Florida Recreational Issued: September 2016

New regulations are highlighted in red

Saltwater Fishing Regulations Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic
(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational
for the most current regulations)
All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except snowy grouper (Duane Raver)
Reef Fish
Snapper
General Snapper
Regulations:
••Within state waters of the
Atlantic and Gulf, the snapper
aggregate bag limit is 10 fish
per harvester unless the species Snapper, Cubera   ● Snapper, Red   ● Snapper, Vermilion  ● Snapper, Lane ●
rule specifies that it is not Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
included in the aggregate. This ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" (see remarks) ••Atlantic - 20" ••Atlantic - 12" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 8"
means that a harvester can ••Gulf - 16" ••Gulf - 10"
retain a total of 10 snappers Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - 10 per harvester
in any combination of species. ••Atlantic - Open year-round
Exceptions are noted below. ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester ••Gulf - 100 pounds (see remarks)
Remarks ••Gulf - Open: Saturdays and Sundays ••Gulf - 10 per harvester
••If no season information is ••May possess no more than 2 over starting May 7, May 28–July 10, Fridays Remarks
included, the species is open 30" per harvester or vessel per day, Saturdays and Sundays in Sept. and Oct., Remarks ••Gulf not included within the snapper
year-round. whichever is less. 30" or larger not and Labor Day. Also open Nov. 5-6, 11-12, ••Not included within the snapper aggregate bag limit.
included within the snapper aggregate and 25, 26, 27 aggregate bag limit.
bag limit. Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
All Other Snapper   ● ••Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester
Minimum Size Limits: Remarks
••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" ••Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit
for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester
Remarks
••Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany,
Queen, Silk and Yellowtail Snapper, Gray Snapper, Snapper, Black
(Mangrove)   ● Snapper, Mutton   ● Schoolmaster ● & Wenchman ●
Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••Atlantic and Gulf - 10" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 16" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None
••Changing to 18” on Jan. 1, 2017
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester
••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester
Grouper ••Changing to 5 fish on Jan. 1, 2017

Atlantic Grouper
General Regulations:
••Atlantic grouper regulations
apply to all state waters of the
Atlantic and all state waters Grouper, Warsaw
off Monroe County (Gulf and Grouper, Black ● Grouper, Snowy ● Grouper, Red   ● & Speckled Hind ●
Atlantic sides). Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••Atlantic grouper aggregate ••Atlantic - 24" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None ••Atlantic and Gulf - 20" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None
bag limit is 3 fish, which ••Gulf - 24"
means that no harvester shall Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
retain more than 3 Atlantic Season: ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per vessel per day
groupers in any combination ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Gulf - 4 per harvester ••Gulf - Open year-round of each species
of species. ••Gulf - Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester
••Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish ••Gulf - 2 per person
Gulf Grouper can be gag or black
General Regulations: ••Gulf - 4 per harvester
••Gulf grouper regulations apply
to all state waters of the Gulf
except off Monroe County
(where Atlantic rules apply). Grouper, Yellowfin
••Gulf grouper aggregate bag
limit is 4 fish which means that
Grouper, Scamp   ● Gag Grouper ● Other Grouper  ● & Yellowmouth ●
no harvester can retain more Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Other Grouper includes: Minimum Size Limits:
than 4 Gulf grouper in any ••Atlantic - 20" ••Atlantic - 24" ••Tiger, Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney ••Atlantic and Gulf - 20"
combination of species. ••Gulf - 16" ••Gulf - 24" and Graysby
••Zero bag limit for captain Season:
and crew of for-hire vessels Season: Seasons: Minimum Size Limit: ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30
applies to gag, black, and red ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic - Closed: Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic and Gulf - None ••Gulf - Open year-round
grouper only. ••Gulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - State waters off Franklin,
Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties:
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester
Open April 1–June 30
••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Gulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - 4 per harvester
••Gulf - State waters off all other
••Gulf - 4 per harvester
Season Information: counties: Open June 1–Dec. 31 Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••If no season information is ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
provided, the species is open ••Gulf - 4 per harvester
••Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish
year-round. can be gag or black
••Gulf - 2 per harvester
 All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC)
Reef Fish
Other Reef Fish (If no season information is provided, the species is open year-round)

Amberjack, Lesser &

Amberjack, Greater ● Banded Rudderfish ● Black Sea Bass ● Triggerfish (Gray) ●
Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••Atlantic - 28" fork length ••Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than 14" or ••Atlantic - 13" ••Atlantic – 12" fork length
••Gulf - 34" fork length greater than 22" fork length ••Gulf - 10" ••Gulf - 14" fork length
Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season:
••Atlantic - Open year-round ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person aggregate of the ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester ••Atlantic - Open year-round
••Gulf - Closed June 1–July 31. Also closed two species ••Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester ••Gulf - Closed June and July
Sept. 10-Dec. 31, 2016 and August 1 - Dec. 31, 2016
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic - 10 per harvester
••Gulf - 2 per harvester

