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Home , Billfish, Catfish, Grouper, Gulf grouper, Hawaiian sling

Issued: April 2019 Florida Recreational New regulations are highlighted in red (please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational Saltwater Regulations for the most regulations) Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except snowy (Duane Raver)

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General Snapper Regulations: •• Snapper Aggregate Bag Limit - Within state waters of the Atlantic and ptl Gulf, all species of snapper are Snapper, Cubera p t l Snapper, Red p t l X Snapper, Vermilion X Snapper, Lane p t l included in a 10 fish per harvester Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: per day aggregate bag limit in any •• Atlantic and Gulf - 12" (see remarks) •• Atlantic - 20" •• Atlantic - 12" •• Atlantic and Gulf - 8" combination of snapper species, •• Gulf - 16" •• Gulf - 10" unless stated otherwise. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Seasons – If no seasonal information •• Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester under Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic - 10 per harvester is provided, the species is open 30”, included within snapper aggregate •• Atlantic - Open -round •• Atlantic - 5 per harvester, not included within •• Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester not included year-round. bag limit. ••Gulf – Open June 11 - July 12, 2019 the snapper aggregate bag limit. within the snapper aggregate bag limit. •• May additionally harvest up to 2 per harvester •• Gulf - 10 per harvester, not included within or vessel-whichever is less- over 30", and Daily Recreational Bag Limit: the snapper aggregate bag limit. these 2 fish over 30" are not included within •• Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester snapper aggregate bag limit. •• Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Other Snapper p t l Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic and Gulf - 12" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Snapper, Gray Snapper, Snapper, Black Remarks (Mangrove) p t l Snapper, Mutton p t l Schoolmaster p t l & Wenchman p l • Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and Yellowtail Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • Starting July 1, 2019: size limit removed for •• Atlantic and Gulf - 10" •• Atlantic and Gulf - 18" •• Atlantic and Gulf - 10" •• Atlantic and Gulf - None blackfin, queen and silk Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester •• Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester •• Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester •• Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester

Grouper

Atlantic Grouper General Regulations: •• Atlantic grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Atlantic and all state waters off Monroe County Grouper, Warsaw (Gulf and Atlantic sides). Grouper, Black p t l X Grouper, Snowy p l Grouper, Red p t l X & p l •• Atlantic Grouper Aggregate Bag Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Limit - all species of grouper plus •• Atlantic - 24" •• Atlantic and Gulf - None •• Atlantic and Gulf - 20" •• Atlantic and Gulf - None golden in the Atlantic are •• Gulf - 24" included in a 3 fish per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: per day aggregate bag limit in any Season: •• Atlantic - 1 per harvester •• Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 •• Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per vessel per day of combination of grouper/golden •• Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 •• Gulf - 4 per harvester •• Gulf - Open year-round each species •• Gulf - Open year-round tilefish species. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Seasons – If no seasonal Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic - 3 per harvester information is provided, the •• Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish can be •• Gulf - 2 per harvester species is open year-round. gag or black. •• Gulf - 4 per harvester General Regulations: •• Gulf grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Gulf except Grouper, Yellowfin off Monroe County (where Atlantic Other Grouper p l Gag Grouper p t l X Grouper, Scamp p t l & Yellowmouth p t l rules apply). Other Grouper includes: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: •• Gulf Grouper Aggregate Bag •• Rock Hind, , Coney, and •• Atlantic - 24" •• Atlantic - 20" •• Atlantic and Gulf - 20" Limit - all species of grouper in the •• Gulf - 24" •• Gulf - 16" Gulf are included in a 4 fish per Minimum Size Limit: Season: harvester per day aggregate bag •• Atlantic and Gulf - None Season: Season: •• Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 limit in any combination of grouper •• Atlantic - Closed: Jan. 1–April 30 •• Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 •• Gulf - Open year-round Season: species. •• Gulf - State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jef- •• Gulf - Open year-round •• Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 •• Seasons – If no seasonal ferson and Taylor counties: Open April 1–June 30 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Gulf - Open year-round Daily Recreational Bag Limit: information is provided, the species and Sept. 1–Dec. 31. •• Atlantic - 3 per harvester •• Atlantic - 3 per harvester is open year-round. •• Gulf - State waters off all other •• Gulf - 4 per harvester Remarks •• Gulf - 4 per harvester •• Zero daily recreational bag limit •• Aggregate bag limit applies counties: Open June 1–Dec. 31 for captain and crew on for-hire vessels applies to gag, black and Daily Recreational Bag Limit: only. •• Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish can be gag or black. •• Gulf - 2 per harvester

1 April, 2019 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Reef Fish All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC)

Other Reef Fish (If no season information is provided, the species is open year-round)

