City (850) 265-3676 - North Central
Region Lake City (386) 758-0525 - Northeast Region Ocala
(352) 732-1225 - Southwest Region Lakeland (863) 648-3200
- South Region West Palm Beach (561) 625-5122 |
Seatrout Regions
"Northeat Region" means all state waters lying north of
the Flagler-Volusia County Line to the Florida-Georgia border, and
adjacent federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters.
"Northwest Region" means all state waters north and west
of a line running due west from the westermost point of Fred Howard
Park Causeway (28E9.350'N 82E48.398'W), which is approximately 1.17
nautical miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County Line to the Florida-Alabama
border, and adjacent federal EEZ waters.
"South Region" means state waters lying between the Flagler-Volusia
Country Line on the Atlantic Ocean and the southern boundary of the
Northwest Region on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County and adjacent
federal EEZ waters. |