Red Porgy   ● Tilefish, Golden ● Great Barracuda ■ Hogfish ●

Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••Atlantic - 14" ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester ••None ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" fork length
••Gulf - None ••Gulf - 4 per harvester
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks ••2 per person and 6 per vessel applies only in state ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester
••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Golden tilefish included within Atlantic and Gulf and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami- ••Changes possible — visit MyFWC.com
••Gulf - 100 pounds Grouper aggregate bag limits Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. for updates
••Unregulated in all other areas.

Pelagics

Billfish  Swordfish Mackerel, King  Mackerel, Spanish 

Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••Sailfish 63"; ••47" lower jaw fork length with head attached or ••24" fork length ••12" fork length
••Blue Marlin 99"; 25" cleithrum to keel length if head removed
••White Marlin 66"; Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Roundscale Spearfish 66" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••2 per harvester per day ••15 per harvester per day
••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed a maximum
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: of 4 per recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per Remarks
••1 per harvester per day aggregate bag limit for-hire vessel per day ••Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state waters if
federal waters are closed to recreational harvest.
Remarks Remarks
••Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed ••All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within
fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required
800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov. in federal waters. Zero daily bag and possession
••HMS permit required in federal waters. limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.

Wahoo  Cobia (Ling)  Tripletail T Dolphinfish 

Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••None ••33" fork length ••15" ••Atlantic - 20" fork length
••Gulf - None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••2 per harvester per day ••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed 6 per ••2 per harvester per day Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
vessel per day ••10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per
Remarks
vessel per day. Vessel limit does not apply to
••Hook and line only. No snatch hooks.
for-hire vessels.

Scan this code with your Buy your license online at Report fish and wildlife
mobile device to view the GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or law violations toll free at:
regulations online. toll free at: 1-888-347-4356 1-888-404-3922
 Coastal Species

Bluefish  ■ Blue Runner ■ Bonefish ■ Pompano, African●  T ■ Sheepshead ●  T

Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••12" fork length ••No minimum ••0 per harvester per day ••24" fork length ••12"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••10 per harvester per day ••100 fish per harvester per day ••Catch and release only ••2 per harvester per day, not to exceed ••15 per harvester per day
••Hook and line only 2 per vessel per day
Remarks
••Snatching prohibited

Weakfish   Snook (All species)  T ■ Spotted Seatrout● T ■ Permit ●  T ■ Tarpon ●T■

Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Recreational Bag Limit:
••Weakfish Management Area (WMA) in ••Not less than 28" or more than 32" ••Not less than 15" or more than 20" ••22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); ••1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest
Nassau County - 12" Atlantic excluding Monroe (See remarks) Not less than 11" or more than 22" tag required. Vessel limit of one fish.
••All other areas - no minimum ••Not less than 28" or more than 33" fork length all other areas Harvest tag can only be used when fish
Gulf and Monroe County Daily Recreational Bag Limit: is retained for potential IGFA record.
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••5 per harvester per day N.W. Zone Closed Season:
••WMA - 1 per harvester Closed Season: ••4 per harvester per day S.W. Zone ••May 1–July 31 SPZ Only Remarks
••All other areas - 100 pounds per day ••Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed ••4 per harvester per day S.E. Zone ••Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Dec. 15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. ••6 per harvester per day N.E. Zone the water during release. Spearing and
Remarks ••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed
••Gulf including Monroe County, Dec. 1– snatch hooking prohibited. Bottom
••Regulations apply in parts of Nassau Remarks 2 per vessel per day SPZ;
end of February, and May 1–Aug. 31. weighted jigs prohibited in Boca Grande
County only. ••May possess no more than 1 over 20"; ••2 per harvester per day all other state
Pass. See: MyFWC.com/Fishing/
••See map at: MyFWC.com/Fishing/ Daily Recreational Bag Limit: included in the regional bag limit. See waters
Saltwater/Recreational/Tarpon for
Saltwater/Recreational/Weakfish ••1 per harvester per day management zone map at MyFWC.com. additional information.
Remarks
Remarks ••May possess 1 over 22" fork length
••Snook permit required for harvest outside the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over
when saltwater license required. See 22" fork per vessel per day. For map of
MyFWC.com for snook permit details. SPZ, please see: MyFWC.com.
Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.
Red Drum (Redfish)  T
Size Limits:
••Not less than 18" or more than 27"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Mullet, Striped ••2 per harvester per day in the NE
Black Drum   T ■ Flounder   T (Black) & Silver Pompano, Florida  T ■ zone, and 1 per harvester per day in
Minimum Size Limits: the NW and S zone.
Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
••11" fork length ••Vessel limit of 8 fish, on-shore posses-
••Not less than 14" or more than 24" ••12" ••No minimum size
sion limit during transport 6 fish
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••6 per harvester per day Remarks
••5 per harvester per day ••10 per harvester per day ••50 aggregate per harvester per day;
••Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
••Aggregate vessel limits
Remarks Remarks Remarks Harvest in Federal waters prohibited.
Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel;
••May possess one over 24". Snatching ••May be harvested by spearing. ••Hook and line, cast net and beach or
Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel
prohibited. Snatching prohibited. haul seine ONLY.