Amberjack, Greater p l X Great p n Hogfish p l Triggerfish (Gray) p l X Minimum Size Limits: Regulations only apply in Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Atlantic regulations apply to Monroe County Minimum Size Limits: •• Atlantic - 28" fork length Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties. •• Atlantic – 12" fork length •• Gulf - 34" fork length Minimum Size Limits: •• Gulf - 15" fork length Size Limits: •• Atlantic - 16" fork length Season: •• Not less than 15" or more than 36" fork length •• Gulf - 14" fork length Season: •• Atlantic - Open year-round •• Atlantic - Open year -round ••Gulf - Open, May 1-31 & Aug. 1-Oct. 31 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: ••Gulf - Open March 1 - May 31 & Aug. 1 - Dec. 31 ••Possible closure in May, check MyFWC.com •• 2 per person or 6 per vessel, per day •• Atlantic - Open May 1 - October 31 ••Early closure possible, check MyFWC.com •• May possess one over 36" per vessel. •• Gulf - Open year round Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks •• Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic - 10 per harvester •• Unregulated in all other areas, see MyFWC.com •• Atlantic - 1 per harvester •• Gulf - 1 per harvester. •• Gulf - 5 per harvester

Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Red Porgy p t l Tilefish, Golden p l Rudderfish p l X Black Sea p t l Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: •• Atlantic - 14" •• Atlantic - 1 per harvester •• Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than 14" or greater •• Atlantic - 13" •• Gulf - None •• Gulf - 4 per harvester than 22" fork length •• Gulf - 10" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic - 3 per harvester •• Golden tilefish included within Atlantic and Gulf Grouper •• Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person aggregate of the two •• Atlantic - 7 per harvester •• Gulf - 100 pounds aggregate bag limits. species. •• Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester

Pelagics

Billfish p  , King p Mackerel, Spanish p Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: •• 63"; •• 47" lower jaw fork length with head attached or 25" •• 24" fork length •• 12" fork length •• Blue 99"; to keel length if head removed •• 66"; Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 66" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• Atlantic (excluding Monroe) - 2 per harvester •• 15 per harvester •• 1 per harvester per day, not to exceed a maximum of 4 •• Gulf (including Monroe) - 3 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: per recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per for-hire •• 1 per harvesterggregate bag limit vessel per day. Remarks •• Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state waters if federal Remarks Remarks waters are closed to recreational harvest. •• Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed fish must •• All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or 800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters. hmspermits.noaa.gov. Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew •• HMS permit required in federal waters. of for-hire vessels.

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Bluefish p n p t T Bonefish  n Pompano, Sheepshead nlpt T l  p T n Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: African Minimum Size Limits: •• 12" fork length •• 12" •• 0 per harvester Minimum Size Limits: •• 12" •• 24" fork length Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 10 per harvester •• 10 per harvester •• only Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 8 per harvester •• Hook and line only Remarks •• 2 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per vessel Remarks •• May be harvested by spearing. •• Snatching prohibited Snatching prohibited. •• Vessel limit of 50 fish during March and April

Spotted Snook Permit l p  T n Weakfish p  t Seatrout l  p t T n (All species) p  t T n Tarpon l  T n Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Size Limits: Size Limits: Recreational Bag Limit: •• 22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); Not less •• Weakfish Management Area (WMA) in •• Not less than 15" or more than 20" (See •• Not less than 28" or more than 32" Atlantic •• 1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest tag than 11" or more than 22" fork length all Nassau County - 12" remarks) excluding Monroe. required. Vessel limit of one fish. Harvest tag other areas. •• All other areas - no minimum ••Changes pending, see MyFWC.com for •• Not less than 28" or more than 33" Gulf and can only be used when fish is retained for updates Monroe County. potential IGFA record. Closed Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• April 1–July 31 SPZ Only •• WMA - 1 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Closed Season: Remarks •• All other areas - 100 pounds per day •• 5 per harvester per day N.W. Zone •• Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed Dec. 15– •• Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 4 per harvester per day S.W. Zone Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. water during release. Spearing and snatch •• 1 per harvester , not to exceed 2 per vessel Remarks •• 4 per harvester per day S.E. Zone •• Gulf including Monroe County, Dec. 1–end of hooking prohibited. Bottom weighted jigs SPZ; •• Regulations apply in parts of Nassau •• 6 per harvester per day N.E. Zone February, and May 1–Aug. 31. prohibited in Boca Grande Pass. See: MyFWC. •• 2 per harvester all other state waters County only. ••Changes pending, see MyFWC.com for com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational/ Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• See map at: MyFWC.com/Fishing/ updates Tarpon for additional information. Remarks Saltwater/Recreational/Weakfish •• 1 per harvester •• May possess 1 over 22" fork length outside Remarks the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over 22" fork per • May possess no more than 1 over 20"; Remarks vessel per day. For map of SPZ, please see: included in the regional bag limit. See •• Snook permit required for harvest when MyFWC.com. management zone map at MyFWC.com. saltwater license required. See MyFWC.com •• Zero daily bag and possession limit for • Feb. 22 - May 10, 2019: zero fish over 20"; for snook permit details. Snatch hooks and captain and crew on for-hire vessels. May 11, 2019-May 31, 2020: zero fish spearing prohibited. Pasco-Hernando county line south to •• Zero daily bag and possession limit for Gordon Pass in Collier county. captain and crew on for-hire vessels. ••Catch and release only in SW region, see Red Drum MyFWC.com for more information. (Redfish) p  t T Size Limits: •• Not less than 18" or more than 27" , Striped Pompano, Daily Recreational Bag Limit: p  n •• 2 per harvester per day in the NE zone, and Black Drum p t T n (Black) & Silver Florida T n 1 per harvester in the NW and S zone. See Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: management zone map at MyFWC.com. •• Not less than 14" or more than 24" •• No minimum size •• 11" fork length •• No minimum •• Off the water possession limit of 6 fish, not to exceed 8 per vessel. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 5 per harvester •• 50 aggregate per harvester •• 6 per harvester •• 100 fish per harvester Remarks ••Aggregate vessel limits •• , spearing, snatching prohibited. Remarks Remarks Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel; Harvest in Federal waters prohibited. •• Hook and line, and beach or haul •• May possess one over 24". Snatching Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel ••Catch and release only in SW region, see prohibited. seine ONLY. MyFWC.com for more information.