Can't find your fish in the regulations?

Florida’s coastal waters are home to thousands of marine
species, and the majority of these species have no specific
regulations with regard to bag limits, size limits, gear
restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often
referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name Blackfin Tuna Hardhead Catfish
can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any
marine species that does not have specific regulations,
harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is
the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity and
Jack Crevalle White Grunt Gulf Kingfish
requires a commercial license. This means the recreational
harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or Examples of "unregulated species" include:
two organisms if the combined weight of the two organisms Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish
exceeds 100 pounds. (whiting), pinfish, Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead
catfish, gafftopsail catfish and blackfin tuna.

 Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed). ■ State regulations apply in federal waters.
 Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most ● Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com
forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or
the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.
 Crustaceans and Mollusks

Bay Scallops ● Spiny Lobster  Crab, Stone ■ Oysters

Season: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit:
••Open June 25–Sept. 24, 2016 ••Carapace must be greater than 3" measured in ••2 ¾" claw ••3"
the water
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Closed Season: Closed Season:
••2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester per Seasons: ••May 16–Oct. 14 ••June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties.
day; no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon ••Sport Season Open July 27–28, 2016 ••July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas except Apala-
meat per vessel anytime ••Regular Season Closes on March 31, 2016 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: chicola Bay which has open areas year-round.
Reopens Aug. 6, 2016 ••1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel,
Remarks whichever is less Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••2 bags per harvester or vessel except Apala-
of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line, ••Sport Season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe Remarks chicola Bay
to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal County and Biscayne National Park, 12 per day in ••5 traps maximum. Visit MyFWC.com for statewide
in Bay County. It is illegal to harvest, possess all other harvest areas. trap construction requirements and specific Remarks
and land bay scallops on waters outside open ••Regular Season: 6 per harvester in all areas requirements that apply in Miami-Dade, Monroe ••Aplachicola Bay: special bag limits and other
harvest area. and Collier. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest harvest restrictions apply. See MyFWC.com for
Remarks of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. detailed information.
••Changes possible — Check MyFWC.com
••Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster ••Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/
permit required when license required. Harvest areas.
of egg-bearing females prohibited. ••Harvest from approved shellfish areas during
daylight hours only.
••Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the
Shrimp  Clams (Hard) ● Crab, Blue Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting
areas.
Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Closed Season: ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset
••April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, ••1" thick across hinge ••Regional trap closures apply. See MyFWC.com for until half hour before official sunrise.
Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 2016 trap closure dates and locations. ••1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
in shell)
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
••Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that
••5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per (whole in shell) ••10 gallons whole per harvester per day
is in the Closed status as determined by the
day, whichever is less
Remarks Remarks Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Remarks ••Illegal to harvest from closed areas. ••5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Services.
••Visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing and select "Saltwater", ••Go to www.FloridaAquaculture.com for allowable Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
"Regulations" and "Shrimp" for additional regula- harvesting areas.
tions specific to Dade, Nassau and Duval ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset
until half hour before official sunrise.

Sharks
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Retainable Sharks with a 54" fork length minimum  T
••1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less.
Blue, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, shortfin mako.
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. Bull Common Thresher
••Hook-and-line gear only.
••See list of prohibited species below.
Nurse Spinner
Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit  T

Atlantic Sharpnose Blacknose Blacktip

Bonnethead Finetooth Smooth Dogfish

Prohibited Species
It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell or exchange the following species:
Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), 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, Great Hammerhead Shark, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Manta Ray, Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Sturgeon, Queen Conch, Calico Scallop,
Stony, Hard 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.

FWC – Division of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850-487-0554
This publication is provided as a guide to Florida fishing laws and regulations. The Florida Administrative Code is the final authority on fishing laws. The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) strives to ensure information in this booklet is accurate, but assumes no liability for any errors that occur in this publication.