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 can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any marine species that does Gulf Kingfish Jack Crevalle Lionfish Hardhead not have specific regulations, harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity Examples of "unregulated species" include: and requires a commercial license. This means the recreational harvest Ladyfish, , , white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish (whiting), pinfish, limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or two organisms if the Atlantic croaker,lionfish, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, , and blackfin . combined of the two organisms exceeds 100 pounds. * No license is required to harvest lionfish by dipnet, pole spear or Hawaiian sling and lionfish baglimit is unlimited for both Gulf and Atlantic state waters .

 Spearing Prohibited n State regulations apply in federal waters. p Must remain in whole condition (removal of and guts allowed). l Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com t Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or more forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait. compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. X Gulf reef fish survey required when fishing for selected reef species from a private vessel in the . Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission April, 2019 3 and Mollusks

Bay l Spiny  p , Stone  n Season: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: ••Gulf County: Aug. 16-Sept. 15, 2019 •• Carapace must be greater than 3" measured in the water •• 2 ¾" claw •• 3" ••Franklin-NW Taylor & Levy-Hernando: July 1- Sept. 24 , 2019 Seasons: Closed Season: Closed Season: ••SW Taylor - Dixie: June 15 – Sept. 10, 2019 •• Sport Season open July 24–25, 2019 •• May 16–Oct. 14 •• June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. •• Regular Season opens Aug. 6 through March 31 •• July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas except Apalachicola ••Pasco County: July 19 - 28, 2019 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Bay which has open areas year-round. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever •• Sport Season: 6 per harvester in Monroe County and •• 2 gallons whole or 1 pint per harvester per day; is less Daily Recreational Bag Limit: , 12 per harvester in all other no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per •• 2 bags per harvester or vessel except Apalachicola Bay harvest areas. Remarks vessel anytime •• Regular Season: 6 per harvester in all areas •• 5 traps maximum. Visit MyFWC.com for statewide trap Remarks Remarks construction requirements and specific requirements ••Apalachicola Bay: special bag limits and other Remarks that apply in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier. Illegal harvest restrictions apply. See MyFWC.com for •• Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico •• Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster permit from the Pinellas - Pasco county line, to the west bank to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing detailed information. required when license required. Harvest of egg-bearing prohibited. •• Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County. It is illegal to females prohibited. harvest, possess and land bay scallops on waters outside •• Harvest from approved areas during daylight open harvest area. hours only. ••See regional map at MyFWC.com •• Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting areas. •• May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half p (Hard) l Crab, Blue  hour before official sunrise. •• 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell) Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Closed Season: •• Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that is in the •• April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, •• 1" thick across hinge •• Regional trap closures apply. Visit MyFWC.com for 2019 Closed status as determined by the Florida Department Flagler & Clay counties trap closure dates and locations. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel (whole Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per day, in shell) •• 10 gallons whole per harvester whichever is less Remarks Remarks Remarks •• Illegal to harvest from closed areas. •• 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of •• Visit: MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Regulations", and •• Go to www.FloridaAquaculture.com for allowable egg-bearing crabs prohibited. "Shrimp" for additional regulations specific to Dade, harvesting areas. Nassau and Duval. •• May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise.

Sharks

Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Retainable with a 54" fork length minimum p  T •• 1 per harvester or 2 per vessel, whichever is less. Blue, oceanic whitetip, , shortfin mako (not illustrated). Remarks •• The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit purposes. In other words, you can only harvest one per day and the shark that you harvest must be one of the retainable species. •• Hook-and-line gear only. ••Effective July 1, 2019. New shoreline shark fishing permit and new Bull Common Thresher gear/handling requirements, see MyFWC.com •• See list of prohibited species below. Nurse Spinner Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit p T

Atlantic Sharpnose Blacknose Blacktip

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Prohibited Species

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell or exchange the following species: Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), , , Atlantic Angel Shark, Basking Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Shark, Bignose Shark, Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, , Galapagos Shark, Lemon Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, , Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Smalltail Shark, Spiny Dogfish, Whale Shark, White Shark, Tiger Shark, Scalloped, Smooth, and Shark, Manta Ray, Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, , , , Queen , Calico , , 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 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.